diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
index 7a87bd37f07..2a589bf3aec 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quickOpen.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ export interface IInputOptions {
 	 */
 	value?: string;
 
+	/**
+	 * whether to automatically select the first value set
+	 */
+	noValuePreselect?: boolean;
+
 	/**
 	 * the text to display underneath the input box
 	 */
@@ -154,4 +159,4 @@ export interface IQuickOpenService {
 	 * Allows to register on the event that quick open is hiding
 	 */
 	onHide: Event<void>;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/vs/vscode.d.ts b/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
index 70b052ae622..9d3a5840924 100644
--- a/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
+++ b/src/vs/vscode.d.ts
@@ -1465,6 +1465,11 @@ declare module 'vscode' {
 		 */
 		value?: string;
 
+		/**
+		 * Whether to preselect the given `value` when the box is first shown.
+		 */
+		noValuePreselect?: boolean;
+
 		/**
 		 * The text to display underneath the input box.
 		 */
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
index ff1e2656049..1662317bfe5 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadQuickOpen.ts
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ export class MainThreadQuickOpen extends MainThreadQuickOpenShape {
 		if (options) {
 			inputOptions.password = options.password;
 			inputOptions.placeHolder = options.placeHolder;
+			inputOptions.noValuePreselect = options.noValuePreselect;
 			inputOptions.prompt = options.prompt;
 			inputOptions.value = options.value;
 			inputOptions.ignoreFocusLost = options.ignoreFocusOut;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
index 9a33e1306ab..b8bd64ecceb 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickopen/quickOpenController.ts
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ export class QuickOpenController extends Component implements IQuickOpenService
 				password: options.password,
 				placeHolder: options.placeHolder,
 				value: lastValue === void 0 ? options.value : lastValue,
-				valueSelect: lastValue === void 0,
+				valueSelect: options.noValuePreselect ? false : lastValue === void 0,
 				inputDecoration: currentDecoration,
 				onDidType: (value) => {
 					lastValue = value;