diff --git a/src/vs/platform/actionWidget/browser/actionList.ts b/src/vs/platform/actionWidget/browser/actionList.ts
index 4330686d2e3..a871c7a2b8f 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/actionWidget/browser/actionList.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/actionWidget/browser/actionList.ts
@@ -787,7 +787,8 @@ export class ActionList<T> extends Disposable {
 			availableHeight = widgetTop > 0 ? windowHeight - widgetTop - padding : windowHeight * 0.7;
 		}
 
-		const maxHeight = Math.max(availableHeight, this._actionLineHeight * 3 + filterHeight);
+		const viewportMaxHeight = Math.floor(targetWindow.innerHeight * 0.4);
+		const maxHeight = Math.min(Math.max(availableHeight, this._actionLineHeight * 3 + filterHeight), viewportMaxHeight);
 		const height = Math.min(listHeight + filterHeight, maxHeight);
 		return height - filterHeight;
 	}