diff --git a/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/browser/suggestWidget.ts b/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/browser/suggestWidget.ts
index 8cbfc6ef9cb..09ebd2bdda0 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/browser/suggestWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/browser/suggestWidget.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import { CompletionItem, Context as SuggestContext, suggestWidgetStatusbarMenu }
 import { canExpandCompletionItem, SuggestDetailsOverlay, SuggestDetailsWidget } from './suggestWidgetDetails';
 import { getAriaId, ItemRenderer } from './suggestWidgetRenderer';
 import { getListStyles } from 'vs/platform/theme/browser/defaultStyles';
+import { status } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/aria/aria';
 
 /**
  * Suggest widget colors
@@ -463,6 +464,7 @@ export class SuggestWidget implements IDisposable {
 				this._details.hide();
 				this._show();
 				this._focusedItem = undefined;
+				status(SuggestWidget.LOADING_MESSAGE);
 				break;
 			case State.Empty:
 				this.element.domNode.classList.add('message');
@@ -472,6 +474,7 @@ export class SuggestWidget implements IDisposable {
 				this._details.hide();
 				this._show();
 				this._focusedItem = undefined;
+				status(SuggestWidget.NO_SUGGESTIONS_MESSAGE);
 				break;
 			case State.Open:
 				dom.hide(this._messageElement);