diff --git a/mkspecs/features/device_config.prf b/mkspecs/features/device_config.prf
index b8991bbe45..ccf13b5166 100644
--- a/mkspecs/features/device_config.prf
+++ b/mkspecs/features/device_config.prf
@@ -32,14 +32,19 @@ unset(DIR)
 
 # Provide a function to be used by mkspecs
 defineTest(deviceSanityCheckCompiler) {
-    # Check if the binary exists with an absolute path
+    # Check if the binary exists with an absolute path. Do this check
+    # before the CROSS_COMPILE empty check below to allow the mkspec
+    # to derive the compiler path from other device options.
     exists($$QMAKE_CXX):return()
 
     # Check for possible reasons of failure
     # check if CROSS_COMPILE device-option is set
     isEmpty(CROSS_COMPILE):error("CROSS_COMPILE needs to be set via -device-option CROSS_COMPILE=<path>")
 
-    # CROSS_COMPILE is an incorrect path
+    # Check if QMAKE_CXX points to an executable.
+    system("which $$QMAKE_CXX > /dev/null"):return()
+
+    # QMAKE_CXX does not point to a compiler.
     error("Compiler $$QMAKE_CXX not found. Check the value of CROSS_COMPILE -device-option")
 }