diff --git a/src/vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeView.ts b/src/vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeView.ts
index b424249e1eb6c95be7c5c88839c707d25b9e0667..659c5360b7d53e03514f4d787db0830adb1313cb 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeView.ts
@@ -1626,6 +1626,10 @@ export class TreeView extends HeightMap {
 	}
 
 	private removeItemFromDOM(item: ViewItem): void {
+		if (!item) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		item.removeFromDOM();
 	}