diff --git a/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.cxx b/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.cxx
index e3d20cff0f..62fbe18ee0 100644
--- a/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.cxx
@@ -1626,6 +1626,25 @@ std::string cmQtAutoGenerators::FindMatchingHeader(
   return header;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Tries to find a file in the include directories
+ * @return True on success
+ */
+bool cmQtAutoGenerators::FindInIncludeDirectories(
+  std::string& file_n, const std::string& searchString) const
+{
+  for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator iit =
+         this->MocIncludePaths.begin();
+       iit != this->MocIncludePaths.end(); ++iit) {
+    const std::string fullPath = ((*iit) + '/' + searchString);
+    if (cmsys::SystemTools::FileExists(fullPath.c_str())) {
+      file_n = fullPath;
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Generates the parent directory of the given file on demand
  * @return True on success
diff --git a/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.h b/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.h
index 895c50a6d6..b3c7a3cc07 100644
--- a/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.h
+++ b/Source/cmQtAutoGenerators.h
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ private:
   std::string FindMatchingHeader(const std::string& basePath,
                                  const std::string& baseName,
                                  const std::string& subDir) const;
+  bool FindInIncludeDirectories(std::string& file_n,
+                                const std::string& searchString) const;
 
   // - Target names
   std::string OriginTargetName;