diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/browser/testingExplorerView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/browser/testingExplorerView.ts
index 295405bc3de..3bea3666ab8 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/browser/testingExplorerView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/browser/testingExplorerView.ts
@@ -521,6 +521,7 @@ export class TestingExplorerViewModel extends Disposable {
 	private shouldShowEmptyPlaceholder() {
 		return !!this.listener
 			&& this.listener.subscription.busyProviders === 0
+			&& this.listener.subscription.pendingRootProviders === 0
 			&& this.listener.subscription.isEmpty;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/common/testServiceImpl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/common/testServiceImpl.ts
index 808fd5f07c8..68f2b1d22a9 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/common/testServiceImpl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/testing/common/testServiceImpl.ts
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ export class TestService extends Disposable implements ITestService {
 			this.unsubscribeEmitter.fire(subscription.ident);
 			const diff = subscription.collection.clear();
 			subscription.onDiff.fire(diff);
+			subscription.collection.pendingRootProviders = this.rootProviders.size;
 			this.subscribeEmitter.fire(subscription.ident);
 		}
 	}
@@ -358,6 +359,14 @@ export class MainThreadTestCollection extends AbstractIncrementalTestCollection<
 		return this.pendingRootCount;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Sets the number of pending root providers.
+	 */
+	public set pendingRootProviders(count: number) {
+		this.pendingRootCount = count;
+		this.pendingRootChangeEmitter.fire(count);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @inheritdoc
 	 */