diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/layout.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/layout.ts
index af8ce70f5ad..fc7da781979 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/layout.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/layout.ts
@@ -354,12 +354,10 @@ export abstract class Layout extends Disposable implements IWorkbenchLayoutServi
 			}
 		};
 
-		// Maybe maximize auxiliary bar when no editors, sidebar hidden, and panel hidden
+		// Maybe maximize auxiliary bar when no editors are visible
 		const maybeMaximizeAuxiliaryBar = () => {
 			if (
 				this.mainPartEditorService.visibleEditors.length === 0 &&
-				!this.isVisible(Parts.SIDEBAR_PART) &&
-				!this.isVisible(Parts.PANEL_PART) &&
 				this.configurationService.getValue(WorkbenchLayoutSettings.AUXILIARYBAR_FORCE_MAXIMIZED) === true
 			) {
 				this.setAuxiliaryBarMaximized(true);
@@ -383,13 +381,6 @@ export abstract class Layout extends Disposable implements IWorkbenchLayoutServi
 			}));
 			this._register(this.editorGroupService.mainPart.onDidActivateGroup(showEditorIfHidden));
 
-			// Maybe maximize auxiliary bar when sidebar or panel hides
-			this._register(this.onDidChangePartVisibility(({ partId, visible }) => {
-				if (!visible && (partId === Parts.SIDEBAR_PART || partId === Parts.PANEL_PART)) {
-					maybeMaximizeAuxiliaryBar();
-				}
-			}));
-
 			// Revalidate center layout when active editor changes: diff editor quits centered mode
 			this._register(this.mainPartEditorService.onDidActiveEditorChange(() => this.centerMainEditorLayout(this.stateModel.getRuntimeValue(LayoutStateKeys.MAIN_EDITOR_CENTERED))));
 		});
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
index a1e90803d5a..5ea32fb1a11 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ const registry = Registry.as<IConfigurationRegistry>(ConfigurationExtensions.Con
 				'type': 'boolean',
 				'default': false,
 				tags: ['experimental'],
-				'description': localize('secondarySideBarForceMaximized', "Controls whether the secondary side bar is enforced to always show maximized unless other parts or editors are showing."),
+				'description': localize('secondarySideBarForceMaximized', "Controls whether the secondary side bar is enforced to always show maximized on startup and when there are no open editors, in layouts that support a maximized secondary side bar."),
 			},
 			'workbench.secondarySideBar.showLabels': {
 				'type': 'boolean',