diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runcontrol.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runcontrol.cpp
index 41ab1af5bb8..90554b559bf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runcontrol.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/runcontrol.cpp
@@ -1427,7 +1427,9 @@ void SimpleTargetRunnerPrivate::start()
     } else {
         QTC_ASSERT(m_state == Inactive, return);
 
-        if (!m_runnable.device) {
+        const IDevice::ConstPtr device =
+                DeviceManager::deviceForPath(m_runnable.command.executable());
+        if (!device) {
             m_resultData.m_errorString = tr("Cannot run: No device.");
             m_resultData.m_error = QProcess::FailedToStart;
             m_resultData.m_exitStatus = QProcess::CrashExit;
@@ -1435,7 +1437,7 @@ void SimpleTargetRunnerPrivate::start()
             return;
         }
 
-        if (!m_runnable.device->isEmptyCommandAllowed() && m_runnable.command.isEmpty()) {
+        if (!device->isEmptyCommandAllowed() && m_runnable.command.isEmpty()) {
             m_resultData.m_errorString = tr("Cannot run: No command given.");
             m_resultData.m_error = QProcess::FailedToStart;
             m_resultData.m_exitStatus = QProcess::CrashExit;