diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
index bd5a5f1388a..2260a4c2899 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <coreplugin/progressmanager/futureprogress.h>
 #include <coreplugin/progressmanager/progressmanager.h>
 
+#include <projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/buildmanager.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/project.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/projectexplorer.h>
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@
 
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
 
+using namespace ProjectExplorer;
 using namespace Utils;
 
 namespace Autotest {
@@ -340,7 +342,11 @@ void TestRunner::prepareToRunTests(TestRunMode mode)
     if (!projectExplorerSettings.buildBeforeDeploy || mode == TestRunMode::DebugWithoutDeploy
             || mode == TestRunMode::RunWithoutDeploy) {
         runOrDebugTests();
-    } else  if (project->hasActiveBuildSettings()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    Target *target = project->activeTarget();
+    if (target && BuildConfigurationFactory::find(target)) {
         buildProject(project);
     } else {
         reportResult(ResultType::MessageFatal,
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
index ccf2f59247e..158863d39a2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
@@ -249,11 +249,6 @@ Utils::FilePath Project::projectFilePath() const
     return document()->filePath();
 }
 
-bool Project::hasActiveBuildSettings() const
-{
-    return activeTarget() && BuildConfigurationFactory::find(activeTarget());
-}
-
 void Project::addTarget(std::unique_ptr<Target> &&t)
 {
     auto pointer = t.get();
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
index 4dfe1b2adc1..1af8e6c34fe 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
@@ -116,8 +116,6 @@ public:
     virtual ProjectNode *rootProjectNode() const;
     ContainerNode *containerNode() const;
 
-    bool hasActiveBuildSettings() const;
-
     // EditorConfiguration:
     EditorConfiguration *editorConfiguration() const;