diff --git a/qmake/library/qmakeparser.cpp b/qmake/library/qmakeparser.cpp
index ce49caef114..f32267cf599 100644
--- a/qmake/library/qmakeparser.cpp
+++ b/qmake/library/qmakeparser.cpp
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ bool QMakeParser::read(ProFile *pro)
     }
 
     QByteArray bcont = file.readAll();
-    if (bcont.startsWith(QByteArray("\xef\xbb\xbf"))) {
+    if (bcont.startsWith("\xef\xbb\xbf")) {
         // UTF-8 BOM will cause subtle errors
         m_handler->message(QMakeParserHandler::ParserIoError,
                            fL1S("Unexpected UTF-8 BOM in %1").arg(pro->fileName()));