diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/list.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/list.ts
index 5efc6001991..592b8a92627 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/list.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/list.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export interface IListRenderer<T, TTemplateData> {
 	templateId: string;
 	renderTemplate(container: HTMLElement): TTemplateData;
 	renderElement(element: T, index: number, templateData: TTemplateData): void;
-	disposeElement(element: T, index: number, templateData: TTemplateData): void;
+	disposeElement?(element: T, index: number, templateData: TTemplateData): void;
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: TTemplateData): void;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listPaging.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listPaging.ts
index a251268c088..88868fa4865 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listPaging.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listPaging.ts
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ class PagedRenderer<TElement, TTemplateData> implements IListRenderer<number, IT
 		promise.then(entry => this.renderer.renderElement(entry, index, data.data!));
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(data: ITemplateData<TTemplateData>): void {
 		if (data.disposable) {
 			data.disposable.dispose();
diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listWidget.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listWidget.ts
index bedf2db6aa7..1b07bd8590e 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/list/listWidget.ts
@@ -67,10 +67,6 @@ class TraitRenderer<T> implements IListRenderer<T, ITraitTemplateData>
 		this.trait.renderIndex(index, templateData);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	splice(start: number, deleteCount: number, insertCount: number): void {
 		const rendered: IRenderedContainer[] = [];
 
@@ -886,7 +882,9 @@ class PipelineRenderer<T> implements IListRenderer<T, any> {
 		let i = 0;
 
 		for (const renderer of this.renderers) {
-			renderer.disposeElement(element, index, templateData[i++]);
+			if (renderer.disposeElement) {
+				renderer.disposeElement(element, index, templateData[i++]);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -921,10 +919,6 @@ class AccessibiltyRenderer<T> implements IListRenderer<T, HTMLElement> {
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: T, index: number, container: HTMLElement): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: any): void {
 		// noop
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/selectBox/selectBoxCustom.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/selectBox/selectBoxCustom.ts
index 153daf8056a..97e5ca0059e 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/selectBox/selectBoxCustom.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/selectBox/selectBoxCustom.ts
@@ -77,10 +77,6 @@ class SelectListRenderer implements IListRenderer<ISelectOptionItem, ISelectList
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ISelectListTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.disposables = dispose(templateData.disposables);
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/abstractTree.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/abstractTree.ts
index 12d0c81f83d..60fb215cf44 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/abstractTree.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/abstractTree.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ class TreeRenderer<T, TFilterData, TTemplateData> implements IListRenderer<ITree
 	}
 
 	disposeElement(node: ITreeNode<T, TFilterData>, index: number, templateData: ITreeListTemplateData<TTemplateData>): void {
-		this.renderer.disposeElement(node, index, templateData.templateData);
+		if (this.renderer.disposeElement) {
+			this.renderer.disposeElement(node, index, templateData.templateData);
+		}
 		this.renderedNodes.delete(node);
 		this.renderedElements.set(node.element);
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.ts
index 692818d1a8f..ba729c4bd7a 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,9 @@ class DataTreeRenderer<T, TFilterData, TTemplateData> implements ITreeRenderer<I
 	}
 
 	disposeElement(node: ITreeNode<IAsyncDataTreeNode<T>, TFilterData>, index: number, templateData: IDataTreeListTemplateData<TTemplateData>): void {
-		this.renderer.disposeElement(new AsyncDataTreeNodeWrapper(node), index, templateData.templateData);
+		if (this.renderer.disposeElement) {
+			this.renderer.disposeElement(new AsyncDataTreeNodeWrapper(node), index, templateData.templateData);
+		}
 	}
 
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IDataTreeListTemplateData<TTemplateData>): void {
diff --git a/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/list/listView.test.ts b/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/list/listView.test.ts
index 997b336f3cb..99f9bac73cf 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/list/listView.test.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/list/listView.test.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ suite('ListView', function () {
 			templateId: 'template',
 			renderTemplate() { templatesCount++; },
 			renderElement() { },
-			disposeElement() { },
 			disposeTemplate() { templatesCount--; }
 		};
 
diff --git a/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.test.ts b/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.test.ts
index ed7ff765a40..96dfbbd5b44 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.test.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/test/browser/ui/tree/asyncDataTree.test.ts
@@ -46,9 +46,6 @@ suite('AsyncDataTree', function () {
 			renderElement(element: ITreeNode<Element, void>, index: number, templateData: HTMLElement): void {
 				templateData.textContent = element.element.id;
 			}
-			disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<Element, void>, index: number, templateData: HTMLElement): void {
-				// noop
-			}
 			disposeTemplate(templateData: HTMLElement): void {
 				// noop
 			}
diff --git a/src/vs/editor/contrib/referenceSearch/referencesTree.ts b/src/vs/editor/contrib/referenceSearch/referencesTree.ts
index c107e0253fb..7db27ea761a 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/contrib/referenceSearch/referencesTree.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/contrib/referenceSearch/referencesTree.ts
@@ -135,9 +135,6 @@ export class FileReferencesRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<FileReferences, voi
 	renderElement(node: ITreeNode<FileReferences, void>, index: number, template: FileReferencesTemplate): void {
 		template.set(node.element);
 	}
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<FileReferences, void>, index: number, templateData: FileReferencesTemplate): void {
-		//
-	}
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: FileReferencesTemplate): void {
 		templateData.dispose();
 	}
@@ -189,9 +186,6 @@ export class OneReferenceRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<OneReference, void, O
 	renderElement(element: ITreeNode<OneReference, void>, index: number, templateData: OneReferenceTemplate): void {
 		templateData.set(element.element);
 	}
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		//
-	}
 	disposeTemplate(): void {
 		//
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/suggestWidget.ts b/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/suggestWidget.ts
index 32b95b984c8..7a657e430f3 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/suggestWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/contrib/suggest/suggestWidget.ts
@@ -206,10 +206,6 @@ class Renderer implements IListRenderer<ICompletionItem, ISuggestionTemplateData
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ISuggestionTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.disposables = dispose(templateData.disposables);
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsViewer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsViewer.ts
index 544c888687b..e55ed49bc65 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsViewer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsViewer.ts
@@ -275,10 +275,6 @@ export class NotificationRenderer implements IListRenderer<INotificationViewItem
 		data.renderer.setInput(notification);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: INotificationTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.toDispose = dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/breakpointsView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/breakpointsView.ts
index 14ca4f0b180..00ae78089a4 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/breakpointsView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/breakpointsView.ts
@@ -350,10 +350,6 @@ class BreakpointsRenderer implements IListRenderer<IBreakpoint, IBreakpointTempl
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IBreakpointTemplateData): void {
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
@@ -398,10 +394,6 @@ class ExceptionBreakpointsRenderer implements IListRenderer<IExceptionBreakpoint
 		data.checkbox.checked = exceptionBreakpoint.enabled;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IBaseBreakpointTemplateData): void {
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
@@ -457,10 +449,6 @@ class FunctionBreakpointsRenderer implements IListRenderer<FunctionBreakpoint, I
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IBaseBreakpointWithIconTemplateData): void {
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
@@ -550,10 +538,6 @@ class FunctionBreakpointInputRenderer implements IListRenderer<IFunctionBreakpoi
 		}, 0);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IInputTemplateData): void {
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/loadedScriptsView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/loadedScriptsView.ts
index c504506c287..8293b8eedb6 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/loadedScriptsView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/loadedScriptsView.ts
@@ -607,10 +607,6 @@ class LoadedScriptsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<BaseTreeItem, void, ILoaded
 		data.label.setLabel(label, options);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<BaseTreeItem, void>, index: number, templateData: ILoadedScriptsItemTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ILoadedScriptsItemTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.label.dispose();
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/callStackView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/callStackView.ts
index 1a4617d1d01..cb1c151a1c0 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/callStackView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/callStackView.ts
@@ -375,10 +375,6 @@ class SessionsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<IDebugSession, void, ISessionTem
 			: nls.localize({ key: 'running', comment: ['indicates state'] }, "Running");
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<IDebugSession, void>, index: number, templateData: ISessionTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ISessionTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -414,10 +410,6 @@ class ThreadsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<IThread, void, IThreadTemplateDat
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<IThread, void>, index: number, templateData: IThreadTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IThreadTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -468,10 +460,6 @@ class StackFramesRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<IStackFrame, void, IStackFram
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<IStackFrame, void>, index: number, templateData: IStackFrameTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IStackFrameTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -497,10 +485,6 @@ class ErrorsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<string, void, IErrorTemplateData>
 		data.label.title = error;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<string, void>, index: number, templateData: IErrorTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IErrorTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -525,10 +509,6 @@ class LoadMoreRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<ThreadAndSessionIds, void, ILabe
 		data.label.textContent = LoadMoreRenderer.LABEL;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<ThreadAndSessionIds, void>, index: number, templateData: ILabelTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ILabelTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -557,10 +537,6 @@ class ShowMoreRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<IStackFrame[], void, ILabelTempl
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<IStackFrame[], void>, index: number, templateData: ILabelTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ILabelTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/repl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/repl.ts
index 55c24982f60..4a3a48170d7 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/repl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/repl.ts
@@ -560,10 +560,6 @@ class ReplExpressionsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<Expression, void, IExpres
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<Expression, void>, index: number, templateData: IExpressionTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IExpressionTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
@@ -627,10 +623,6 @@ class ReplSimpleElementsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<SimpleReplElement, voi
 		templateData.getReplElementSource = () => element.sourceData;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<SimpleReplElement, void>, index: number, templateData: ISimpleReplElementTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: ISimpleReplElementTemplateData): void {
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
 	}
@@ -680,10 +672,6 @@ class ReplRawObjectsRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<RawObjectReplElement, void
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<RawObjectReplElement, void>, index: number, templateData: IRawObjectReplTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IRawObjectReplTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/variablesView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/variablesView.ts
index 686023e12c8..e15f3efb8be 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/variablesView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/electron-browser/variablesView.ts
@@ -213,10 +213,6 @@ class ScopesRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<IScope, void, IScopeTemplateData>
 		templateData.name.textContent = element.element.name;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(element: ITreeNode<IScope, void>, index: number, templateData: IScopeTemplateData): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IScopeTemplateData): void {
 		// noop
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/extensionsList.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/extensionsList.ts
index eef65a957ac..e7403fe12fa 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/extensionsList.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/extensionsList.ts
@@ -204,10 +204,6 @@ export class Renderer implements IPagedRenderer<IExtension, ITemplateData> {
 		}
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	private updateRecommendationStatus(extension: IExtension, data: ITemplateData) {
 		const extRecommendations = this.extensionTipsService.getAllRecommendationsWithReason();
 		let ariaLabel = extension.displayName + '. ';
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/runtimeExtensionsEditor.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/runtimeExtensionsEditor.ts
index aa667121e78..6bff006de03 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/runtimeExtensionsEditor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/runtimeExtensionsEditor.ts
@@ -390,8 +390,6 @@ export class RuntimeExtensionsEditor extends BaseEditor {
 
 			},
 
-			disposeElement: () => null,
-
 			disposeTemplate: (data: IRuntimeExtensionTemplateData): void => {
 				data.disposables = dispose(data.disposables);
 			}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/electron-browser/views/openEditorsView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/electron-browser/views/openEditorsView.ts
index 2ab66de337f..560aeecc1bf 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/electron-browser/views/openEditorsView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/electron-browser/views/openEditorsView.ts
@@ -607,10 +607,6 @@ class EditorGroupRenderer implements IListRenderer<IEditorGroup, IEditorGroupTem
 		templateData.actionBar.context = { groupId: editorGroup.id };
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IEditorGroupTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.actionBar.dispose();
 		dispose(templateData.toDispose);
@@ -707,10 +703,6 @@ class OpenEditorRenderer implements IListRenderer<OpenEditor, IOpenEditorTemplat
 		});
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IOpenEditorTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.actionBar.dispose();
 		templateData.root.dispose();
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/markers/electron-browser/markersTreeViewer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/markers/electron-browser/markersTreeViewer.ts
index 981d688baa9..c7c570ed812 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/markers/electron-browser/markersTreeViewer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/markers/electron-browser/markersTreeViewer.ts
@@ -252,10 +252,6 @@ export class MarkerRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<Marker, MarkerFilterData, I
 		templateData.lnCol.textContent = Messages.MARKERS_PANEL_AT_LINE_COL_NUMBER(marker.startLineNumber, marker.startColumn);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IMarkerTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.description.dispose();
 		templateData.source.dispose();
@@ -314,10 +310,6 @@ export class RelatedInformationRenderer implements ITreeRenderer<RelatedInformat
 		templateData.description.element.title = relatedInformation.message;
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: IRelatedInformationTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.description.dispose();
 		templateData.resourceLabel.dispose();
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/keybindingsEditor.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/keybindingsEditor.ts
index 7bc134417de..3f4870b68d0 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/keybindingsEditor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/keybindingsEditor.ts
@@ -731,9 +731,6 @@ class KeybindingHeaderRenderer implements IListRenderer<IListEntry, any> {
 	renderElement(entry: IListEntry, index: number, template: any): void {
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(template: any): void {
 	}
 }
@@ -771,8 +768,6 @@ class KeybindingItemRenderer implements IListRenderer<IKeybindingItemEntry, Keyb
 		template.when.render(keybindingEntry);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void { }
-
 	disposeTemplate(template: KeybindingItemTemplate): void {
 		template.actions.dispose();
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/scm/electron-browser/scmViewlet.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/scm/electron-browser/scmViewlet.ts
index 3cf87f43ecd..d19ee9cc3f9 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/scm/electron-browser/scmViewlet.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/scm/electron-browser/scmViewlet.ts
@@ -205,10 +205,6 @@ class ProviderRenderer implements IListRenderer<ISCMRepository, RepositoryTempla
 		templateData.disposable = combinedDisposable(disposables);
 	}
 
-	disposeElement(): void {
-		// noop
-	}
-
 	disposeTemplate(templateData: RepositoryTemplateData): void {
 		templateData.disposable.dispose();
 		templateData.templateDisposable.dispose();