diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IConfiguration.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IConfiguration.java
index 453fde57045..598bba51fba 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IConfiguration.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IConfiguration.java
@@ -221,6 +221,20 @@ public interface IConfiguration extends IBuildObject {
 	 * @return ITool
 	 */
 	public ITool getTool(String id);
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the <code>ITool</code> in this configuration's tool-chain with 
+	 * the specified ID, or a tool with a superclass with this id. 
+	 * 
+	 * <p>If the tool-chain does not have a tool with that ID, the method 
+	 * returns <code>null</code>. It is the responsibility of the caller to 
+	 * verify the return value.  
+	 * 
+	 * @param id unique identifier of the tool to search for
+	 * @return <code>ITool</code>
+	 * @since 3.0.2
+	 */
+	public ITool getToolBySuperClassId(String id);
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the <code>IToolChain</code> child of this configuration.
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IToolChain.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IToolChain.java
index 536caee3a00..70158fc58ab 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IToolChain.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/core/IToolChain.java
@@ -161,6 +161,20 @@ public interface IToolChain extends IBuildObject, IHoldsOptions {
 	 */
 	public ITool getTool(String id);
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the <code>ITool</code> in the tool-chain with the specified 
+	 * ID, or a tool with a superclass with this id. 
+	 * 
+	 * <p>If the tool-chain does not have a tool with that ID, the method 
+	 * returns <code>null</code>. It is the responsibility of the caller to 
+	 * verify the return value.  
+	 * 
+	 * @param id unique identifier of the tool to search for
+	 * @return <code>ITool</code>
+	 * @since 3.0.2
+	 */
+	public ITool getToolBySuperClassId(String id);
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns the <code>IToolChain</code> that is the superclass of this
 	 * tool-chain, or <code>null</code> if the attribute was not specified.
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/Configuration.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/Configuration.java
index 07d2a1cea47..04d73b2555c 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/Configuration.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/Configuration.java
@@ -660,6 +660,13 @@ public class Configuration extends BuildObject implements IConfiguration {
 		return toolChain.getTool(id);
 	}
 
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IConfiguration#getToolBySuperClassId(java.lang.String) 
+	 */
+	public ITool getToolBySuperClassId(String id) {
+		return toolChain.getToolBySuperClassId(id);
+	}
+
 	/* (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IConfiguration#getTargetTool()
 	 */
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolChain.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolChain.java
index 0d2442d3c05..5d70a50d1f2 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolChain.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolChain.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IConfiguration;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IManagedConfigElement;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IManagedIsToolChainSupported;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IManagedProject;
+import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IOption;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IOutputType;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IProjectType;
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.ITargetPlatform;
@@ -820,6 +821,28 @@ public class ToolChain extends HoldsOptions implements IToolChain {
 		Tool tool = (Tool)getToolMap().get(id);
 		return (ITool)tool;
 	}
+
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.IToolChain#getToolBySuperClassId(java.lang.String)
+	 */
+	public ITool getToolBySuperClassId(String id) {
+		if (id == null) return null;
+		
+		//  Look for a tool with this ID, or a tool with a superclass with this id
+		ITool[] tools = getTools();
+		for (int i = 0; i < tools.length; i++) {
+			ITool targetTool = tools[i];
+			ITool tool = targetTool;
+			do {
+				if (id.equals(tool.getId())) {
+					return targetTool;
+				}		
+				tool = tool.getSuperClass();
+			} while (tool != null);
+		}
+		
+		return null;
+	}
 	
 	/* (non-Javadoc)
 	 * Safe accessor for the list of tools.