diff --git a/src/cpp/session/include/session/SessionModuleContext.hpp b/src/cpp/session/include/session/SessionModuleContext.hpp
index 527a1a6e522..47eabc03cf7 100644
--- a/src/cpp/session/include/session/SessionModuleContext.hpp
+++ b/src/cpp/session/include/session/SessionModuleContext.hpp
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ bool isGoogleDocsIntegrationEnabled();
 void setGoogleDocsIntegrationEnabled(bool enabled);
 
 std::string detectedVcs(const core::FilePath& workingDir);
+std::vector<std::string> applicableVcs(const core::FilePath& workingDir);
 
 // persist state accross suspend and resume
    
diff --git a/src/cpp/session/modules/SessionVCS.cpp b/src/cpp/session/modules/SessionVCS.cpp
index 35a78432ca3..2cd64c3d24e 100644
--- a/src/cpp/session/modules/SessionVCS.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/session/modules/SessionVCS.cpp
@@ -149,5 +149,21 @@ std::string detectedVcs(const FilePath& workingDir)
       return "none";
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> applicableVcs(const FilePath& workingDir)
+{
+   using namespace session::modules;
+   using namespace session::modules::source_control;
+
+   std::vector<std::string> applicable;
+
+   if (isGitInstalled())
+      applicable.push_back("git");
+
+   if (svn::isSvnDirectory(workingDir))
+      applicable.push_back("svn");
+
+   return applicable;
+}
+
 } // namespace module_context
 } // namespace session
diff --git a/src/cpp/session/projects/SessionProjects.cpp b/src/cpp/session/projects/SessionProjects.cpp
index ac3575934ab..caaa64a6034 100644
--- a/src/cpp/session/projects/SessionProjects.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/session/projects/SessionProjects.cpp
@@ -94,22 +94,35 @@ json::Object projectVcsOptionsJson()
    return vcsOptionsJson;
 }
 
+json::Object projectVcsContextJson()
+{
+   json::Object contextJson;
+   contextJson["active_vcs"] = module_context::detectedVcs(
+                                             s_projectContext.directory());
+
+   std::vector<std::string> applicable = module_context::applicableVcs(
+                                             s_projectContext.directory());
+   json::Array applicableJson;
+   BOOST_FOREACH(const std::string& vcs, applicable)
+   {
+      applicableJson.push_back(vcs);
+   }
+   contextJson["applicable_vcs"] = applicableJson;
+
+   return contextJson;
+}
+
 Error readProjectOptions(const json::JsonRpcRequest& request,
                         json::JsonRpcResponse* pResponse)
 {
    // get project config json
    json::Object configJson = projectConfigJson(s_projectContext.config());
 
-   // get vcs options default json
-   json::Object vcsOptionsDefaultJson;
-   vcsOptionsDefaultJson["active_vcs"] = module_context::detectedVcs(
-                                             s_projectContext.directory());
-
    // create project options json
    json::Object optionsJson;
    optionsJson["config"] = configJson;
    optionsJson["vcs_options"] = projectVcsOptionsJson();
-   optionsJson["vcs_options_default"] = vcsOptionsDefaultJson;
+   optionsJson["vcs_context"] = projectVcsContextJson();
 
    pResponse->setResult(optionsJson);
    return Success();
diff --git a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/core/client/widget/SelectWidget.java b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/core/client/widget/SelectWidget.java
index a572ba2bc79..9892d5afd7e 100644
--- a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/core/client/widget/SelectWidget.java
+++ b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/core/client/widget/SelectWidget.java
@@ -100,6 +100,21 @@ public ListBox getListBox()
    {
       return listBox_;
    }
+   
+   public void setChoices(String[] options)
+   {
+      setChoices(options, options);
+   }
+   
+   public void setChoices(String[] options, String[] values)
+   {   
+      listBox_.clear();
+      for (int i = 0; i < options.length; i++)
+         listBox_.addItem(options[i], values[i]);
+      
+      if (listBox_.getItemCount() > 0)
+         listBox_.setSelectedIndex(0);
+   }
 
    public void setEnabled(boolean enabled)
    {
diff --git a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectOptions.java b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectOptions.java
index bba428e7cbb..f206c091290 100644
--- a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectOptions.java
+++ b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectOptions.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public native final RProjectVcsOptions getVcsOptions() /*-{
       return this.vcs_options;
    }-*/;
 
-   public native final RProjectVcsOptionsDefault getVcsOptionsDefault() /*-{
-      return this.vcs_options_default;
+   public native final RProjectVcsContext getVcsContext() /*-{
+      return this.vcs_context;
    }-*/;
 }
diff --git a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsOptionsDefault.java b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsContext.java
similarity index 69%
rename from src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsOptionsDefault.java
rename to src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsContext.java
index 83778ef0906..f8b83bb786e 100644
--- a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsOptionsDefault.java
+++ b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/model/RProjectVcsContext.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * RProjectVcsOptionsDefault.java
+ * RProjectVcsContext.java
  *
  * Copyright (C) 2009-11 by RStudio, Inc.
  *
@@ -13,14 +13,19 @@
 package org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.model;
 
 import com.google.gwt.core.client.JavaScriptObject;
+import com.google.gwt.core.client.JsArrayString;
 
-public class RProjectVcsOptionsDefault extends JavaScriptObject
+public class RProjectVcsContext extends JavaScriptObject
 {
-   protected RProjectVcsOptionsDefault()
+   protected RProjectVcsContext()
    {
    }
 
    public native final String getActiveVcs() /*-{
       return this.active_vcs;
    }-*/;
+   
+   public native final JsArrayString getApplicableVcs() /*-{
+      return this.applicable_vcs;
+   }-*/;
 }
diff --git a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/ui/prefs/ProjectSourceControlPreferencesPane.java b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/ui/prefs/ProjectSourceControlPreferencesPane.java
index 751c45b9feb..f81ee016e8c 100644
--- a/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/ui/prefs/ProjectSourceControlPreferencesPane.java
+++ b/src/gwt/src/org/rstudio/studio/client/projects/ui/prefs/ProjectSourceControlPreferencesPane.java
@@ -25,13 +25,13 @@
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.events.SwitchToProjectEvent;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.model.RProjectOptions;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.model.RProjectVcsOptions;
-import org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.model.RProjectVcsOptionsDefault;
+import org.rstudio.studio.client.projects.model.RProjectVcsContext;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.server.ServerError;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.server.ServerRequestCallback;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.server.VoidServerRequestCallback;
 import org.rstudio.studio.client.workbench.model.Session;
-import org.rstudio.studio.client.workbench.model.SessionInfo;
 
+import com.google.gwt.core.client.JsArrayString;
 import com.google.gwt.event.dom.client.ChangeEvent;
 import com.google.gwt.event.dom.client.ChangeHandler;
 import com.google.gwt.resources.client.ImageResource;
@@ -51,19 +51,7 @@ public ProjectSourceControlPreferencesPane(final Session session,
       eventBus_ = eventBus;
       server_ = server;
       
-      // populate the vcs selections list
-      String[] vcsSelections = new String[] { NONE };
-      SessionInfo sessionInfo = session.getSessionInfo();
-      if (sessionInfo.isVcsAvailable())
-      {
-         String[] availableVcs = sessionInfo.getAvailableVCS();
-         vcsSelections = new String[availableVcs.length + 1];
-         vcsSelections[0] = NONE;
-         for (int i=0; i<availableVcs.length; i++)
-            vcsSelections[i+1] = availableVcs[i];
-      }
-      
-      vcsSelect_ = new SelectWidget("Version control system:", vcsSelections); 
+      vcsSelect_ = new SelectWidget("Version control system:", new String[]{}); 
       extraSpaced(vcsSelect_);
       add(vcsSelect_);
       vcsSelect_.addChangeHandler(new ChangeHandler() {
@@ -80,6 +68,10 @@ public void execute()
                   }       
                });
             }
+            else
+            {
+               promptToRestart();
+            }
          }
       });
       
@@ -104,14 +96,27 @@ public String getName()
    @Override
    protected void initialize(RProjectOptions options)
    {
-      defaultVcsOptions_ = options.getVcsOptionsDefault();
-      RProjectVcsOptions vcsOptions = options.getVcsOptions();
+      // save the context
+      vcsContext_ = options.getVcsContext();
       
+      // populate the vcs selections list
+      String[] vcsSelections = new String[] { NONE };
+      JsArrayString applicableVcs = vcsContext_.getApplicableVcs();
+      if (applicableVcs.length() > 0)
+      {
+         vcsSelections = new String[applicableVcs.length() + 1];
+         vcsSelections[0] = NONE;
+         for (int i=0; i<applicableVcs.length(); i++)
+            vcsSelections[i+1] = applicableVcs.get(i);
+      }
+      vcsSelect_.setChoices(vcsSelections);
+    
       // set override or default
+      RProjectVcsOptions vcsOptions = options.getVcsOptions();
       if (vcsOptions.getActiveVcsOverride().length() > 0)
          setVcsSelection(vcsOptions.getActiveVcsOverride());
       else
-         setVcsSelection(defaultVcsOptions_.getActiveVcs());
+         setVcsSelection(vcsContext_.getActiveVcs());
    }
 
    @Override
@@ -124,7 +129,7 @@ public void onApply(RProjectOptions options)
    private void setVcsOptions(RProjectVcsOptions vcsOptions)
    {
       String vcsSelection = getVcsSelection();
-      if (!vcsSelection.equals(defaultVcsOptions_.getActiveVcs()))
+      if (!vcsSelection.equals(vcsContext_.getActiveVcs()))
          vcsOptions.setActiveVcsOverride(vcsSelection);
       else
          vcsOptions.setActiveVcsOverride("");
@@ -227,8 +232,8 @@ private void promptToRestart()
       globalDisplay_.showYesNoMessage(
          MessageDialog.QUESTION,
          "Confirm Restart RStudio", 
-         "You need to restart RStudio in order to start working with " +
-         "the specified version control system. Do you want to do this now?",
+         "You need to restart RStudio in order for this change to take " +
+         "effect. Do you want to do this now?",
          new Operation()
          {
             @Override
@@ -258,7 +263,7 @@ public void execute()
    
    private SelectWidget vcsSelect_;
   
-   private RProjectVcsOptionsDefault defaultVcsOptions_;
+   private RProjectVcsContext vcsContext_;
    
    private static final String NONE = "(None)";
 }