diff --git a/kdevplatform/interfaces/iproject.h b/kdevplatform/interfaces/iproject.h
--- a/kdevplatform/interfaces/iproject.h
+++ b/kdevplatform/interfaces/iproject.h
@@ -159,6 +159,13 @@
      */
     virtual void setReloadJob(KJob* job) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Tells the project to prepare for the reload of the moodel
+     *
+     * It's useful so that we can disconnect some slots, like the file watcher.
+     */
+    virtual void prepareReloadModel() = 0;
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /**
      * Gets emitted whenever a file was added to the project.
diff --git a/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.h b/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.h
--- a/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.h
+++ b/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 
     QList<ProjectFolderItem*> parse( ProjectFolderItem *item ) override;
     ProjectFolderItem *import( IProject *project ) override;
+    void prepareReload(IProject *project) override;
     bool reload(ProjectFolderItem* item) override;
     KJob* createImportJob(ProjectFolderItem* item) override;
 
diff --git a/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.cpp b/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.cpp
--- a/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.cpp
+++ b/kdevplatform/project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.cpp
@@ -479,6 +479,14 @@
     return QList<ProjectFolderItem*>();
 }
 
+void AbstractFileManagerPlugin::prepareReload(IProject *project)
+{
+    if(project != nullptr && d->m_watchers.contains(project))
+    {
+        d->m_watchers[project]->disconnect();
+    }
+}
+
 ProjectFolderItem *AbstractFileManagerPlugin::import( IProject *project )
 {
     ProjectFolderItem *projectRoot = createFolderItem( project, project->path(), nullptr );
diff --git a/kdevplatform/project/interfaces/iprojectfilemanager.h b/kdevplatform/project/interfaces/iprojectfilemanager.h
--- a/kdevplatform/project/interfaces/iprojectfilemanager.h
+++ b/kdevplatform/project/interfaces/iprojectfilemanager.h
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@
      */
     virtual ProjectFolderItem *import(IProject *project) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * This method prepares the reload of a model, e.g. disconnects the file watcher slots
+     */
+    virtual void prepareReload(IProject *project) = 0;
+
     /**
      * @brief This method creates an import job for the given @p item
      *
diff --git a/kdevplatform/shell/project.h b/kdevplatform/shell/project.h
--- a/kdevplatform/shell/project.h
+++ b/kdevplatform/shell/project.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
     QString projectTempFile() const;
     QString developerTempFile() const;
     Path developerFile() const;
+    void prepareReloadModel() override;
     void reloadModel() override;
     Path projectFile() const override;
     KSharedConfigPtr projectConfiguration() const override;
diff --git a/kdevplatform/shell/project.cpp b/kdevplatform/shell/project.cpp
--- a/kdevplatform/shell/project.cpp
+++ b/kdevplatform/shell/project.cpp
@@ -452,6 +452,11 @@
     return d->projectPath;
 }
 
+void Project::prepareReloadModel()
+{
+    projectFileManager()->prepareReload(d->project);
+}
+
 void Project::reloadModel()
 {
     if (d->loading) {
diff --git a/kdevplatform/shell/tests/test_projectcontroller.cpp b/kdevplatform/shell/tests/test_projectcontroller.cpp
--- a/kdevplatform/shell/tests/test_projectcontroller.cpp
+++ b/kdevplatform/shell/tests/test_projectcontroller.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@
         return it;
     }
 
+    virtual void prepareReload(IProject* /*project*/) override {};
     ProjectFolderItem* addFolder(const Path& /*folder*/, ProjectFolderItem* /*parent*/) override { return nullptr; }
     ProjectFileItem* addFile(const Path& /*file*/, ProjectFolderItem* /*parent*/) override { return nullptr; }
     bool removeFilesAndFolders(const QList<ProjectBaseItem*> &/*items*/) override { return false; }
diff --git a/kdevplatform/tests/testproject.h b/kdevplatform/tests/testproject.h
--- a/kdevplatform/tests/testproject.h
+++ b/kdevplatform/tests/testproject.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
     QString name() const override { return QStringLiteral("Test Project"); }
     bool inProject(const IndexedString& path) const override;
     void setReloadJob(KJob* ) override {}
+    void prepareReloadModel() override {}
 private:
     QSet<IndexedString> m_fileSet;
     Path m_path;
diff --git a/plugins/cmake/settings/cmakepreferences.cpp b/plugins/cmake/settings/cmakepreferences.cpp
--- a/plugins/cmake/settings/cmakepreferences.cpp
+++ b/plugins/cmake/settings/cmakepreferences.cpp
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@
         connect(job, &KJob::finished, this, &CMakePreferences::cacheUpdated);
     }
 
+    m_project->prepareReloadModel();
     connect(job, &KJob::finished, m_project, &IProject::reloadModel);
     ICore::self()->runController()->registerJob(job);
 }