diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
index c6ee39013b0..c7ed9c192c3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
@@ -4173,6 +4173,7 @@ void ProjectExplorerPluginPrivate::updateSessionMenu()
     auto *ag = new QActionGroup(m_sessionMenu);
     connect(ag, &QActionGroup::triggered, this, &ProjectExplorerPluginPrivate::setSession);
     const QString activeSession = SessionManager::activeSession();
+    const bool isDefaultVirgin = SessionManager::isDefaultVirgin();
 
     const QStringList sessions = SessionManager::sessions();
     for (int i = 0; i < sessions.size(); ++i) {
@@ -4184,7 +4185,7 @@ void ProjectExplorerPluginPrivate::updateSessionMenu()
         QAction *act = ag->addAction(actionText);
         act->setData(session);
         act->setCheckable(true);
-        if (session == activeSession)
+        if (session == activeSession && !isDefaultVirgin)
             act->setChecked(true);
     }
     m_sessionMenu->addActions(ag->actions());
@@ -4193,9 +4194,7 @@ void ProjectExplorerPluginPrivate::updateSessionMenu()
 
 void ProjectExplorerPluginPrivate::setSession(QAction *action)
 {
-    QString session = action->data().toString();
-    if (session != SessionManager::activeSession())
-        SessionManager::loadSession(session);
+    SessionManager::loadSession(action->data().toString());
 }
 
 void ProjectExplorerPlugin::setProjectExplorerSettings(const ProjectExplorerSettings &pes)