diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostNotebookKernels.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostNotebookKernels.ts
index 52eaf027866..eecdf625b00 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostNotebookKernels.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHostNotebookKernels.ts
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ export class ExtHostNotebookKernels implements ExtHostNotebookKernelsShape {
 		let _executeHandler = handler ?? _defaultExecutHandler;
 		let _interruptHandler: ((this: vscode.NotebookController, notebook: vscode.NotebookDocument) => void | Thenable<void>) | undefined;
 		let _variableProvider: vscode.NotebookVariableProvider | undefined;
+		let _variableProviderDisposable: IDisposable | undefined;
 
 		this._proxy.$addKernel(handle, data).catch(err => {
 			// this can happen when a kernel with that ID is already registered
@@ -234,9 +235,10 @@ export class ExtHostNotebookKernels implements ExtHostNotebookKernelsShape {
 			},
 			set variableProvider(value) {
 				checkProposedApiEnabled(extension, 'notebookVariableProvider');
+				_variableProviderDisposable?.dispose();
 				_variableProvider = value;
 				data.hasVariableProvider = !!value;
-				value?.onDidChangeVariables(e => that._proxy.$variablesUpdated(e.uri));
+				_variableProviderDisposable = value?.onDidChangeVariables(e => that._proxy.$variablesUpdated(e.uri));
 				_update();
 			},
 			get variableProvider() {
@@ -270,6 +272,7 @@ export class ExtHostNotebookKernels implements ExtHostNotebookKernelsShape {
 					this._kernelData.delete(handle);
 					onDidChangeSelection.dispose();
 					onDidReceiveMessage.dispose();
+					_variableProviderDisposable?.dispose();
 					this._proxy.$removeKernel(handle);
 				}
 			},