diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/vs2010backend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/vs2010backend.py
index 6b4859d62..a3af95f18 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/vs2010backend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/vs2010backend.py
@@ -27,6 +27,29 @@ from ..compilers import CompilerArgs
 from ..mesonlib import MesonException, File
 from ..environment import Environment
 
+def autodetect_vs_version(build):
+    vs_version = os.getenv('VisualStudioVersion', None)
+    if vs_version:
+        if vs_version == '14.0':
+            from mesonbuild.backend.vs2015backend import Vs2015Backend
+            return Vs2015Backend(build)
+        if vs_version == '15.0':
+            from mesonbuild.backend.vs2017backend import Vs2017Backend
+            return Vs2017Backend(build)
+        raise MesonException('Could not detect Visual Studio (unknown Visual Studio version: "{}")!\n'
+                             'Please specify the exact backend to use.'.format(vs_version))
+
+    vs_install_dir = os.getenv('VSINSTALLDIR', None)
+    if not vs_install_dir:
+        raise MesonException('Could not detect Visual Studio (neither VisualStudioVersion nor VSINSTALLDIR set in '
+                             'environment)!\nPlease specify the exact backend to use.')
+
+    if 'Visual Studio 10.0' in vs_install_dir:
+        return Vs2010Backend(build)
+
+    raise MesonException('Could not detect Visual Studio (unknown VSINSTALLDIR: "{}")!\n'
+                         'Please specify the exact backend to use.'.format(vs_install_dir))
+
 def split_o_flags_args(args):
     """
     Splits any /O args and returns them. Does not take care of flags overriding
diff --git a/mesonbuild/coredata.py b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
index 0d2af6973..d3a124165 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/coredata.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from .mesonlib import MesonException, commonpath
 from .mesonlib import default_libdir, default_libexecdir, default_prefix
 
 version = '0.40.0.dev1'
-backendlist = ['ninja', 'vs2010', 'vs2015', 'vs2017', 'xcode']
+backendlist = ['ninja', 'vs', 'vs2010', 'vs2015', 'vs2017', 'xcode']
 
 class UserOption:
     def __init__(self, name, description, choices):
diff --git a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
index 38c00a0a1..7db6310a6 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ If you want to change option values, use the mesonconf tool instead.'''
         if self.options.backend == 'ninja':
             from .backend import ninjabackend
             g = ninjabackend.NinjaBackend(b)
+        elif self.options.backend == 'vs':
+            from .backend import vs2010backend
+            g = vs2010backend.autodetect_vs_version(b)
+            mlog.log('Auto detected Visual Studio backend:', mlog.bold(g.name))
         elif self.options.backend == 'vs2010':
             from .backend import vs2010backend
             g = vs2010backend.Vs2010Backend(b)