diff --git a/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.cpp b/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.cpp
index eda784f5250..db72921079a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.cpp
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ void AnalyzerAction::startTool()
 
     TaskHub::clearTasks(Constants::ANALYZERTASK_ID);
 
+    if (m_toolPreparer && !m_toolPreparer())
+        return;
+
     // Custom start.
     if (m_toolStarter) {
         m_toolStarter();
diff --git a/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.h b/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.h
index d998e782b41..84b478ad0bb 100644
--- a/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.h
+++ b/src/plugins/analyzerbase/ianalyzertool.h
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ public:
     void startTool();
     void setToolStarter(const ToolStarter &toolStarter) { m_toolStarter = toolStarter; }
 
+    typedef std::function<bool()> ToolPreparer;
+    ToolPreparer toolPreparer() const { return m_toolPreparer; }
+    void setToolPreparer(const ToolPreparer &toolPreparer) { m_toolPreparer = toolPreparer; }
+
 protected:
     bool m_useStartupProject;
     Core::Id m_menuGroup;
@@ -120,6 +124,7 @@ protected:
     WidgetCreator m_widgetCreator;
     RunControlCreator m_runControlCreator;
     ToolStarter m_toolStarter;
+    ToolPreparer m_toolPreparer;
 };
 
 } // namespace Analyzer
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilerplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilerplugin.cpp
index 01c69b2b975..415c86e2dab 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilerplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilerplugin.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ bool QmlProfilerPlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorS
     action->setToolId(QmlProfilerToolId);
     action->setWidgetCreator(widgetCreator);
     action->setRunControlCreator(runControlCreator);
-    action->setToolStarter([tool] { tool->startLocalTool(); });
+    action->setToolPreparer([tool] { return tool->prepareTool(); });
     action->setRunMode(ProjectExplorer::QmlProfilerRunMode);
     action->setText(tr("QML Profiler"));
     action->setToolTip(description);
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ bool QmlProfilerPlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorS
     action->setWidgetCreator(widgetCreator);
     action->setRunControlCreator(runControlCreator);
     action->setToolStarter([tool] { tool->startRemoteTool(); });
+    action->setToolPreparer([tool] { return tool->prepareTool(); });
     action->setRunMode(ProjectExplorer::QmlProfilerRunMode);
     action->setText(tr("QML Profiler (External)"));
     action->setToolTip(description);
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.cpp b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.cpp
index 0c0c5429f9f..27df8eea89d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.cpp
@@ -433,29 +433,21 @@ void QmlProfilerTool::clearDisplay()
     updateTimeDisplay();
 }
 
-void QmlProfilerTool::startLocalTool()
+bool QmlProfilerTool::prepareTool()
 {
     if (d->m_recordButton->isChecked()) {
-        if (!checkForUnsavedNotes())
-            return;
-        clearData(); // clear right away to suppress second warning on server recording change
+        if (checkForUnsavedNotes()) {
+            clearData(); // clear right away to suppress second warning on server recording change
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     }
-
-    // Make sure mode is shown.
-    AnalyzerManager::showMode();
-
-    // ### not sure if we're supposed to check if the RunConFiguration isEnabled
-    ProjectExplorerPlugin::runStartupProject(QmlProfilerRunMode);
+    return true;
 }
 
 void QmlProfilerTool::startRemoteTool()
 {
-    if (d->m_recordButton->isChecked()) {
-        if (!checkForUnsavedNotes())
-            return;
-        clearData(); // clear right away to suppress second warning on server recording change
-    }
-
     AnalyzerManager::showMode();
 
     Id kitId;
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.h b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.h
index cc062075503..ce59a8fc794 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.h
+++ b/src/plugins/qmlprofiler/qmlprofilertool.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
         ProjectExplorer::RunConfiguration *runConfiguration = 0);
 
     QWidget *createWidgets();
-    void startLocalTool();
+    bool prepareTool();
     void startRemoteTool();
 
     QList <QAction *> profilerContextMenuActions() const;