diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runconfigurationaspects.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runconfigurationaspects.cpp
index 8098606afb0..ce28582d558 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runconfigurationaspects.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runconfigurationaspects.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ ExecutableAspect::ExecutableAspect(Target *target, ExecutionDeviceSelector selec
     setId("ExecutableAspect");
     addDataExtractor(this, &ExecutableAspect::executable, &Data::executable);
 
-    m_executable.setPlaceHolderText(Tr::tr("<unknown>"));
+    m_executable.setPlaceHolderText(Tr::tr("path to the executable cannot be empty"));
     m_executable.setLabelText(Tr::tr("Executable:"));
     m_executable.setDisplayStyle(StringAspect::LabelDisplay);