diff --git a/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt b/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt
index b3e3cb95cad..9fdc2c7fb91 100644
--- a/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt
+++ b/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import com.intellij.psi.PsiElement
 import com.intellij.psi.PsiFile
 import org.gradle.util.GradleVersion
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.LanguageFeature
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.idea.util.application.runReadAction
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.idea.util.module
 import org.jetbrains.plugins.gradle.settings.GradleSettings
 
@@ -66,15 +67,28 @@ interface GradleBuildScriptManipulator<out Psi : PsiFile> {
     fun addResolutionStrategy(pluginId: String)
 }
 
+fun fetchGradleVersion(psiFile: PsiFile): GradleVersion {
+    return gradleVersionFromFile(psiFile) ?: GradleVersion.current()
+}
+
+private fun gradleVersionFromFile(psiFile: PsiFile): GradleVersion? {
+    val module = psiFile.module ?: return null
+    val path = ExternalSystemApiUtil.getExternalProjectPath(module) ?: return null
+    return GradleSettings.getInstance(module.project).getLinkedProjectSettings(path)?.resolveGradleVersion()
+}
+
 val MIN_GRADLE_VERSION_FOR_NEW_PLUGIN_SYNTAX = GradleVersion.version("4.4")
 
 fun GradleBuildScriptManipulator<*>.useNewSyntax(kotlinPluginName: String): Boolean {
     if (!preferNewSyntax) return false
 
-    val module = scriptFile.module ?: return false
-    val path = ExternalSystemApiUtil.getExternalProjectPath(module) ?: return false
-    val gradleVersion = GradleSettings.getInstance(module.project).getLinkedProjectSettings(path)?.resolveGradleVersion() ?: return false
+    val gradleVersion = fetchGradleVersion(scriptFile)
     if (gradleVersion < MIN_GRADLE_VERSION_FOR_NEW_PLUGIN_SYNTAX) return false
 
-    return !isConfiguredWithOldSyntax(kotlinPluginName)
+    if (isConfiguredWithOldSyntax(kotlinPluginName)) return false
+
+    val fileText = runReadAction { scriptFile.text }
+    val hasOldApply = fileText.contains("apply plugin:")
+
+    return !hasOldApply
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt.173 b/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt.173
index 3db947598af..bf967b30bd9 100644
--- a/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt.173
+++ b/idea/idea-gradle/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/idea/configuration/GradleBuildScriptManipulator.kt.173
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import com.intellij.psi.PsiElement
 import com.intellij.psi.PsiFile
 import org.gradle.util.GradleVersion
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.LanguageFeature
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.idea.util.application.runReadAction
 import org.jetbrains.plugins.gradle.frameworkSupport.BuildScriptDataBuilder
 
 interface GradleBuildScriptManipulator<out Psi : PsiFile> {
@@ -64,8 +65,29 @@ interface GradleBuildScriptManipulator<out Psi : PsiFile> {
     fun addResolutionStrategy(pluginId: String)
 }
 
+fun fetchGradleVersion(psiFile: PsiFile): GradleVersion {
+    return gradleVersionFromFile(psiFile) ?: GradleVersion.current()
+}
+
+private fun gradleVersionFromFile(psiFile: PsiFile): GradleVersion? {
+    return null
+}
+
 val MIN_GRADLE_VERSION_FOR_NEW_PLUGIN_SYNTAX = GradleVersion.version("4.4")
 
 // Kept for compatibility reasons (pre-181.3 IDEAs)
-fun GradleBuildScriptManipulator<*>.useNewSyntax(kotlinPluginName: String) = false
-val BuildScriptDataBuilder.gradleVersion get() = GradleVersion.version("0.0")
\ No newline at end of file
+val BuildScriptDataBuilder.gradleVersion get() = GradleVersion.version("0.0")
+
+fun GradleBuildScriptManipulator<*>.useNewSyntax(kotlinPluginName: String): Boolean {
+    if (!preferNewSyntax) return false
+
+    val gradleVersion = fetchGradleVersion(scriptFile)
+    if (gradleVersion < MIN_GRADLE_VERSION_FOR_NEW_PLUGIN_SYNTAX) return false
+
+    if (isConfiguredWithOldSyntax(kotlinPluginName)) return false
+
+    val fileText = runReadAction { scriptFile.text }
+    val hasOldApply = fileText.contains("apply plugin:")
+
+    return !hasOldApply
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/jreLib/build_after.gradle b/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/jreLib/build_after.gradle
index 73bfa0e6621..3f5d1aa6989 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/jreLib/build_after.gradle
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/jreLib/build_after.gradle
@@ -1,19 +1,11 @@
-// VERSION: $VERSION$
-buildscript {
-    ext.kotlin_version = '$VERSION$'
-    repositories {
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version"
-    }
+plugins {
+    id 'org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm' version '$VERSION$'
 }
-apply plugin: 'kotlin'
 repositories {
     mavenCentral()
 }
 dependencies {
-    compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-jre8:$kotlin_version"
+    compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-jre8"
 }
 compileKotlin {
     kotlinOptions {
@@ -24,5 +16,5 @@ compileTestKotlin {
     kotlinOptions {
         jvmTarget = "1.8"
     }
-}
+}// VERSION: $VERSION$
 // JDK: 1.8
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/js/build_after.gradle b/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/js/build_after.gradle
index 9b911138e3d..650032e83fd 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/js/build_after.gradle
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gradle/js/build_after.gradle
@@ -1,18 +1,11 @@
+plugins {
+    id 'kotlin2js' version '$VERSION$'
+}
 version = '1.0'
 
 repositories {
     mavenCentral()
 }
-buildscript {
-    ext.kotlin_version = '$VERSION$'
-    repositories {
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version"
-    }
-}
-apply plugin: 'kotlin2js'
 dependencies {
-    compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-js:$kotlin_version"
+    compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-js"
 }
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eap11Version/build_after.gradle.kts b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eap11Version/build_after.gradle.kts
index 5799c744ff9..e036bc6e987 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eap11Version/build_after.gradle.kts
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eap11Version/build_after.gradle.kts
@@ -1,24 +1,9 @@
 import org.gradle.api.JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile
 
-val kotlin_version: String by extra
-buildscript {
-    var kotlin_version: String by extra
-    kotlin_version = "$VERSION$"
-    repositories {
-        maven { setUrl("https://dl.bintray.com/kotlin/kotlin-eap") }
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath(kotlinModule("gradle-plugin", kotlin_version))
-    }
-}
-
 plugins {
     application
-}
-apply {
-    plugin("kotlin")
+    kotlin("jvm") version "$VERSION$"
 }
 
 application {
@@ -32,7 +17,7 @@ repositories {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile("junit:junit:4.12")
-    compile(kotlinModule("stdlib-jre8", kotlin_version))
+    compile(kotlin("stdlib-jre8"))
 }
 
 // VERSION: $VERSION$
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eapVersion/build_after.gradle.kts b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eapVersion/build_after.gradle.kts
index 392b8364920..6fef107ce2d 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eapVersion/build_after.gradle.kts
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/eapVersion/build_after.gradle.kts
@@ -1,23 +1,8 @@
 import org.gradle.api.JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
 
-val kotlin_version: String by extra
-buildscript {
-    var kotlin_version: String by extra
-    kotlin_version = "$VERSION$"
-    repositories {
-        maven { setUrl("https://dl.bintray.com/kotlin/kotlin-eap") }
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath(kotlinModule("gradle-plugin", kotlin_version))
-    }
-}
-
 plugins {
     application
-}
-apply {
-    plugin("kotlin")
+    kotlin("jvm") version "$VERSION$"
 }
 
 application {
@@ -31,7 +16,7 @@ repositories {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile("junit:junit:4.12")
-    compile(kotlinModule("stdlib", kotlin_version))
+    compile(kotlin("stdlib"))
 }
 
 // VERSION: $VERSION$
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/helloWorld/build_after.gradle.kts b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/helloWorld/build_after.gradle.kts
index 97c12b711f5..5f4f58832bb 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/helloWorld/build_after.gradle.kts
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/helloWorld/build_after.gradle.kts
@@ -1,23 +1,9 @@
 import org.gradle.api.JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile
 
-val kotlin_version: String by extra
-buildscript {
-    var kotlin_version: String by extra
-    kotlin_version = "$VERSION$"
-    repositories {
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath(kotlinModule("gradle-plugin", kotlin_version))
-    }
-}
-
 plugins {
     application
-}
-apply {
-    plugin("kotlin")
+    kotlin("jvm") version "$VERSION$"
 }
 
 application {
@@ -30,7 +16,7 @@ repositories {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile("junit:junit:4.12")
-    compile(kotlinModule("stdlib-jdk8", kotlin_version))
+    compile(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
 }
 val compileKotlin: KotlinCompile by tasks
 compileKotlin.kotlinOptions {
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/missedLibrary/build_after.gradle.kts b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/missedLibrary/build_after.gradle.kts
index 24c5e54eb43..76de301b61c 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/missedLibrary/build_after.gradle.kts
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/missedLibrary/build_after.gradle.kts
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
 import org.gradle.api.JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile
 
-val kotlin_version: String by extra
-
 buildscript {
-    var kotlin_version: String by extra
-    kotlin_version = "$VERSION$"
     repositories {
         mavenCentral()
     }
@@ -17,6 +13,7 @@ buildscript {
 
 plugins {
     application
+    kotlin("jvm") version "$VERSION$"
 }
 
 apply {
@@ -33,7 +30,7 @@ repositories {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile("junit:junit:4.12")
-    compile(kotlinModule("stdlib-jdk8", kotlin_version))
+    compile(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
 }
 val compileKotlin: KotlinCompile by tasks
 compileKotlin.kotlinOptions {
diff --git a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/pluginPresent/build_after.gradle.kts b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/pluginPresent/build_after.gradle.kts
index 26c8a4ac2cc..d41d03ae47a 100644
--- a/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/pluginPresent/build_after.gradle.kts
+++ b/idea/testData/configuration/gsk/pluginPresent/build_after.gradle.kts
@@ -1,20 +1,9 @@
 import org.gradle.api.JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.tasks.KotlinCompile
 
-val kotlin_version: String by extra
-buildscript {
-    var kotlin_version: String by extra
-    kotlin_version = "$VERSION$"
-    repositories {
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath(kotlinModule("gradle-plugin", kotlin_version))
-    }
-}
-
 plugins {
     application
+    kotlin("jvm") version "$VERSION$"
 }
 
 apply {
@@ -31,7 +20,7 @@ repositories {
 
 dependencies {
     testCompile("junit:junit:4.12")
-    compile(kotlinModule("stdlib-jdk8", kotlin_version))
+    compile(kotlin("stdlib-jdk8"))
 }
 val compileKotlin: KotlinCompile by tasks
 compileKotlin.kotlinOptions {