diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/ManagedBuildManager.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/ManagedBuildManager.java
index c605dcf68c9..8c99ce19e3d 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/ManagedBuildManager.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/ManagedBuildManager.java
@@ -571,6 +571,19 @@ public class ManagedBuildManager extends AbstractCExtension {
 		return getExtensionProjectTypeMap().get(id);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @return the base extension configuration from the manifest (plugin.xml)
+	 *  or {@code null} if not found.
+	 *  
+	 * @since 8.0
+	 */
+	public static IConfiguration getExtensionConfiguration(IConfiguration cfg) {
+		for(;cfg != null && !cfg.isExtensionElement(); cfg = cfg.getParent()) {
+			// empty loop to find base configuration
+		}
+		return cfg;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @return the configuration from the manifest with the ID specified in the argument
 	 *  or {@code null}.
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/BuildConfigurationData.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/BuildConfigurationData.java
index 2d9aa3da766..4886881035a 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/BuildConfigurationData.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/BuildConfigurationData.java
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.ManagedBuilderCorePlugin;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.internal.core.Configuration;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.CoreException;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IPath;
+import org.eclipse.osgi.util.NLS;
 
 public class BuildConfigurationData extends CConfigurationData {
 	private Configuration fCfg;
@@ -177,7 +178,11 @@ public class BuildConfigurationData extends CConfigurationData {
 		String msg = null;
 		if(!fCfg.isSupported()){
 			flags |= CConfigurationStatus.TOOLCHAIN_NOT_SUPPORTED;
-			msg = DataProviderMessages.getString("BuildConfigurationData.0"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+			msg = DataProviderMessages.getString("BuildConfigurationData.NoConfigurationSupport"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+			
+		} else if (ManagedBuildManager.getExtensionConfiguration(fCfg)==null){
+			flags |= CConfigurationStatus.SETTINGS_INVALID;
+			msg = NLS.bind(DataProviderMessages.getString("BuildConfigurationData.OrphanedConfiguration"), fCfg.getId()); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		}
 		
 		if(flags != 0)
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
index 34ac6196c56..824c06f516f 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ ProjectConverter.6=the project conversion failed
 ProjectConverter.7=targets conversion
 ProjectConverter.8=the project conversion failed due to unknown reason
 ProjectConverter.9=the given project is not a valid CDT project
-BuildConfigurationData.0=The configuration support is not installed on the system
+BuildConfigurationData.NoConfigurationSupport=The configuration support is not installed on the system
+BuildConfigurationData.OrphanedConfiguration=Orphaned configuration. No base extension cfg exists for ID={0}