background build error when using common props file

when there's an import for a common props file in a VS project file like this:

<Import Project="$(SolutionDir)\common.props" />

the output window shows an error for every project in the solution that has this common props file included:

myproject.vcxproj: background build ERROR: The imported project "D:\common.props" was not found. Confirm that the expression in the Import declaration "\common.props" is correct, and that the file exists on disk. D:\myrootdir\common\myproject\myproject.vcxproj

using

<Import Project="$(SolutionDir)common.props" />

instead doesn't work either: the error still shows up, but this time for D:\myrootdir\common\myproject\common.props not being found instead of D:\common.props

So I tried to use a Directory.Build.props file instead in the source root folder and removed the import from all the vcxproj files. This gives however the error

myproject.vcxproj: background build FAILED!

in the output window.

I've reproduce this by creating a new project with the project wizard (Qt Quick application). When the wizard finishes, no other changes are necessary. But both adding the import statement or copying a Directory.Build.props file give the same error output.