--- a/api.debugger/src/org/netbeans/api/debugger/ActionsManager.java	Fri Feb 12 16:42:00 2010 +0100
+++ a/api.debugger/src/org/netbeans/api/debugger/ActionsManager.java	Fri Feb 12 17:12:37 2010 +0100
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ 
     /** Action constant for Toggle Breakpoint Action. */
     public static final Object              ACTION_TOGGLE_BREAKPOINT = "toggleBreakpoint";
     
+    /** Action constant for Add Watch Action. */
+    public static final Object              ACTION_ADD_WATCH = "addWatch";
+
     
     // variables ...............................................................
     
--- a/spi.debugger.ui/src/org/netbeans/modules/debugger/ui/actions/AddWatchAction.java	Fri Feb 12 16:42:00 2010 +0100
+++ a/spi.debugger.ui/src/org/netbeans/modules/debugger/ui/actions/AddWatchAction.java	Fri Feb 12 17:12:37 2010 +0100
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ 
 import java.util.ResourceBundle;
 import java.util.prefs.Preferences;
 import javax.swing.*;
+import org.netbeans.api.debugger.ActionsManager;
+import org.netbeans.api.debugger.DebuggerEngine;
 import org.netbeans.api.debugger.DebuggerManager;
 import org.netbeans.modules.debugger.ui.WatchPanel;
 
@@ -101,6 +103,9 @@ 
     }
     
     public void performAction () {
+        if (performEngineAddWatchAction()) {
+            return ;
+        }
         ResourceBundle bundle = NbBundle.getBundle (AddWatchAction.class);
 
         WatchPanel wp = new WatchPanel (watchHistory);
@@ -160,4 +165,16 @@ 
         String viewName = VariablesViewButtons.isWatchesViewNested() ? "localsView" : "watchesView";
         ViewActions.openComponent (viewName, false).requestVisible();
     }
+
+    private boolean performEngineAddWatchAction() {
+        DebuggerEngine engine = DebuggerManager.getDebuggerManager().getCurrentEngine();
+        if (engine != null) {
+            ActionsManager manager = engine.getActionsManager();
+            if (manager.isEnabled(ActionsManager.ACTION_ADD_WATCH)) {
+                manager.postAction(ActionsManager.ACTION_ADD_WATCH);
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
 }