diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.cpp
index 349d93ef762..9e387d4f448 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ bool ModeManager::isModeSelectorVisible()
     return d->m_modeSelectorVisible;
 }
 
-ModeManager *ModeManager::instance()
+QObject *ModeManager::instance()
 {
     return m_instance;
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.h
index 9e708e0e027..a6689368be8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/modemanager.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT ModeManager : public QObject
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    static ModeManager *instance();
+    static QObject *instance();
 
     static IMode *currentMode();
     static IMode *mode(Id id);