diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/paneview.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/paneview.ts
index fbd9cb080a0c61edc55ffe714762d6012da6d756..fc2f45700d3c1e404b8b8955cf2ee9a5dd9b1f4f 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/paneview.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/paneview.ts
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@ export abstract class Pane extends Disposable implements IView {
 		this.header = $('.pane-header');
 		append(this.element, this.header);
 		this.header.setAttribute('tabindex', '0');
-		this.header.setAttribute('role', 'toolbar');
+		// Use role button so the aria-expanded state gets read https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/95996
+		this.header.setAttribute('role', 'button');
 		this.header.setAttribute('aria-label', this.ariaHeaderLabel);
 		this.renderHeader(this.header);