diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
index bdae70268ef0ce4dbb8c6ad86e23bdced04ad333..7b1d550a557bc80973e93ba4ddda7789efa1fd38 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
@@ -933,7 +933,11 @@ export class EditorPart extends Part implements IEditorPart, IEditorGroupService
 		// Validate width ratios
 		const positions = rightEditors.length ? 3 : centerEditors.length ? 2 : 1;
 		if (widthRatios.length !== positions) {
-			widthRatios = void 0; // being taken care of by the layouting
+			if (!this.getVisibleEditors().length) {
+				widthRatios = (positions === 3) ? [0.33, 0.33, 0.34] : (positions === 2) ? [0.5, 0.5] : [1];
+			} else {
+				widthRatios = void 0; // being taken care of by the layouting if editors are already open
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Open each input respecting the options. Since there can only be one active editor in each