diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/configuration/browser/configuration.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/configuration/browser/configuration.ts
index 8f942efdd0e..591bddbe576 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/configuration/browser/configuration.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/configuration/browser/configuration.ts
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ class FileServiceBasedConfiguration extends Disposable {
 		const resolveContents = async (resources: URI[]): Promise<(string | undefined)[]> => {
 			return Promise.all(resources.map(async resource => {
 				try {
-					const content = (await this.fileService.readFile(resource)).value.toString();
-					return content;
+					const content = await this.fileService.readFile(resource, { atomic: true });
+					return content.value.toString();
 				} catch (error) {
 					this.logService.trace(`Error while resolving configuration file '${resource.toString()}': ${errors.getErrorMessage(error)}`);
 					if ((<FileOperationError>error).fileOperationResult !== FileOperationResult.FILE_NOT_FOUND
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ class FileServiceBasedRemoteUserConfiguration extends Disposable {
 	}
 
 	async resolveContent(): Promise<string> {
-		const content = await this.fileService.readFile(this.configurationResource);
+		const content = await this.fileService.readFile(this.configurationResource, { atomic: true });
 		return content.value.toString();
 	}
 
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ class FileServiceBasedWorkspaceConfiguration extends Disposable {
 	}
 
 	async resolveContent(workspaceIdentifier: IWorkspaceIdentifier): Promise<string> {
-		const content = await this.fileService.readFile(workspaceIdentifier.configPath);
+		const content = await this.fileService.readFile(workspaceIdentifier.configPath, { atomic: true });
 		return content.value.toString();
 	}