diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildstep.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildstep.cpp
index 32be37048e9..f4d5fba031c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildstep.cpp
@@ -150,8 +150,10 @@ QWidget *BuildStep::doCreateConfigWidget()
     for (BaseAspect *aspect : std::as_const(*this))
         connect(aspect, &BaseAspect::changed, widget, recreateSummary);
 
-    connect(buildConfiguration(), &BuildConfiguration::buildDirectoryChanged,
-            widget, recreateSummary);
+    if (buildConfiguration()) {
+        connect(buildConfiguration(), &BuildConfiguration::buildDirectoryChanged,
+                widget, recreateSummary);
+    }
 
     recreateSummary();