diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar.ts
index d562716a1ad..a49c5ee254f 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar.ts
@@ -554,7 +554,8 @@ export class ActionBar extends EventEmitter implements IActionRunner {
 	}
 
 	public clear(): void {
-		this.items = lifecycle.dispose(this.items);
+		// Do not dispose action items if they were provided from outside
+		this.items = this.options.actionItemProvider ? [] : lifecycle.dispose(this.items);
 		$(this.actionsList).empty();
 	}
 
@@ -669,7 +670,7 @@ export class ActionBar extends EventEmitter implements IActionRunner {
 
 	public dispose(): void {
 		if (this.items !== null) {
-			this.clear();
+			lifecycle.dispose(this.items);
 		}
 		this.items = null;
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActionsWidget.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActionsWidget.ts
index 354085853bd..d3d055fbff3 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActionsWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/debug/browser/debugActionsWidget.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export class DebugActionsWidget extends Themable implements IWorkbenchContributi
 
 	private isVisible: boolean;
 	private isBuilt: boolean;
+	private focusProcessActionItem: FocusProcessActionItem;
 
 	constructor(
 		@IMessageService private messageService: IMessageService,
@@ -78,7 +79,12 @@ export class DebugActionsWidget extends Themable implements IWorkbenchContributi
 			orientation: ActionsOrientation.HORIZONTAL,
 			actionItemProvider: (action: IAction) => {
 				if (action.id === FocusProcessAction.ID) {
-					return this.instantiationService.createInstance(FocusProcessActionItem, action);
+					if (!this.focusProcessActionItem) {
+						this.focusProcessActionItem = this.instantiationService.createInstance(FocusProcessActionItem, action);
+						this.toDispose.push(this.focusProcessActionItem);
+					}
+
+					return this.focusProcessActionItem;
 				}
 
 				return null;