diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/tocTree.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/tocTree.ts
index b015b5af6fd3259fd17c4ddfb08a71fdfc3ee611..f281c9d3033ae95aabe0638bd464d7db15ef697f 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/tocTree.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/preferences/browser/tocTree.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ export class TOCTreeModel {
 	}
 
 	public update(): void {
-		this.updateGroupCount(this._settingsTreeRoot);
+		if (this._settingsTreeRoot) {
+			this.updateGroupCount(this._settingsTreeRoot);
+		}
 	}
 
 	private updateGroupCount(group: SettingsTreeGroupElement): void {