diff --git a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.cpp b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.cpp
index cecfdf5eb5c..08d8a8583d0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ void LanguageClientManager::clientFinished(Client *client)
         emit managerInstance->shutdownFinished();
 }
 
-Client *LanguageClientManager::startClient(BaseSettings *setting, ProjectExplorer::Project *project)
+Client *LanguageClientManager::startClient(const BaseSettings *setting,
+                                           ProjectExplorer::Project *project)
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(managerInstance, return nullptr);
     QTC_ASSERT(setting, return nullptr);
diff --git a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.h b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.h
index 5aa675c6c36..c0bcd258b3d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientmanager.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public:
 
     static void clientStarted(Client *client);
     static void clientFinished(Client *client);
-    static Client *startClient(BaseSettings *setting, ProjectExplorer::Project *project = nullptr);
+    static Client *startClient(const BaseSettings *setting, ProjectExplorer::Project *project = nullptr);
     static QList<Client *> clients();
     static void addClient(Client *client);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.cpp
index a709335abf6..ecdd8023a3b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.cpp
@@ -571,12 +571,12 @@ bool BaseSettings::isValid() const
     return !m_name.isEmpty();
 }
 
-Client *BaseSettings::createClient()
+Client *BaseSettings::createClient() const
 {
-    return createClient(nullptr);
+    return createClient(static_cast<ProjectExplorer::Project *>(nullptr));
 }
 
-Client *BaseSettings::createClient(ProjectExplorer::Project *project)
+Client *BaseSettings::createClient(ProjectExplorer::Project *project) const
 {
     if (!isValid() || !m_enabled)
         return nullptr;
diff --git a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.h b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.h
index ad2676454bd..81de64da510 100644
--- a/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.h
+++ b/src/plugins/languageclient/languageclientsettings.h
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ public:
     virtual QWidget *createSettingsWidget(QWidget *parent = nullptr) const;
     virtual BaseSettings *copy() const { return new BaseSettings(*this); }
     virtual bool isValid() const;
-    Client *createClient();
-    Client *createClient(ProjectExplorer::Project *project);
+    Client *createClient() const;
+    Client *createClient(ProjectExplorer::Project *project) const;
     virtual QVariantMap toMap() const;
     virtual void fromMap(const QVariantMap &map);