diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/ui/properties/BuildOptionSettingsUI.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/ui/properties/BuildOptionSettingsUI.java
index e8e742ca570..3d302463f27 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/ui/properties/BuildOptionSettingsUI.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/ui/properties/BuildOptionSettingsUI.java
@@ -163,7 +163,17 @@ public class BuildOptionSettingsUI extends AbstractToolSettingUI {
 								} break;
 		
 								case IOption.BROWSE_FILE: {
-									stringField = new FileFieldEditor(optId, TextProcessor.process(opt.getName()), fieldEditorParent);
+									stringField = new FileFieldEditor(optId, TextProcessor.process(opt.getName()), fieldEditorParent) {
+										/**
+										 * Do not perform validity check on the file name due to losing focus,
+										 * see http://bugs.eclipse.org/289448
+										 */
+										@Override
+										protected boolean checkState() {
+											clearErrorMessage();
+											return true;
+										}
+									};
 								} break;
 		
 								case IOption.BROWSE_NONE: {