diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
index 3999342995253200c7161422a0c7440aff3c6e45..de3fda8a4d56e0baec5f9eccd2a252098ed8af9e 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ export class TabsTitleControl extends TitleControl {
 
 	private updateDropFeedback(element: HTMLElement, isDND: boolean, index?: number): void {
 		const isTab = (typeof index === 'number');
-		const isActiveTab = isTab && this.context.isActive(this.context.getEditor(index));
+		const isActiveTab = isTab && this.context && this.context.isActive(this.context.getEditor(index));
 
 		// Background
 		const noDNDBackgroundColor = isTab ? this.getColor(isActiveTab ? TAB_ACTIVE_BACKGROUND : TAB_INACTIVE_BACKGROUND) : null;