diff --git a/Source/cmCommandArgumentParserHelper.cxx b/Source/cmCommandArgumentParserHelper.cxx
index a7f6b494c..64b67c968 100644
--- a/Source/cmCommandArgumentParserHelper.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCommandArgumentParserHelper.cxx
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ char* cmCommandArgumentParserHelper::ExpandVariable(const char* var)
                                      this->Makefile->GetHomeOutputDirectory()))
         {
         cmOStringStream msg;
-        cmListFileBacktrace bt;
+        cmListFileBacktrace bt(this->Makefile->GetLocalGenerator());
         cmListFileContext lfc;
         lfc.FilePath = this->FileName;
         lfc.Line = this->FileLine;
diff --git a/Source/cmComputeTargetDepends.cxx b/Source/cmComputeTargetDepends.cxx
index eb6245529..f28217fc5 100644
--- a/Source/cmComputeTargetDepends.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmComputeTargetDepends.cxx
@@ -386,15 +386,17 @@ void cmComputeTargetDepends::AddTargetDepend(int depender_index,
       e << "The dependency target \"" <<  dependee_name
         << "\" of target \"" << depender->GetName() << "\" does not exist.";
 
-      cmListFileBacktrace nullBacktrace;
       cmListFileBacktrace const* backtrace =
         depender->GetUtilityBacktrace(dependee_name);
-      if(!backtrace)
+      if(backtrace)
         {
-        backtrace = &nullBacktrace;
+        cm->IssueMessage(messageType, e.str(), *backtrace);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+        cm->IssueMessage(messageType, e.str());
         }
 
-      cm->IssueMessage(messageType, e.str(), *backtrace);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmCustomCommand.cxx b/Source/cmCustomCommand.cxx
index ac2eef80e..c161eb63d 100644
--- a/Source/cmCustomCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCustomCommand.cxx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmCustomCommand::cmCustomCommand()
+  : Backtrace(NULL)
 {
   this->HaveComment = false;
   this->EscapeOldStyle = true;
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ cmCustomCommand::cmCustomCommand(const cmCustomCommand& r):
   WorkingDirectory(r.WorkingDirectory),
   EscapeAllowMakeVars(r.EscapeAllowMakeVars),
   EscapeOldStyle(r.EscapeOldStyle),
-  Backtrace(new cmListFileBacktrace(*r.Backtrace))
+  Backtrace(r.Backtrace)
 {
 }
 
@@ -54,11 +55,7 @@ cmCustomCommand& cmCustomCommand::operator=(cmCustomCommand const& r)
   this->EscapeAllowMakeVars = r.EscapeAllowMakeVars;
   this->EscapeOldStyle = r.EscapeOldStyle;
   this->ImplicitDepends = r.ImplicitDepends;
-
-  cmsys::auto_ptr<cmListFileBacktrace>
-    newBacktrace(new cmListFileBacktrace(*r.Backtrace));
-  delete this->Backtrace;
-  this->Backtrace = newBacktrace.release();
+  this->Backtrace = r.Backtrace;
 
   return *this;
 }
@@ -78,20 +75,19 @@ cmCustomCommand::cmCustomCommand(cmMakefile const* mf,
   WorkingDirectory(workingDirectory?workingDirectory:""),
   EscapeAllowMakeVars(false),
   EscapeOldStyle(true),
-  Backtrace(new cmListFileBacktrace)
+  Backtrace(NULL)
 {
   this->EscapeOldStyle = true;
   this->EscapeAllowMakeVars = false;
   if(mf)
     {
-    mf->GetBacktrace(*this->Backtrace);
+    this->Backtrace = mf->GetBacktrace();
     }
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmCustomCommand::~cmCustomCommand()
 {
-  delete this->Backtrace;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -166,7 +162,7 @@ void cmCustomCommand::SetEscapeAllowMakeVars(bool b)
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmListFileBacktrace const& cmCustomCommand::GetBacktrace() const
 {
-  return *this->Backtrace;
+  return this->Backtrace;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmCustomCommand.h b/Source/cmCustomCommand.h
index b5d7e6215..21dbefb26 100644
--- a/Source/cmCustomCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmCustomCommand.h
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 #define cmCustomCommand_h
 
 #include "cmStandardIncludes.h"
+#include "cmListFileCache.h"
 class cmMakefile;
-class cmListFileBacktrace;
 
 /** \class cmCustomCommand
  * \brief A class to encapsulate a custom command
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ private:
   std::string WorkingDirectory;
   bool EscapeAllowMakeVars;
   bool EscapeOldStyle;
-  cmListFileBacktrace* Backtrace;
+  cmListFileBacktrace Backtrace;
   ImplicitDependsList ImplicitDepends;
 };
 
diff --git a/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
index ebfbf7c09..1bca6e68e 100644
--- a/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ cmCustomCommandGenerator::cmCustomCommandGenerator(
   cmCustomCommand const& cc, const std::string& config, cmMakefile* mf):
   CC(cc), Config(config), Makefile(mf), LG(mf->GetLocalGenerator()),
   OldStyle(cc.GetEscapeOldStyle()), MakeVars(cc.GetEscapeAllowMakeVars()),
-  GE(new cmGeneratorExpression(cc.GetBacktrace())), DependsDone(false)
+  GE(new cmGeneratorExpression(&cc.GetBacktrace())), DependsDone(false)
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.cxx
index 6c8ebb61a..30a52d476 100644
--- a/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmExportBuildFileGenerator::cmExportBuildFileGenerator()
+  : Backtrace(NULL)
 {
   this->Makefile = 0;
   this->ExportSet = 0;
diff --git a/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.h b/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.h
index c1bdb5b95..8b5694c39 100644
--- a/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmExportBuildFileGenerator.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public:
 
   void SetMakefile(cmMakefile *mf) {
     this->Makefile = mf;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(this->Backtrace);
+    this->Backtrace = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
   }
 
 protected:
diff --git a/Source/cmExportFileGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmExportFileGenerator.cxx
index 2db40864d..9f5eee56f 100644
--- a/Source/cmExportFileGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmExportFileGenerator.cxx
@@ -377,8 +377,7 @@ void cmExportFileGenerator::PopulateIncludeDirectoriesInterface(
   const char *propName = "INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES";
   const char *input = target->GetProperty(propName);
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge;
 
   std::string dirs = cmGeneratorExpression::Preprocess(
                                             tei->InterfaceIncludeDirectories,
diff --git a/Source/cmExportTryCompileFileGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmExportTryCompileFileGenerator.cxx
index 3350d7c5d..eb8d1935f 100644
--- a/Source/cmExportTryCompileFileGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmExportTryCompileFileGenerator.cxx
@@ -57,10 +57,9 @@ std::string cmExportTryCompileFileGenerator::FindTargets(
     return std::string();
     }
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                       tgt->GetName(),
                                       propName, 0, 0);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
index 4ee34df01..655f3ba8b 100644
--- a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
@@ -3270,14 +3270,13 @@ void cmFileCommand::AddEvaluationFile(const std::string &inputName,
                                       bool inputIsContent
                                      )
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
 
-  cmGeneratorExpression outputGe(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression outputGe(&lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> outputCge
                                                 = outputGe.Parse(outputExpr);
 
-  cmGeneratorExpression conditionGe(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression conditionGe(&lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> conditionCge
                                               = conditionGe.Parse(condition);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
index d53bdd7f8..028d22967 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGeneratorExpression::cmGeneratorExpression(
-  cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace):
+  cmListFileBacktrace const* backtrace):
   Backtrace(backtrace)
 {
 }
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@ cmGeneratorExpression::cmGeneratorExpression(
 cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression>
 cmGeneratorExpression::Parse(std::string const& input)
 {
+#if !defined(__BORLANDC__)
   return cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression>(
-                                      new cmCompiledGeneratorExpression(
-                                        this->Backtrace,
-                                        input));
+    new cmCompiledGeneratorExpression(
+      this->Backtrace ? *this->Backtrace : cmListFileBacktrace(NULL),
+      input));
+#else
+  cmListFileBacktrace emptyBacktrace(NULL);
+  return cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression>(
+    new cmCompiledGeneratorExpression(
+      this->Backtrace ? *this->Backtrace : emptyBacktrace,
+      input));
+#endif
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
index ef5360ef2..324d23c15 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class cmGeneratorExpression
 {
 public:
   /** Construct. */
-  cmGeneratorExpression(cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression(cmListFileBacktrace const* backtrace = NULL);
   ~cmGeneratorExpression();
 
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> Parse(
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ private:
   cmGeneratorExpression(const cmGeneratorExpression &);
   void operator=(const cmGeneratorExpression &);
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace const& Backtrace;
+  cmListFileBacktrace const* Backtrace;
 };
 
 class cmCompiledGeneratorExpression
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.cxx
index 7f8e6943a..75a84cb63 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,25 @@ cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker::cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker(
                 cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *parent)
   : Parent(parent), Target(target), Property(property),
     Content(content), Backtrace(backtrace), TransitivePropertiesOnly(false)
+{
+  Initialize();
+}
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker::cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker(
+                const std::string &target,
+                const std::string &property,
+                const GeneratorExpressionContent *content,
+                cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *parent)
+  : Parent(parent), Target(target), Property(property),
+    Content(content), Backtrace(NULL), TransitivePropertiesOnly(false)
+{
+  Initialize();
+}
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void
+cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker::Initialize()
 {
   const cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *top = this;
   const cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *p = this->Parent;
@@ -43,11 +62,12 @@ cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker::cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker(
 #undef TEST_TRANSITIVE_PROPERTY_METHOD
     {
     std::map<std::string, std::set<std::string> >::const_iterator it
-                                                    = top->Seen.find(target);
+                                              = top->Seen.find(this->Target);
     if (it != top->Seen.end())
       {
       const std::set<std::string> &propSet = it->second;
-      const std::set<std::string>::const_iterator i = propSet.find(property);
+      const std::set<std::string>::const_iterator i
+          = propSet.find(this->Property);
       if (i != propSet.end())
         {
         this->CheckResult = ALREADY_SEEN;
@@ -55,7 +75,7 @@ cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker::cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker(
         }
       }
     const_cast<cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *>(top)
-                                            ->Seen[target].insert(property);
+      ->Seen[this->Target].insert(this->Property);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.h b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.h
index 7217a562a..10f9fa746 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.h
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker.h
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ struct cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker
                                   const std::string &property,
                                   const GeneratorExpressionContent *content,
                                   cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *parent);
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker(const std::string &target,
+                                  const std::string &property,
+                                  const GeneratorExpressionContent *content,
+                                  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *parent);
 
   enum Result {
     DAG,
@@ -76,6 +80,7 @@ struct cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker
 
 private:
   Result CheckGraph() const;
+  void Initialize();
 
 private:
   const cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker * const Parent;
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
index 01d31d3b8..f9067cf9a 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile::Generate()
     }
 
   cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->OutputFileExpr->GetBacktrace();
-  cmGeneratorExpression contentGE(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression contentGE(&lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> inputExpression
                                               = contentGE.Parse(inputContent);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.cxx
index a15e3ff54..c54922d72 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.cxx
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ std::string getLinkedTargetsContent(const std::vector<cmTarget*> &targets,
                                   cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *dagChecker,
                                   const std::string &interfacePropertyName)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(context->Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&context->Backtrace);
 
   std::string sep;
   std::string depString;
@@ -1196,7 +1196,7 @@ static const struct TargetPropertyNode : public cmGeneratorExpressionNode
       {
       if (targetPropertyTransitiveWhitelist[i] == interfacePropertyName)
         {
-        cmGeneratorExpression ge(context->Backtrace);
+        cmGeneratorExpression ge(&context->Backtrace);
         cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(prop);
         std::string result = cge->Evaluate(context->Makefile,
                             context->Config,
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.h b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.h
index eb76d7f15..0ffb86054 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluator.h
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ class cmTarget;
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 struct cmGeneratorExpressionContext
 {
+  cmGeneratorExpressionContext()
+    : Backtrace(NULL)
+  {
+  }
+
   cmListFileBacktrace Backtrace;
   std::set<cmTarget*> DependTargets;
   std::set<cmTarget const*> AllTargets;
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
index 153c611de..a7576ed60 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
@@ -259,12 +259,10 @@ static void handleSystemIncludesDep(cmMakefile *mf, cmTarget* depTgt,
                                   std::vector<std::string>& result,
                                   bool excludeImported)
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-
   if (const char* dirs =
           depTgt->GetProperty("INTERFACE_SYSTEM_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES"))
     {
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(dirs)
                                       ->Evaluate(mf,
                                       config, false, headTarget,
@@ -278,7 +276,7 @@ static void handleSystemIncludesDep(cmMakefile *mf, cmTarget* depTgt,
   if (const char* dirs =
                 depTgt->GetProperty("INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES"))
     {
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(dirs)
                                       ->Evaluate(mf,
                                       config, false, headTarget,
@@ -457,8 +455,7 @@ bool cmGeneratorTarget::IsSystemIncludeDirectory(const std::string& dir,
       return false;
       }
 
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                         this->GetName(),
                                         "SYSTEM_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES", 0, 0);
 
@@ -470,7 +467,7 @@ bool cmGeneratorTarget::IsSystemIncludeDirectory(const std::string& dir,
         it = this->Target->GetSystemIncludeDirectories().begin();
         it != this->Target->GetSystemIncludeDirectories().end(); ++it)
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(*it)
                                           ->Evaluate(this->Makefile,
                                           config, false, this->Target,
@@ -808,7 +805,7 @@ cmTargetTraceDependencies
 {
   // Transform command names that reference targets built in this
   // project to corresponding target-level dependencies.
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(cc.GetBacktrace());
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&cc.GetBacktrace());
 
   // Add target-level dependencies referenced by generator expressions.
   std::set<cmTarget*> targets;
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
index bb818ebc8..6c8be7237 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.cxx
@@ -1282,8 +1282,7 @@ void cmGlobalGenerator::Generate()
   if(!this->GenerateCPackPropertiesFile())
     {
     this->GetCMakeInstance()->IssueMessage(
-      cmake::FATAL_ERROR, "Could not write CPack properties file.",
-      cmListFileBacktrace());
+      cmake::FATAL_ERROR, "Could not write CPack properties file.");
     }
 
   for (std::map<std::string, cmExportBuildFileGenerator*>::iterator
@@ -1294,8 +1293,7 @@ void cmGlobalGenerator::Generate()
         && !cmSystemTools::GetErrorOccuredFlag())
       {
       this->GetCMakeInstance()
-          ->IssueMessage(cmake::FATAL_ERROR, "Could not write export file.",
-                        cmListFileBacktrace());
+          ->IssueMessage(cmake::FATAL_ERROR, "Could not write export file.");
       return;
       }
     }
@@ -1324,8 +1322,7 @@ void cmGlobalGenerator::Generate()
       {
       w << " " << *iter << "\n";
       }
-    this->GetCMakeInstance()->IssueMessage(cmake::AUTHOR_WARNING, w.str(),
-                                           cmListFileBacktrace());
+    this->GetCMakeInstance()->IssueMessage(cmake::AUTHOR_WARNING, w.str());
     }
 
   this->CMakeInstance->UpdateProgress("Generating done", -1);
@@ -1525,8 +1522,7 @@ cmGlobalGenerator::GetGeneratorTarget(cmTarget const* t) const
   if(ti == this->GeneratorTargets.end())
     {
     this->CMakeInstance->IssueMessage(
-      cmake::INTERNAL_ERROR, "Missing cmGeneratorTarget instance!",
-      cmListFileBacktrace());
+      cmake::INTERNAL_ERROR, "Missing cmGeneratorTarget instance!");
     return 0;
     }
   return ti->second;
diff --git a/Source/cmInstallFilesGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmInstallFilesGenerator.cxx
index 65942180a..b2be82e28 100644
--- a/Source/cmInstallFilesGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmInstallFilesGenerator.cxx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "cmInstallFilesGenerator.h"
 
 #include "cmGeneratorExpression.h"
+#include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -84,8 +85,7 @@ void cmInstallFilesGenerator::GenerateScriptForConfig(std::ostream& os,
                                                     Indent const& indent)
 {
   std::vector<std::string> files;
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge;
   for(std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator i = this->Files.begin();
       i != this->Files.end(); ++i)
     {
diff --git a/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx b/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
index 7e78ec000..7813fcc5c 100644
--- a/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ cmInstalledFile::~cmInstalledFile()
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmInstalledFile::SetName(cmMakefile* mf, const std::string& name)
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace;
-  mf->GetBacktrace(backtrace);
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(backtrace);
+  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace = mf->GetBacktrace();
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&backtrace);
 
   this->Name = name;
   this->NameExpression = ge.Parse(name).release();
@@ -70,9 +69,8 @@ void cmInstalledFile::SetProperty(cmMakefile const* mf,
 void cmInstalledFile::AppendProperty(cmMakefile const* mf,
   const std::string& prop, const char* value, bool /*asString*/)
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace;
-  mf->GetBacktrace(backtrace);
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(backtrace);
+  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace = mf->GetBacktrace();
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&backtrace);
 
   Property& property = this->Properties[prop];
   property.ValueExpressions.push_back(ge.Parse(value).release());
diff --git a/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx b/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
index 34781d32c..705666d81 100644
--- a/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "cmListFileCache.h"
 
 #include "cmListFileLexer.h"
+#include "cmLocalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmVersion.h"
@@ -407,6 +408,23 @@ bool cmListFileParser::AddArgument(cmListFileLexer_Token* token,
     }
 }
 
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void cmListFileBacktrace::MakeRelative()
+{
+  if (this->Relative)
+    {
+    return;
+    }
+  for (cmListFileBacktrace::iterator i = this->begin();
+       i != this->end(); ++i)
+    {
+    i->FilePath = this->LocalGenerator->Convert(i->FilePath,
+                                                cmLocalGenerator::HOME);
+    }
+  this->Relative = true;
+}
+
+
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, cmListFileContext const& lfc)
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmListFileCache.h b/Source/cmListFileCache.h
index bede25e65..2ca9b8ea0 100644
--- a/Source/cmListFileCache.h
+++ b/Source/cmListFileCache.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 #include "cmStandardIncludes.h"
 
+class cmLocalGenerator;
+
 /** \class cmListFileCache
  * \brief A class to cache list file contents.
  *
@@ -66,7 +68,20 @@ struct cmListFileFunction: public cmListFileContext
   std::vector<cmListFileArgument> Arguments;
 };
 
-class cmListFileBacktrace: public std::vector<cmListFileContext> {};
+class cmListFileBacktrace: public std::vector<cmListFileContext>
+{
+  public:
+    cmListFileBacktrace(cmLocalGenerator* localGen)
+      : LocalGenerator(localGen)
+      , Relative(localGen ? false : true)
+    {
+    }
+
+    void MakeRelative();
+  private:
+    cmLocalGenerator* LocalGenerator;
+    bool Relative;
+};
 
 struct cmListFile
 {
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 262047115..630957fe7 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -310,14 +310,19 @@ void cmMakefile::IssueMessage(cmake::MessageType t,
                               std::string const& text) const
 {
   // Collect context information.
-  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace;
+  cmLocalGenerator* localGen = this->GetLocalGenerator();
+  if(this->CallStack.empty() && this->GetCMakeInstance()->GetIsInTryCompile())
+    {
+    localGen = 0;
+    }
+  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace(localGen);
   if(!this->CallStack.empty())
     {
     if((t == cmake::FATAL_ERROR) || (t == cmake::INTERNAL_ERROR))
       {
       this->CallStack.back().Status->SetNestedError(true);
       }
-    this->GetBacktrace(backtrace);
+    backtrace = this->GetBacktrace();
     }
   else
     {
@@ -335,11 +340,6 @@ void cmMakefile::IssueMessage(cmake::MessageType t,
       lfc.FilePath = this->ListFileStack.back();
       }
     lfc.Line = 0;
-    if(!this->GetCMakeInstance()->GetIsInTryCompile())
-      {
-      lfc.FilePath = this->LocalGenerator->Convert(lfc.FilePath,
-                                                   cmLocalGenerator::HOME);
-      }
     backtrace.push_back(lfc);
     }
 
@@ -348,21 +348,15 @@ void cmMakefile::IssueMessage(cmake::MessageType t,
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-bool cmMakefile::GetBacktrace(cmListFileBacktrace& backtrace) const
+cmListFileBacktrace cmMakefile::GetBacktrace() const
 {
-  if(this->CallStack.empty())
-    {
-    return false;
-    }
+  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace(this->GetLocalGenerator());
   for(CallStackType::const_reverse_iterator i = this->CallStack.rbegin();
       i != this->CallStack.rend(); ++i)
     {
-    cmListFileContext lfc = *(*i).Context;
-    lfc.FilePath = this->LocalGenerator->Convert(lfc.FilePath,
-                                                 cmLocalGenerator::HOME);
-    backtrace.push_back(lfc);
+    backtrace.push_back(*i->Context);
     }
-  return true;
+  return backtrace;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1745,8 +1739,7 @@ void cmMakefile::AddIncludeDirectories(const std::vector<std::string> &incs,
                               before ? this->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.begin()
                                     : this->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.end();
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
   cmValueWithOrigin entry(incString, lfbt);
   this->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.insert(position, entry);
 
@@ -1923,7 +1916,7 @@ void cmMakefile::CheckForUnused(const char* reason,
   if (this->WarnUnused && !this->VariableUsed(name))
     {
     std::string path;
-    cmListFileBacktrace bt;
+    cmListFileBacktrace bt(this->GetLocalGenerator());
     if (this->CallStack.size())
       {
       const cmListFileContext* file = this->CallStack.back().Context;
@@ -2874,7 +2867,7 @@ cmake::MessageType cmMakefile::ExpandVariablesInStringNew(
                                              this->GetHomeOutputDirectory()))
                 {
                 cmOStringStream msg;
-                cmListFileBacktrace bt;
+                cmListFileBacktrace bt(this->GetLocalGenerator());
                 cmListFileContext lfc;
                 lfc.FilePath = filename;
                 lfc.Line = line;
@@ -4013,8 +4006,7 @@ void cmMakefile::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
         {
         return;
         }
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     this->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
                                         cmValueWithOrigin(value, lfbt));
     return;
@@ -4026,8 +4018,7 @@ void cmMakefile::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
         {
         return;
         }
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     this->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(cmValueWithOrigin(value, lfbt));
     return;
     }
@@ -4038,8 +4029,7 @@ void cmMakefile::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
       {
       return;
       }
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     cmValueWithOrigin entry(value, lfbt);
     this->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(entry);
     return;
@@ -4070,24 +4060,21 @@ void cmMakefile::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop,
 {
   if (prop == "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     this->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
                                         cmValueWithOrigin(value, lfbt));
     return;
     }
   if (prop == "COMPILE_OPTIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     this->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(
                                         cmValueWithOrigin(value, lfbt));
     return;
     }
   if (prop == "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->GetBacktrace();
     this->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
                                         cmValueWithOrigin(value, lfbt));
     return;
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index e3b83af96..d5ffd984a 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ public:
   /**
    * Get the current context backtrace.
    */
-  bool GetBacktrace(cmListFileBacktrace& backtrace) const;
+  cmListFileBacktrace GetBacktrace() const;
 
   /**
    * Get the vector of  files created by this makefile
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
index 85017ad2a..403f6e687 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ void cmMakefileTargetGenerator::WriteTargetBuildRules()
      this->Makefile->GetProperty
      ("ADDITIONAL_MAKE_CLEAN_FILES"))
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                             ge.Parse(additional_clean_files);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmTarget.cxx b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
index 15acfdd5c..59cc14c73 100644
--- a/Source/cmTarget.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
@@ -87,10 +87,12 @@ class cmTargetInternals
 {
 public:
   cmTargetInternals()
+    : Backtrace(NULL)
     {
     this->PolicyWarnedCMP0022 = false;
     }
   cmTargetInternals(cmTargetInternals const&)
+    : Backtrace(NULL)
     {
     this->PolicyWarnedCMP0022 = false;
     }
@@ -366,7 +368,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetMakefile(cmMakefile* mf)
     }
 
   // Save the backtrace of target construction.
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(this->Internal->Backtrace);
+  this->Internal->Backtrace = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
 
   if (!this->IsImported())
     {
@@ -443,7 +445,7 @@ void cmTarget::AddUtility(const std::string& u, cmMakefile *makefile)
 {
   if(this->Utilities.insert(u).second && makefile)
     {
-    makefile->GetBacktrace(UtilityBacktraces[u]);
+    UtilityBacktraces.insert(std::make_pair(u, makefile->GetBacktrace()));
     }
 }
 
@@ -710,11 +712,8 @@ void cmTarget::GetSourceFiles(std::vector<std::string> &files,
     this->DebugSourcesDone = true;
     }
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                              this->GetName(),
-                                              "SOURCES", 0, 0);
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
+                                             "SOURCES", 0, 0);
 
   std::set<std::string> uniqueSrcs;
   bool contextDependentDirectSources = processSources(this,
@@ -739,7 +738,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetSourceFiles(std::vector<std::string> &files,
         continue;
         }
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(it->Value);
       std::string targetResult = cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile, config,
@@ -758,7 +757,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetSourceFiles(std::vector<std::string> &files,
         // TARGET_PROPERTY expression.
         sourceGenex = "$<$<BOOL:" + it->Value + ">:" + sourceGenex + ">";
         }
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(
                                                                 sourceGenex);
 
@@ -910,9 +909,8 @@ void cmTarget::AddTracedSources(std::vector<std::string> const& srcs)
     {
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(srcFiles);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -948,9 +946,8 @@ void cmTarget::AddSources(std::vector<std::string> const& srcs)
     {
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(srcFiles);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1084,9 +1081,8 @@ cmSourceFile* cmTarget::AddSource(const std::string& src)
     {
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(src);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1206,11 +1202,10 @@ void cmTarget::GetDirectLinkLibraries(const std::string& config,
   const char *prop = this->GetProperty("LINK_LIBRARIES");
   if (prop)
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
     const cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(prop);
 
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                         this->GetName(),
                                         "LINK_LIBRARIES", 0, 0);
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile,
@@ -1241,11 +1236,10 @@ void cmTarget::GetInterfaceLinkLibraries(const std::string& config,
   const char *prop = this->GetProperty("INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES");
   if (prop)
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
     const cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(prop);
 
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                         this->GetName(),
                                         "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES", 0, 0);
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile,
@@ -1306,8 +1300,7 @@ bool cmTarget::PushTLLCommandTrace(TLLSignature signature)
       ret = false;
       }
     }
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
   this->TLLCommands.push_back(std::make_pair(signature, lfbt));
   return ret;
 }
@@ -1333,9 +1326,10 @@ void cmTarget::GetTllSignatureTraces(cmOStringStream &s,
                                                                 : "plain");
     s << "The uses of the " << sigString << " signature are here:\n";
     std::set<std::string> emitted;
-    for(std::vector<cmListFileBacktrace>::const_iterator it = sigs.begin();
+    for(std::vector<cmListFileBacktrace>::iterator it = sigs.begin();
         it != sigs.end(); ++it)
       {
+      it->MakeRelative();
       cmListFileBacktrace::const_iterator i = it->begin();
       if(i != it->end())
         {
@@ -1796,9 +1790,8 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
     }
   if(prop == "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
@@ -1807,9 +1800,8 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_OPTIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(
@@ -1818,9 +1810,8 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_FEATURES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries.push_back(
@@ -1829,9 +1820,8 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
@@ -1849,8 +1839,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
   if (prop == "LINK_LIBRARIES")
     {
     this->Internal->LinkImplementationPropertyEntries.clear();
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
     cmValueWithOrigin entry(value, lfbt);
     this->Internal->LinkImplementationPropertyEntries.push_back(entry);
     return;
@@ -1866,9 +1855,8 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
       return;
       }
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.clear();
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1901,36 +1889,32 @@ void cmTarget::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value,
     }
   if(prop == "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     return;
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_OPTIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     return;
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_FEATURES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     return;
     }
   if(prop == "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     return;
@@ -1945,8 +1929,7 @@ void cmTarget::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value,
     }
   if (prop == "LINK_LIBRARIES")
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
     cmValueWithOrigin entry(value, lfbt);
     this->Internal->LinkImplementationPropertyEntries.push_back(entry);
     return;
@@ -1962,9 +1945,8 @@ void cmTarget::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value,
       return;
       }
       this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
-      cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-      this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
       this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
                             new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(cge));
@@ -2030,7 +2012,7 @@ void cmTarget::AppendBuildInterfaceIncludes()
 void cmTarget::InsertInclude(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
                      bool before)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
 
   std::vector<cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry*>::iterator position
                 = before ? this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.begin()
@@ -2044,7 +2026,7 @@ void cmTarget::InsertInclude(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
 void cmTarget::InsertCompileOption(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
                      bool before)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
 
   std::vector<cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry*>::iterator position
                 = before ? this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.begin()
@@ -2057,7 +2039,7 @@ void cmTarget::InsertCompileOption(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmTarget::InsertCompileDefinition(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
 
   this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
       new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(entry.Value)));
@@ -2098,14 +2080,13 @@ static void processIncludeDirectories(cmTarget const* tgt,
         }
       }
     std::string usedIncludes;
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
     for(std::vector<std::string>::iterator
           li = entryIncludes.begin(); li != entryIncludes.end(); ++li)
       {
       std::string targetName = (*it)->TargetName;
       std::string evaluatedTargetName;
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(targetName);
       evaluatedTargetName = cge->Evaluate(mf, config, false, tgt, 0, 0);
@@ -2238,10 +2219,8 @@ cmTarget::GetIncludeDirectories(const std::string& config) const
 {
   std::vector<std::string> includes;
   std::set<std::string> uniqueIncludes;
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                             this->GetName(),
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
                                              "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES", 0, 0);
 
   std::vector<std::string> debugProperties;
@@ -2284,7 +2263,7 @@ cmTarget::GetIncludeDirectories(const std::string& config) const
         continue;
         }
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(it->Value);
       std::string result = cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile, config,
@@ -2303,7 +2282,7 @@ cmTarget::GetIncludeDirectories(const std::string& config) const
         // TARGET_PROPERTY expression.
         includeGenex = "$<$<BOOL:" + it->Value + ">:" + includeGenex + ">";
         }
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(
                                                               includeGenex);
 
@@ -2332,7 +2311,7 @@ cmTarget::GetIncludeDirectories(const std::string& config) const
 
         libDir = frameworkCheck.match(1);
 
-        cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+        cmGeneratorExpression ge;
         cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                   ge.Parse(libDir.c_str());
         this->Internal
@@ -2446,10 +2425,9 @@ void cmTarget::GetAutoUicOptions(std::vector<std::string> &result,
     {
     return;
     }
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                       this->GetName(),
                                       "AUTOUIC_OPTIONS", 0, 0);
   cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(prop)
@@ -2466,11 +2444,9 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileOptions(std::vector<std::string> &result,
                                  const std::string& config) const
 {
   std::set<std::string> uniqueOptions;
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                              this->GetName(),
-                                              "COMPILE_OPTIONS", 0, 0);
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
+                                             "COMPILE_OPTIONS", 0, 0);
 
   std::vector<std::string> debugProperties;
   const char *debugProp =
@@ -2512,7 +2488,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileOptions(std::vector<std::string> &result,
         continue;
         }
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(it->Value);
       std::string targetResult = cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile, config,
@@ -2531,7 +2507,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileOptions(std::vector<std::string> &result,
         // TARGET_PROPERTY expression.
         optionGenex = "$<$<BOOL:" + it->Value + ">:" + optionGenex + ">";
         }
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(
                                                                 optionGenex);
 
@@ -2578,11 +2554,9 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileDefinitions(std::vector<std::string> &list,
                                             const std::string& config) const
 {
   std::set<std::string> uniqueOptions;
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                              this->GetName(),
-                                              "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS", 0, 0);
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
+                                             "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS", 0, 0);
 
   std::vector<std::string> debugProperties;
   const char *debugProp =
@@ -2624,7 +2598,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileDefinitions(std::vector<std::string> &list,
         continue;
         }
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(it->Value);
       std::string targetResult = cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile, config,
@@ -2643,7 +2617,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileDefinitions(std::vector<std::string> &list,
         // TARGET_PROPERTY expression.
         defsGenex = "$<$<BOOL:" + it->Value + ">:" + defsGenex + ">";
         }
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(
                                                                 defsGenex);
 
@@ -2671,7 +2645,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileDefinitions(std::vector<std::string> &list,
             }
           case cmPolicies::OLD:
             {
-            cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+            cmGeneratorExpression ge;
             cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(configProp);
             this->Internal
@@ -2726,10 +2700,8 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileFeatures(std::vector<std::string> &result,
                                   const std::string& config) const
 {
   std::set<std::string> uniqueFeatures;
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
 
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
-                                             this->GetName(),
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
                                              "COMPILE_FEATURES",
                                              0, 0);
 
@@ -2773,7 +2745,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileFeatures(std::vector<std::string> &result,
         continue;
         }
       {
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge =
                                                         ge.Parse(it->Value);
       std::string targetResult = cge->Evaluate(this->Makefile, config,
@@ -2792,7 +2764,7 @@ void cmTarget::GetCompileFeatures(std::vector<std::string> &result,
         // TARGET_PROPERTY expression.
         featureGenex = "$<$<BOOL:" + it->Value + ">:" + featureGenex + ">";
         }
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(
                                                                 featureGenex);
 
@@ -5183,8 +5155,7 @@ cmTarget::ReportPropertyOrigin(const std::string &p,
   areport += result;
   areport += "\"):\n" + report;
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->Makefile->GetCMakeInstance()->IssueMessage(cmake::LOG, areport, lfbt);
+  this->Makefile->GetCMakeInstance()->IssueMessage(cmake::LOG, areport);
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -5921,10 +5892,9 @@ void cmTarget::ComputeImportInfo(std::string const& desired_config,
     }
   if(propertyLibs)
     {
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
 
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt,
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                         this->GetName(),
                                         linkProp, 0, 0);
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(propertyLibs)
@@ -6244,10 +6214,9 @@ void cmTarget::GetTransitivePropertyTargets(const std::string& config,
     }
 
   // The interface libraries have been explicitly set.
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
-  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt, this->GetName(),
-                                              linkIfaceProp, 0, 0);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge;
+  cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
+                                             linkIfaceProp, 0, 0);
   dagChecker.SetTransitivePropertiesOnly();
   std::vector<std::string> libs;
   cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(interfaceLibs)->Evaluate(
@@ -6356,9 +6325,8 @@ const char* cmTarget::ComputeLinkInterfaceLibraries(const std::string& config,
   if(explicitLibraries)
     {
     // The interface libraries have been explicitly set.
-    cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
-    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt, this->GetName(),
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge;
+    cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
                                                linkIfaceProp, 0, 0);
     cmSystemTools::ExpandListArgument(ge.Parse(explicitLibraries)->Evaluate(
                                         this->Makefile,
@@ -6383,9 +6351,8 @@ const char* cmTarget::ComputeLinkInterfaceLibraries(const std::string& config,
       {
       // Compare the link implementation fallback link interface to the
       // preferred new link interface property and warn if different.
-      cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
-      cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(lfbt, this->GetName(),
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge;
+      cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(this->GetName(),
                                       "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES", 0, 0);
       std::vector<std::string> ifaceLibs;
       const char* newExplicitLibraries =
diff --git a/Source/cmTargetCompileOptionsCommand.cxx b/Source/cmTargetCompileOptionsCommand.cxx
index 18499fd4e..3fb76a6dd 100644
--- a/Source/cmTargetCompileOptionsCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTargetCompileOptionsCommand.cxx
@@ -55,8 +55,7 @@ bool cmTargetCompileOptionsCommand
 ::HandleDirectContent(cmTarget *tgt, const std::vector<std::string> &content,
                                    bool, bool)
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
   cmValueWithOrigin entry(this->Join(content), lfbt);
   tgt->InsertCompileOption(entry);
   return true;
diff --git a/Source/cmTargetIncludeDirectoriesCommand.cxx b/Source/cmTargetIncludeDirectoriesCommand.cxx
index caec7eba5..e9f0e047f 100644
--- a/Source/cmTargetIncludeDirectoriesCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTargetIncludeDirectoriesCommand.cxx
@@ -70,8 +70,7 @@ bool cmTargetIncludeDirectoriesCommand
 ::HandleDirectContent(cmTarget *tgt, const std::vector<std::string> &content,
                       bool prepend, bool system)
 {
-  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt;
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(lfbt);
+  cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
   cmValueWithOrigin entry(this->Join(content), lfbt);
   tgt->InsertInclude(entry, prepend);
   if (system)
diff --git a/Source/cmTest.cxx b/Source/cmTest.cxx
index 28a7bb17c..ff5d4119e 100644
--- a/Source/cmTest.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTest.cxx
@@ -17,24 +17,22 @@
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmTest::cmTest(cmMakefile* mf)
+  : Backtrace(mf->GetBacktrace())
 {
   this->Makefile = mf;
   this->OldStyle = true;
   this->Properties.SetCMakeInstance(mf->GetCMakeInstance());
-  this->Backtrace = new cmListFileBacktrace;
-  this->Makefile->GetBacktrace(*this->Backtrace);
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmTest::~cmTest()
 {
-  delete this->Backtrace;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmListFileBacktrace const& cmTest::GetBacktrace() const
 {
-  return *this->Backtrace;
+  return this->Backtrace;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmTest.h b/Source/cmTest.h
index a93eff534..c6e7e42e8 100644
--- a/Source/cmTest.h
+++ b/Source/cmTest.h
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
 
 #include "cmCustomCommand.h"
 #include "cmPropertyMap.h"
+#include "cmListFileCache.h"
 class cmMakefile;
-class cmListFileBacktrace;
 
 /** \class cmTest
  * \brief Represent a test
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ private:
   bool OldStyle;
 
   cmMakefile* Makefile;
-  cmListFileBacktrace* Backtrace;
+  cmListFileBacktrace Backtrace;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
index c1b1f8b98..f87a5353f 100644
--- a/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void cmTestGenerator::GenerateScriptForConfig(std::ostream& os,
   this->TestGenerated = true;
 
   // Set up generator expression evaluation context.
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(this->Test->GetBacktrace());
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&this->Test->GetBacktrace());
 
   // Start the test command.
   os << indent << "add_test(" << this->Test->GetName() << " ";
diff --git a/Source/cmake.cxx b/Source/cmake.cxx
index 16dc7244c..e3bebbd6e 100644
--- a/Source/cmake.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmake.cxx
@@ -2562,8 +2562,11 @@ static bool cmakeCheckStampList(const char* stampList)
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmake::IssueMessage(cmake::MessageType t, std::string const& text,
-                         cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace)
+                         cmListFileBacktrace const& bt)
 {
+  cmListFileBacktrace backtrace = bt;
+  backtrace.MakeRelative();
+
   cmOStringStream msg;
   bool isError = false;
   // Construct the message header.
@@ -2786,7 +2789,7 @@ void cmake::RunCheckForUnusedVariables()
     }
   if(haveUnused)
     {
-    this->IssueMessage(cmake::WARNING, msg.str(), cmListFileBacktrace());
+    this->IssueMessage(cmake::WARNING, msg.str());
     }
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/Source/cmake.h b/Source/cmake.h
index 329b4396b..2d04902aa 100644
--- a/Source/cmake.h
+++ b/Source/cmake.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #ifndef cmake_h
 #define cmake_h
 
+#include "cmListFileCache.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
 #include "cmPropertyDefinitionMap.h"
 #include "cmPropertyMap.h"
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ class cmFileTimeComparison;
 class cmExternalMakefileProjectGenerator;
 class cmDocumentationSection;
 class cmPolicies;
-class cmListFileBacktrace;
 class cmTarget;
 class cmGeneratedFileStream;
 
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ class cmake
 
   /** Display a message to the user.  */
   void IssueMessage(cmake::MessageType t, std::string const& text,
-                    cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace);
+        cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace = cmListFileBacktrace(NULL));
   ///! run the --build option
   int Build(const std::string& dir,
             const std::string& target,
diff --git a/Tests/CMakeLists.txt b/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
index cf24798cf..3e69f937e 100644
--- a/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1820,9 +1820,9 @@ ${CMake_BINARY_DIR}/bin/cmake -DDIR=dev -P ${CMake_SOURCE_DIR}/Utilities/Release
     --build-options ${build_options}
       "--warn-unused-vars")
   set_tests_properties(WarnUnusedUnusedViaUnset PROPERTIES
-    PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION "CMake Warning .*VariableUnusedViaUnset.CMakeLists.txt:7 \\(set\\):")
+    PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION "CMake Warning \\(dev\\) at CMakeLists.txt:7 \\(set\\):")
   set_tests_properties(WarnUnusedUnusedViaUnset PROPERTIES
-    FAIL_REGULAR_EXPRESSION "CMake Warning .*VariableUnusedViaUnset.CMakeLists.txt:5 \\(set\\):")
+    FAIL_REGULAR_EXPRESSION "CMakeLists.txt:5 \\(set\\):")
   list(APPEND TEST_BUILD_DIRS "${CMake_BINARY_DIR}/Tests/WarnUnusedUnusedViaUnset")
 
   if("${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" MATCHES "Makefile" AND NOT WIN32)