diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-pick-service-impl.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-pick-service-impl.ts
index 6c75605287ebb..42af42b56f1ac 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-pick-service-impl.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-pick-service-impl.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ export class QuickPickServiceImpl implements QuickPickService {
     async show(elements: (string | QuickPickItem<Object>)[], options?: QuickPickOptions): Promise<Object | undefined> {
         return new Promise<Object | undefined>(resolve => {
             this.items = this.toItems(elements, resolve);
+            if (this.items.length === 0) {
+                resolve(undefined);
+                return;
+            }
             // Set `runIfSingle` to the value passed through options, else defaults to true.
             const runIfSingle: boolean = (options && options.runIfSingle !== undefined) ? options.runIfSingle : true;
             if (runIfSingle && this.items.length === 1) {