diff --git a/src/corelib/io/qprocess.cpp b/src/corelib/io/qprocess.cpp
index 502628489d..6e1a771258 100644
--- a/src/corelib/io/qprocess.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/io/qprocess.cpp
@@ -2090,10 +2090,7 @@ void QProcess::start(const QString &program, const QStringList &arguments, OpenM
         return;
     }
     if (program.isEmpty()) {
-        Q_D(QProcess);
-        d->processError = QProcess::FailedToStart;
-        setErrorString(tr("No program defined"));
-        emit error(d->processError);
+        d->setErrorAndEmit(QProcess::FailedToStart, tr("No program defined"));
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2120,10 +2117,7 @@ void QProcess::start(OpenMode mode)
         return;
     }
     if (d->program.isEmpty()) {
-        Q_D(QProcess);
-        d->processError = QProcess::FailedToStart;
-        setErrorString(tr("No program defined"));
-        emit error(d->processError);
+        d->setErrorAndEmit(QProcess::FailedToStart, tr("No program defined"));
         return;
     }