diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
index ed46df7ddba..45bf8769dad 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
@@ -421,7 +421,11 @@ void Project::setDocument(Core::IDocument *doc)
 void Project::setRootProjectNode(ProjectNode *root)
 {
     ProjectNode *oldNode = d->m_rootProjectNode;
+    if (oldNode == root)
+        return;
+
     d->m_rootProjectNode = root;
+    emit projectTreeChanged(this, QPrivateSignal());
     delete oldNode;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
index 731f72b975d..d3dcce9dbf4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ public:
     Utils::MacroExpander *macroExpander() const;
 
 signals:
+    void projectTreeChanged(Project *project, QPrivateSignal);
     void displayNameChanged();
     void fileListChanged();