diff --git a/src/plugins/tracing/qctflib.cpp b/src/plugins/tracing/qctflib.cpp
index cbbefa15118..5b57b01a2fd 100644
--- a/src/plugins/tracing/qctflib.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/tracing/qctflib.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void QCtfLibImpl::cleanup()
 
 QCtfLibImpl::QCtfLibImpl()
 {
-    QString location = QString::fromUtf8(qgetenv("QTRACE_LOCATION"));
+    QString location = qEnvironmentVariable("QTRACE_LOCATION");
     if (location.isEmpty()) {
         qCInfo (lcDebugTrace) << "QTRACE_LOCATION not set";
         return;