diff --git a/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts b/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
index bc7ae318265..bec79f9cdef 100644
--- a/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
+++ b/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
@@ -729,6 +729,11 @@ declare module 'vscode' {
 			 */
 			simple?: boolean;
 		}
+
+		/**
+		 * When true, a save will not be triggered for open editors when starting a debug session, regardless of the value of the `debug.saveBeforeStart` setting.
+		 */
+		suppressSaveBeforeStart?: boolean;
 	}
 
 	//#endregion
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/browser/mainThreadDebugService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/browser/mainThreadDebugService.ts
index c75431e1e75..649157c0cfe 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/browser/mainThreadDebugService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/browser/mainThreadDebugService.ts
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ export class MainThreadDebugService implements MainThreadDebugServiceShape, IDeb
 			debugUI: options.debugUI,
 			compoundRoot: parentSession?.compoundRoot
 		};
-		return this.debugService.startDebugging(launch, nameOrConfig, debugOptions).then(success => {
+		return this.debugService.startDebugging(launch, nameOrConfig, debugOptions, !options.suppressSaveBeforeStart).then(success => {
 			return success;
 		}, err => {
 			return Promise.reject(new Error(err && err.message ? err.message : 'cannot start debugging'));
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.protocol.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.protocol.ts
index 2980fdafaef..69b1018a721 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.protocol.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.protocol.ts
@@ -1114,6 +1114,7 @@ export interface IStartDebuggingOptions {
 	debugUI?: {
 		simple?: boolean;
 	};
+	suppressSaveBeforeStart?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface MainThreadDebugServiceShape extends IDisposable {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostDebugService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostDebugService.ts
index e05e8173354..90c30ff8992 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostDebugService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostDebugService.ts
@@ -293,7 +293,8 @@ export abstract class ExtHostDebugServiceBase implements IExtHostDebugService, E
 			repl: options.consoleMode === DebugConsoleMode.MergeWithParent ? 'mergeWithParent' : 'separate',
 			noDebug: options.noDebug,
 			compact: options.compact,
-			debugUI: options.debugUI
+			debugUI: options.debugUI,
+			suppressSaveBeforeStart: options.suppressSaveBeforeStart
 		});
 	}