diff --git a/src/vs/platform/userDataSync/common/userDataSyncIpc.ts b/src/vs/platform/userDataSync/common/userDataSyncIpc.ts
index 20b40039141..7ad9bb29a35 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/userDataSync/common/userDataSyncIpc.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/userDataSync/common/userDataSyncIpc.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export class UserDataSyncChannel implements IServerChannel {
 	call(context: any, command: string, args?: any): Promise<any> {
 		switch (command) {
 			case 'sync': return this.service.sync(args[0]);
+			case '_getInitialStatus': return Promise.resolve(this.service.status);
 			case 'getConflictsSource': return Promise.resolve(this.service.conflictsSource);
 		}
 		throw new Error('Invalid call');
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/userDataSync/electron-browser/userDataSyncService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/userDataSync/electron-browser/userDataSyncService.ts
index 7a1fe399ff1..ddab952e651 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/userDataSync/electron-browser/userDataSyncService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/userDataSync/electron-browser/userDataSyncService.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ export class UserDataSyncService extends Disposable implements IUserDataSyncServ
 	) {
 		super();
 		this.channel = sharedProcessService.getChannel('userDataSync');
-		this._register(this.channel.listen<SyncStatus>('onDidChangeStatus')(status => this.updateStatus(status)));
+		this.channel.call<SyncStatus>('_getInitialStatus').then(status => {
+			this.updateStatus(status);
+			this._register(this.channel.listen<SyncStatus>('onDidChangeStatus')(status => this.updateStatus(status)));
+		});
 	}
 
 	sync(_continue?: boolean): Promise<boolean> {