diff --git a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core.tests/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManagerTest.java b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core.tests/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManagerTest.java
index 1aa0f9024e7..e62b33142a3 100644
--- a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core.tests/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManagerTest.java
+++ b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core.tests/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManagerTest.java
@@ -62,11 +62,31 @@ public class LaunchBarManagerTest extends TestCase {
 
 	public class TestLaunchBarManager extends LaunchBarManager {
 		private ILaunchMode[] defaultLaunchModes;
+		boolean done;
 
 		public TestLaunchBarManager() throws CoreException {
 			super();
+			// For the tests, need to wait until the init is done
+			synchronized (this) {
+				while (!done) {
+					try {
+						wait();
+					} catch (InterruptedException e) {
+						e.printStackTrace();
+					}
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
+		@Override
+		public void init() throws CoreException {
+			super.init();
+			synchronized (this) {
+				done = true;
+				notify();
+			}
+		}
+		
 		@Override
 		public IExtensionPoint getExtensionPoint() throws CoreException {
 			// default things
diff --git a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManager.java b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManager.java
index 18201f7ca8c..8afe127916d 100644
--- a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManager.java
+++ b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launchbar.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launchbar/core/internal/LaunchBarManager.java
@@ -33,9 +33,13 @@ import org.eclipse.core.runtime.CoreException;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IConfigurationElement;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IExtension;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IExtensionPoint;
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IProgressMonitor;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.ISafeRunnable;
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Platform;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.SafeRunner;
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Status;
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.jobs.Job;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.preferences.IEclipsePreferences;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.preferences.InstanceScope;
 import org.eclipse.debug.core.DebugPlugin;
@@ -227,7 +231,21 @@ public class LaunchBarManager implements ILaunchBarManager, ILaunchConfiguration
 	private static final String PREF_ACTIVE_LAUNCH_TARGET = "activeLaunchTarget";
 	private static final String PREF_CONFIG_DESC_ORDER = "configDescList";
 
-	public LaunchBarManager() throws CoreException {
+	public LaunchBarManager() {
+		new Job("Launch Bar Initialization") {
+			@Override
+			protected IStatus run(IProgressMonitor monitor) {
+				try {
+					init();
+					return Status.OK_STATUS;
+				} catch (CoreException e) {
+					return e.getStatus();
+				}
+			}
+		}.schedule();
+	}
+	
+	public void init() throws CoreException {
 		// Fetch the desc order before the init messes it up
 		IEclipsePreferences store = getPreferenceStore();
 		String configDescIds = store.get(PREF_CONFIG_DESC_ORDER, "");