diff --git a/mkspecs/features/qt_module.prf b/mkspecs/features/qt_module.prf
index 0b270157b1..c4eda19c82 100644
--- a/mkspecs/features/qt_module.prf
+++ b/mkspecs/features/qt_module.prf
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ for(ever) {
 }
 
 isEmpty(MODULE_BASE_DIR): MODULE_BASE_DIR = $$MODULE_PROFILE_DIR
-MODULE_BASE_OUTDIR = $$shadowed($$MODULE_BASE_DIR)
+isEmpty(MODULE_BASE_OUTDIR): MODULE_BASE_OUTDIR = $$shadowed($$MODULE_BASE_DIR)
 isEmpty(MODULE_QMAKE_OUTDIR): MODULE_QMAKE_OUTDIR = $$MODULE_BASE_OUTDIR
 
 # This check will be removed soon. Weird indentation to avoid reindenting the code later.