diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/inlineChat/browser/inlineChatActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/inlineChat/browser/inlineChatActions.ts
index 25d30cd3700..f23b0919da6 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/inlineChat/browser/inlineChatActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/inlineChat/browser/inlineChatActions.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export class StartSessionAction extends Action2 {
 				id: MenuId.InlineChatEditorAffordance,
 				group: '1_chat',
 				order: 1,
+				when: EditorContextKeys.hasNonEmptySelection
 			}]
 		});
 	}