diff --git a/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py b/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
index 493f8fcf07..8deaca3b5e 100755
--- a/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
+++ b/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
@@ -505,6 +505,17 @@ class MachineManager(QObject):
 
         return result
 
+    @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = activeVariantChanged)
+    def activeMaterialIds(self):
+        result = []
+        if ExtruderManager.getInstance().getActiveGlobalAndExtruderStacks() is not None:
+            for stack in ExtruderManager.getInstance().getActiveGlobalAndExtruderStacks():
+                variant_container = stack.findContainer({"type": "variant"})
+                if variant_container and variant_container != self._empty_variant_container:
+                    result.append(variant_container.getId())
+
+        return result
+
     @pyqtProperty("QVariantList", notify = activeMaterialChanged)
     def activeMaterialNames(self):
         result = []
diff --git a/plugins/MachineSettingsAction/MachineSettingsAction.py b/plugins/MachineSettingsAction/MachineSettingsAction.py
index e8aec896c1..17e4362f2c 100644
--- a/plugins/MachineSettingsAction/MachineSettingsAction.py
+++ b/plugins/MachineSettingsAction/MachineSettingsAction.py
@@ -134,9 +134,14 @@ class MachineSettingsAction(MachineAction):
         if extruder_count == self._global_container_stack.getProperty("machine_extruder_count", "value"):
             return
 
-        extruder_material = None
-        if extruder_count == 1 and machine_manager.hasMaterials:
-            extruder_material = machine_manager.allActiveMaterialIds[machine_manager.activeStackId]
+        extruder_material_id = None
+        extruder_variant_id = None
+        if extruder_count == 1:
+            # Get the material and variant of the first extruder before setting the number extruders to 1
+            if machine_manager.hasMaterials:
+               extruder_material_id = machine_manager.allActiveMaterialIds[extruder_manager.extruderIds["0"]]
+            if machine_manager.hasVariants:
+               extruder_variant_id = machine_manager.activeVariantIds[0]
 
         definition_changes_container.setProperty("machine_extruder_count", "value", extruder_count)
         self.forceUpdate()
@@ -150,10 +155,12 @@ class MachineSettingsAction(MachineAction):
             if extruder_manager.activeExtruderIndex > -1:
                 extruder_manager.setActiveExtruderIndex(-1);
 
-            if extruder_material:
-                # restore material on global stack
-                # MachineManager._onGlobalContainerChanged removes the global material of multiextruder machines
-                machine_manager.setActiveMaterial(extruder_material);
+            # Restore material and variant on global stack
+            # MachineManager._onGlobalContainerChanged removes the global material and vaiant of multiextruder machines
+            if extruder_material_id:
+                machine_manager.setActiveMaterial(extruder_material_id);
+            if extruder_variant_id:
+                machine_manager.setActiveVariant(extruder_variant_id);
 
 
     @pyqtSlot()