diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
index ec12862315e..7d42085b4ac 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ void CdbDebugEngine::startupChecks()
     syncDebuggerPaths();
 }
 
-void CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger()
+void CdbDebugEngine::startEngine()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
     const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = startParameters();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
index 265e0bb1baf..55aa365444a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void shutdown();
     virtual void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    virtual void startDebugger();
+    virtual void startEngine();
     virtual void exitDebugger();
     virtual void detachDebugger();
     virtual void updateWatchData(const WatchData &data);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.cpp
index c89a03d751b..6b4853e408a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.cpp
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ void DebuggerEngine::startDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
         ->setEnabled(engineCapabilities & DisassemblerCapability);
 
     setState(EngineStarting);
-    startDebugger();
+    startEngine();
 }
 
 void DebuggerEngine::breakByFunctionMain()
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.h
index 3249ece97a4..0f7ba095238 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerengine.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ public:
             TextEditor::ITextEditor * /* editor */, int /* cursorPos */) { }
     void initializeFromTemplate(DebuggerEngine *other);
     void startDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
-    virtual void startDebugger() {}
+    virtual void startEngine() {}
     virtual void exitDebugger() {}
     virtual void detachDebugger() {}
     virtual void updateWatchData(const WatchData & /* data */) { }
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
index ba6b663c2be..0cd5b96f4ef 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
@@ -1759,7 +1759,7 @@ AbstractGdbAdapter *GdbEngine::createAdapter()
     }
 }
 
-void GdbEngine::startDebugger()
+void GdbEngine::startEngine()
 {
     //qDebug() << "GDB START DEBUGGER";
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
index cfaa8447a71..4008b7d658a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ private:
 
 private: ////////// General Interface //////////
 
-    virtual void startDebugger();
+    virtual void startEngine();
     virtual unsigned debuggerCapabilities() const;
     virtual void exitDebugger();
     virtual void quitDebugger();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
index a42ba43ec9f..4c92eb09cd7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ void PdbEngine::exitDebugger()
     setState(DebuggerNotReady);
 }
 
-void PdbEngine::startDebugger()
+void PdbEngine::startEngine()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
index b36b2d1508c..28bfa46a3e1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ private:
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos,
         TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger();
+    void startEngine();
 
     void exitDebugger();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
index 5a4ff1408f0..5960acdbb4f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ void QmlEngine::exitDebugger()
 
 const int serverPort = 3768;
 
-void QmlEngine::startDebugger()
+void QmlEngine::startEngine()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
     const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = startParameters();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
index 8e53808852b..abcd335439e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger();
+    void startEngine();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
index c2ccecf7b8d..70ffe851906 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ void ScriptEngine::exitDebugger()
     setState(DebuggerNotReady);
 }
 
-void ScriptEngine::startDebugger()
+void ScriptEngine::startEngine()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
     showMessage(_("STARTING SCRIPT DEBUGGER"), LogMisc);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
index 580b0230768..b149243e281 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ private:
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos,
         TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger();
+    void startEngine();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
index fdfe8f2f1d4..cd458ef48bb 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ void TcfEngine::exitDebugger()
     SDEBUG("TcfEngine::exitDebugger()");
 }
 
-void TcfEngine::startDebugger()
+void TcfEngine::startEngine()
 {
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
     setState(InferiorRunningRequested);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
index 41f5bb6cdc3..ff1a0a98481 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger();
+    void startEngine();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();