diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCenter.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCenter.ts
index e7b9ac440dbc3957e95966fe8a46d05ef360e230..d6baf9a796e583348d3fa022da44f440d2092d4f 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCenter.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCenter.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ export class NotificationsCenter extends Themable {
 	}
 
 	public show(): void {
+		if (this.model.notifications.length === 0) {
+			return; // currently not supporting to show empty (https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/44509)
+		}
+
 		if (this._isVisible) {
 			this.notificationsList.show(true /* focus */);
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCommands.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCommands.ts
index e5cd87a5e0e20e0c765a84b9e228d936474d6dc1..469360901d6879310d20253c4ee42fe34ac36ad2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCommands.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/notifications/notificationsCommands.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,9 @@ export function registerNotificationCommands(center: INotificationsCenterControl
 	}
 
 	// Show Notifications Cneter
-	CommandsRegistry.registerCommand(SHOW_NOTIFICATIONS_CENTER, () => center.show());
+	CommandsRegistry.registerCommand(SHOW_NOTIFICATIONS_CENTER, () => {
+		center.show();
+	});
 
 	// Hide Notifications Center
 	KeybindingsRegistry.registerCommandAndKeybindingRule({
@@ -93,7 +95,13 @@ export function registerNotificationCommands(center: INotificationsCenterControl
 	});
 
 	// Toggle Notifications Center
-	CommandsRegistry.registerCommand(TOGGLE_NOTIFICATIONS_CENTER, accessor => center.isVisible ? center.hide() : center.show());
+	CommandsRegistry.registerCommand(TOGGLE_NOTIFICATIONS_CENTER, accessor => {
+		if (center.isVisible) {
+			center.hide();
+		} else {
+			center.show();
+		}
+	});
 
 	// Clear Notification
 	KeybindingsRegistry.registerCommandAndKeybindingRule({