diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleFactory.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleFactory.java
index dd204e3c27f..51caea277dc 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleFactory.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleFactory.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public class BuildConsoleFactory implements IConsoleFactory {
 	public void openConsole() {
 		IBuildConsoleManager manager = CUIPlugin.getDefault().getConsoleManager();
 		if (manager instanceof BuildConsoleManager) {
-			((BuildConsoleManager)manager).showConsole();
+			((BuildConsoleManager)manager).showConsole(true);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleManager.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleManager.java
index fe99ece5efc..4fa892cf111 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleManager.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsoleManager.java
@@ -132,14 +132,15 @@ public class BuildConsoleManager implements IBuildConsoleManager, IResourceChang
 				listener.consoleChange(event);
 			}
 		}
-		showConsole();
+		showConsole(true);
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Opens the console view. If the view is already open, it is brought to the
-	 * front. The console that is shown is the console that was last on top.
+	 * front if requested and the respective user preference is set. The console
+	 * that is shown is the console that was last on top.
 	 */
-	protected void showConsole() {
+	protected void showConsole(boolean bringToTop) {
 		IWorkbenchWindow window = CUIPlugin.getActiveWorkbenchWindow();
 		if (window != null) {
 			IWorkbenchPage page = window.getActivePage();
@@ -155,11 +156,9 @@ public class BuildConsoleManager implements IBuildConsoleManager, IResourceChang
 					//restore focus stolen by the creation of the
 					// console
 					page.activate(activePart);
-				} else {
-					boolean bringToTop = shouldBringToTop(consoleView);
-					if (bringToTop) {
-						page.bringToTop(consoleView);
-					}
+				}
+				if (bringToTop && shouldBringToTop(consoleView)) {
+					page.bringToTop(consoleView);
 				}
 				if (consoleView instanceof IConsoleView) {
 					if (BuildConsole.getCurrentPage() == null)
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitioner.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitioner.java
index a0bc8421da1..57ba6e1321a 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitioner.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitioner.java
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitioner
 
 		// notify all streams with data we are about to update
 		update.getStreamsNeedingNotifcation().forEach(this::warnOfContentChange);
+		fManager.showConsole(update.hasProblemsAdded());
 
 		/*
 		 * The order of these statements matters, the setting the contents of
@@ -306,7 +307,6 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitioner
 		if (stream != null) {
 			ConsolePlugin.getDefault().getConsoleManager().warnOfContentChange(stream.getConsole());
 		}
-		fManager.showConsole();
 	}
 
 	public IDocument getDocument() {
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitionerEditData.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitionerEditData.java
index d28550bcf5c..eac79240c3b 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitionerEditData.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/buildconsole/BuildConsolePartitionerEditData.java
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 		 * All the streams that have been written to since the last update.
 		 */
 		List<IBuildConsoleStreamDecorator> getStreamsNeedingNotifcation();
+		
+		/**
+		 * True if partitions with problem markers have been added since the last
+		 * update.
+		 */
+		boolean hasProblemsAdded();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -95,6 +101,12 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 	 * Set of streams that have been updated since the last UI update.
 	 */
 	private Set<IBuildConsoleStreamDecorator> fEditStreams = new HashSet<>();
+	
+	/**
+	 * True if partitions with problem markers have been added since the last UI
+	 * update.
+	 */
+	private boolean fEditProblemsAdded = false;
 
 
 	public BuildConsolePartitionerEditData(int maxLines) {
@@ -151,6 +163,9 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 				} else {
 					partitionType = BuildConsolePartition.ERROR_PARTITION_TYPE;
 				}
+				if (marker != null) {
+					fEditProblemsAdded = true;
+				}
 				if (fEditPartitions.isEmpty()) {
 					fEditPartitions.add(new BuildConsolePartition(stream, fEditStringBuilder.length(),
 							text.length(), partitionType, marker, newlines));
@@ -300,6 +315,7 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 	 */
 	public UpdateUIData getUpdate() {
 		boolean clearDocumentMarkerManager;
+		boolean problemsAdded;
 		long newOffset;
 		String newConents;
 		List<ITypedRegion> newPartitions;
@@ -313,6 +329,8 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 			fClearDocumentMarkerManager = false;
 			streamsNeedingNotifcation = new ArrayList<>(fEditStreams);
 			fEditStreams.clear();
+			problemsAdded = fEditProblemsAdded;
+			fEditProblemsAdded = false;
 		}
 
 		return new UpdateUIData() {
@@ -341,6 +359,11 @@ public class BuildConsolePartitionerEditData {
 			public long getOffset() {
 				return newOffset;
 			}
+			
+			@Override
+			public boolean hasProblemsAdded() {
+				return problemsAdded;
+			}
 		};
 	}