diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakeprojectplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakeprojectplugin.cpp
index 57f3a77380e..9aca653fc62 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakeprojectplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakeprojectplugin.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ bool CMakeProjectPlugin::initialize(const QStringList & /*arguments*/, QString *
     addAutoReleasedObject(new CMakeLocatorFilter);
 
     new CMakeToolManager(this);
-    CMakeToolManager::restoreCMakeTools();
 
     ProjectExplorer::KitManager::registerKitInformation(new CMakeKitInformation);
 
@@ -82,4 +81,6 @@ bool CMakeProjectPlugin::initialize(const QStringList & /*arguments*/, QString *
 
 void CMakeProjectPlugin::extensionsInitialized()
 {
+    //restore the cmake tools before loading the kits
+    CMakeToolManager::restoreCMakeTools();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.cpp
index e3043db252f..b65febaec0e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "cmaketoolmanager.h"
 
 #include <coreplugin/icore.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/toolchainmanager.h>
 #include <utils/persistentsettings.h>
 #include <utils/qtcassert.h>
 #include <utils/environment.h>
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@
 
 using namespace Core;
 using namespace Utils;
+using namespace ProjectExplorer;
 
 namespace CMakeProjectManager {
 
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ public:
     Id m_defaultCMake;
     QList<CMakeTool *> m_cmakeTools;
     PersistentSettingsWriter *m_writer;
+    QList<CMakeToolManager::AutodetectionHelper> m_autoDetectionHelpers;
 };
 static CMakeToolManagerPrivate *d = 0;
 
@@ -186,6 +189,10 @@ static QList<CMakeTool *> autoDetectCMakeTools()
         found.append(item);
     }
 
+    //execute custom helpers if available
+    foreach (CMakeToolManager::AutodetectionHelper source, d->m_autoDetectionHelpers)
+        found.append(source());
+
     return found;
 }
 
@@ -363,8 +370,8 @@ void CMakeToolManager::restoreCMakeTools()
     }
 
     //filter out the tools that are already known
-    for (int i = autoDetected.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
-        CMakeTool *currTool = autoDetected.takeAt(i);
+    while (autoDetected.size()) {
+        CMakeTool *currTool = autoDetected.takeFirst();
         if (Utils::anyOf(toolsToRegister,
                          Utils::equal(&CMakeTool::cmakeExecutable, currTool->cmakeExecutable())))
             delete currTool;
@@ -390,6 +397,11 @@ void CMakeToolManager::restoreCMakeTools()
     readAndDeleteLegacyCMakeSettings();
 }
 
+void CMakeToolManager::registerAutodetectionHelper(CMakeToolManager::AutodetectionHelper helper)
+{
+    d->m_autoDetectionHelpers.append(helper);
+}
+
 void CMakeToolManager::notifyAboutUpdate(CMakeTool *tool)
 {
     if (!tool || !d->m_cmakeTools.contains(tool))
diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.h b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.h
index be83fda4a61..23b75a88eb6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmaketoolmanager.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 #include <utils/fileutils.h>
 #include <texteditor/codeassist/keywordscompletionassist.h>
+#include <functional>
 
 #include <QObject>
 
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ class CMAKE_EXPORT CMakeToolManager : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
+    typedef std::function<QList<CMakeTool *> ()> AutodetectionHelper;
+
     CMakeToolManager(QObject *parent);
     ~CMakeToolManager();
 
@@ -62,9 +65,10 @@ public:
     static void setDefaultCMakeTool(const Core::Id &id);
     static CMakeTool *findByCommand(const Utils::FileName &command);
     static CMakeTool *findById(const Core::Id &id);
-    static void restoreCMakeTools();
+    static void registerAutodetectionHelper(AutodetectionHelper helper);
 
     static void notifyAboutUpdate(CMakeTool *);
+    static void restoreCMakeTools();
 
 signals:
     void cmakeAdded (const Core::Id &id);