diff --git a/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerfactories.cpp b/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerfactories.cpp
--- a/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerfactories.cpp
+++ b/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerfactories.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "gcclikecompiler.h"
 #include "msvccompiler.h"
 
+#include <QStandardPaths>
+
 QString ClangFactory::name() const
 {
     return QStringLiteral("Clang");
@@ -39,7 +41,8 @@
 
 void ClangFactory::registerDefaultCompilers(CompilerProvider* provider) const
 {
-    const QString clang = QStringLiteral("clang");
+    // no need to check the result, we already do this is CompilerProvider::CompilerProvider()
+    const QString clang = QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("clang"));
 
     auto compiler = createCompiler(name(), clang, false);
     provider->registerCompiler(compiler);
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@
 
 void GccFactory::registerDefaultCompilers(CompilerProvider* provider) const
 {
-    const QString gcc = QStringLiteral("gcc");
+    const QString gcc = QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("gcc"));
 
     auto compiler = createCompiler(name(), gcc, false);
     provider->registerCompiler(compiler);
@@ -75,5 +78,5 @@
 
 void MsvcFactory::registerDefaultCompilers(CompilerProvider* provider) const
 {
-    provider->registerCompiler(createCompiler(name(), QStringLiteral("cl.exe"), false));
+    provider->registerCompiler(createCompiler(name(), QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("cl.exe")), false));
 }
diff --git a/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerprovider.cpp b/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerprovider.cpp
--- a/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerprovider.cpp
+++ b/plugins/custom-definesandincludes/compilerprovider/compilerprovider.cpp
@@ -210,12 +210,8 @@
     const auto path = QFile::decodeName(rt->getenv("PATH")).split(QDir::listSeparator());
 
     for ( const CompilerPointer& compiler : m_compilers ) {
-        const bool absolutePath = QDir::isAbsolutePath(compiler->path());
-        if ((absolutePath && QFileInfo::exists(rt->pathInHost(Path(compiler->path())).toLocalFile()))
-            || QStandardPaths::findExecutable( compiler->path(), path).isEmpty() ) {
+        if (!QFileInfo::exists(rt->pathInHost(Path(compiler->path())).toLocalFile()))
             continue;
-        }
-
         m_defaultProvider = compiler;
         break;
     }