diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/electron-browser/mainThreadComments.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/electron-browser/mainThreadComments.ts
index c1dabf6a42e..1af1b8efdec 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/electron-browser/mainThreadComments.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/electron-browser/mainThreadComments.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export class MainThreadComments extends Disposable implements MainThreadComments
 	$registerWorkspaceCommentProvider(handle: number): void {
 		this._workspaceProviders.set(handle, undefined);
 		this._panelService.setPanelEnablement(COMMENTS_PANEL_ID, true);
+		this._panelService.openPanel(COMMENTS_PANEL_ID);
 		this._proxy.$provideWorkspaceComments(handle).then(commentThreads => {
 			if (commentThreads) {
 				this._commentService.setAllComments(commentThreads);