diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
index 81438c3676b..6e21039b1a5 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
@@ -482,7 +482,8 @@ export function createApiFactory(
 			},
 			createTerminal(nameOrOptions?: vscode.TerminalOptions | string, shellPath?: string, shellArgs?: string[] | string): vscode.Terminal {
 				if (typeof nameOrOptions === 'object') {
-					return extHostTerminalService.createTerminalFromOptions(<vscode.TerminalOptions>nameOrOptions);
+					nameOrOptions.runInBackground = nameOrOptions.runInBackground && extension.enableProposedApi;
+					return extHostTerminalService.createTerminalFromOptions(nameOrOptions);
 				}
 				return extHostTerminalService.createTerminal(<string>nameOrOptions, shellPath, shellArgs);
 			},