diff --git a/src/file/fileindexerconfig.h b/src/file/fileindexerconfig.h
--- a/src/file/fileindexerconfig.h
+++ b/src/file/fileindexerconfig.h
@@ -82,6 +82,18 @@
      */
     bool initialUpdateDisabled() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Check if \p folder can be searched taking only
+     * the includeFolders() into account.
+     *
+     * A path can be searched if itself or one of
+     * its descendants should be indexed.
+     *
+     * \return \p true if the \p folder should
+     * be searched.
+     */
+    bool canBeSearched(const QString& folder) const;
+
     /**
      * Check if \p path should be indexed taking into account
      * the includeFolders(), the excludeFolders(), and the
diff --git a/src/file/fileindexerconfig.cpp b/src/file/fileindexerconfig.cpp
--- a/src/file/fileindexerconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/file/fileindexerconfig.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,26 @@
 }
 
 
+bool FileIndexerConfig::canBeSearched(const QString& folder) const
+{
+    QFileInfo fi(folder);
+    QString path = fi.absolutePath();
+    if (!fi.isDir()) {
+        return false;
+    } else if (shouldFolderBeIndexed(path)) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    
+    // Look for included descendants
+    for (const QPair<QString, bool>& fld: m_folderCache) {
+        if (fld.second && fld.first.startsWith(path)) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
 bool FileIndexerConfig::shouldBeIndexed(const QString& path) const
 {
     QFileInfo fi(path);