Index: kdevplatform/project/tests/abstractfilemanagerpluginimportbenchmark.cpp
===================================================================
--- kdevplatform/project/tests/abstractfilemanagerpluginimportbenchmark.cpp
+++ kdevplatform/project/tests/abstractfilemanagerpluginimportbenchmark.cpp
@@ -17,19 +17,26 @@
     Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
 */
 
+#include <interfaces/iplugin.h>
+#include <interfaces/icore.h>
+#include <interfaces/iplugincontroller.h>
+
 #include <project/abstractfilemanagerplugin.h>
 #include <project/projectmodel.h>
 
+#include <shell/projectcontroller.h>
+
 #include <tests/autotestshell.h>
 #include <tests/testcore.h>
 #include <tests/testproject.h>
+#include <tests/testplugincontroller.h>
 
 #include <util/path.h>
 
 #include <KJob>
 #include <KDirWatch>
 
-#include <QCoreApplication>
+#include <QApplication>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QFileInfo>
 #include <QElapsedTimer>
@@ -46,9 +53,10 @@
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
     AbstractFileManagerPluginImportBenchmark(AbstractFileManagerPlugin* manager, const QString& path,
-                                             QObject* parent)
-        : QObject(parent)
+                                             TestCore* core)
+        : QObject(core)
         , m_out(stdout)
+        , m_core(core)
     {
         m_manager = manager;
         m_project = new TestProject(Path(path));
@@ -58,6 +66,16 @@
     {
         m_projectNumber = s_numBenchmarksRunning++;
         m_out << "Starting import of project " << m_project->path().toLocalFile() << endl;
+        ProjectController *projectController = qobject_cast<ProjectController*>(m_core->projectController());
+        if (projectController) {
+            projectController->addProject(m_project);
+        } else {
+            // warn that something apparently changed and attempt to activate
+            // the Project Filter by sending the appropriate signal directly.
+            qWarning() << "not a ProjectController instance:" << m_core->projectController();
+            qWarning() << "emulating the class to set up the Project Filter";
+            emit m_core->projectController()->projectAboutToBeOpened(m_project);
+        }
         m_timer.start();
         auto root = m_manager->import(m_project);
         int elapsed = m_timer.elapsed();
@@ -75,6 +93,7 @@
     QElapsedTimer m_timer;
     int m_projectNumber;
     QTextStream m_out;
+    TestCore* m_core;
 
     static int s_numBenchmarksRunning;
 
@@ -86,8 +105,9 @@
     {
         Q_UNUSED(job);
         int elapsed = m_timer.elapsed();
-        m_out << "importing project " << m_projectNumber << " took "
-            << elapsed / 1000.0 << " seconds" << endl;
+        m_out << "importing " << m_project->fileSet().size()
+            << " items into project #" << m_projectNumber
+            << " took " << elapsed / 1000.0 << " seconds" << endl;
 
         s_numBenchmarksRunning -= 1;
         if (s_numBenchmarksRunning <= 0) {
@@ -106,7 +126,7 @@
         qWarning() << "Usage:" << argv[0] << "projectDir1 [...projectDirN]";
         return 1;
     }
-    QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
+    QApplication app(argc, argv);
     QTextStream qout(stdout);
     // measure the total test time, this provides an indication
     // of overhead and how well multiple projects are imported in parallel
@@ -117,7 +137,9 @@
     QElapsedTimer runTimer;
 
     AutoTestShell::init({"no plugins"});
-    auto core = TestCore::initialize(Core::NoUi);
+    auto core = TestCore::initialize();
+    // attempt to load the "Project Filter" plugin;
+    core->pluginController()->allPluginsForExtension(QStringLiteral("org.kdevelop.IProjectFilter"));
     auto manager = new AbstractFileManagerPlugin({}, core);
 
     const char *kdwMethod[] = {"FAM", "Inotify", "Stat", "QFSWatch"};
Index: kdevplatform/shell/projectcontroller.h
===================================================================
--- kdevplatform/shell/projectcontroller.h
+++ kdevplatform/shell/projectcontroller.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 class ContextMenuExtension;
 class IPlugin;
 
+class AbstractFileManagerPluginImportBenchmark;
+
 class KDEVPLATFORMSHELL_EXPORT IProjectDialogProvider : public QObject
 {
 Q_OBJECT
@@ -161,6 +163,8 @@
 private:
     const QScopedPointer<class ProjectControllerPrivate> d;
     friend class ProjectControllerPrivate;
+public:
+    friend class AbstractFileManagerPluginImportBenchmark;
 };
 
 class ProjectDialogProvider : public IProjectDialogProvider