diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/__snapshots__/header.test.tsx.snap b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/__snapshots__/header.test.tsx.snap
index 6301583c130a..9e7906250949 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/__snapshots__/header.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/__snapshots__/header.test.tsx.snap
@@ -4271,55 +4271,6 @@ exports[`Header renders 1`] = `
                 "thrownError": null,
               }
             }
-            breadcrumbsAppendExtension$={
-              BehaviorSubject {
-                "_isScalar": false,
-                "_value": undefined,
-                "closed": false,
-                "hasError": false,
-                "isStopped": false,
-                "observers": Array [
-                  Subscriber {
-                    "_parentOrParents": null,
-                    "_subscriptions": Array [
-                      SubjectSubscription {
-                        "_parentOrParents": [Circular],
-                        "_subscriptions": null,
-                        "closed": false,
-                        "subject": [Circular],
-                        "subscriber": [Circular],
-                      },
-                    ],
-                    "closed": false,
-                    "destination": SafeSubscriber {
-                      "_complete": undefined,
-                      "_context": [Circular],
-                      "_error": undefined,
-                      "_next": [Function],
-                      "_parentOrParents": null,
-                      "_parentSubscriber": [Circular],
-                      "_subscriptions": null,
-                      "closed": false,
-                      "destination": Object {
-                        "closed": true,
-                        "complete": [Function],
-                        "error": [Function],
-                        "next": [Function],
-                      },
-                      "isStopped": false,
-                      "syncErrorThrowable": false,
-                      "syncErrorThrown": false,
-                      "syncErrorValue": null,
-                    },
-                    "isStopped": false,
-                    "syncErrorThrowable": true,
-                    "syncErrorThrown": false,
-                    "syncErrorValue": null,
-                  },
-                ],
-                "thrownError": null,
-              }
-            }
           >
             <EuiHeaderBreadcrumbs
               breadcrumbs={
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/_index.scss b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/_index.scss
index b11e7e47f4ae..1678c1ac6b5c 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/_index.scss
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/_index.scss
@@ -28,3 +28,18 @@
     display: none;
   }
 }
+
+.header__breadcrumbsWithExtensionContainer {
+  overflow: hidden; // enables text-ellipsis in the last breadcrumb
+  .euiHeaderBreadcrumbs {
+    // stop breadcrumbs from growing.
+    // this makes the extension appear right next to the last breadcrumb
+    flex-grow: 0;
+    margin-right: 0;
+
+    overflow: hidden; // enables text-ellipsis in the last breadcrumb
+  }
+}
+.header__breadcrumbsAppendExtension {
+  flex-grow: 1;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.test.tsx b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.test.tsx
index 73e3a7349d97..30f2f022d6e9 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.test.tsx
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.test.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { StubBrowserStorage, mountWithIntl } from '@kbn/test/jest';
 import { httpServiceMock } from '../../../http/http_service.mock';
 import { applicationServiceMock } from '../../../mocks';
 import { Header } from './header';
+import { ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension } from '../../chrome_service';
 
 jest.mock('@elastic/eui/lib/services/accessibility/html_id_generator', () => ({
   htmlIdGenerator: () => () => 'mockId',
@@ -71,6 +72,9 @@ describe('Header', () => {
     const recentlyAccessed$ = new BehaviorSubject([
       { link: '', label: 'dashboard', id: 'dashboard' },
     ]);
+    const breadcrumbsAppendExtension$ = new BehaviorSubject<
+      undefined | ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension
+    >(undefined);
     const component = mountWithIntl(
       <Header
         {...mockProps()}
@@ -80,6 +84,7 @@ describe('Header', () => {
         recentlyAccessed$={recentlyAccessed$}
         isLocked$={isLocked$}
         customNavLink$={customNavLink$}
+        breadcrumbsAppendExtension$={breadcrumbsAppendExtension$}
       />
     );
     expect(component.find('EuiHeader').exists()).toBeFalsy();
@@ -93,5 +98,19 @@ describe('Header', () => {
     component.update();
     expect(component.find('nav[aria-label="Primary"]').exists()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
+
+    act(() =>
+      breadcrumbsAppendExtension$.next({
+        content: (root: HTMLDivElement) => {
+          root.innerHTML = '<div class="my-extension">__render__</div>';
+          return () => (root.innerHTML = '');
+        },
+      })
+    );
+    component.update();
+    expect(component.find('HeaderExtension').exists()).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(
+      component.find('HeaderExtension').getDOMNode().querySelector('.my-extension')
+    ).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.tsx b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.tsx
index ad13ada3adfb..8bb3de8c6708 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.tsx
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {
+  EuiFlexGroup,
   EuiHeader,
   EuiHeaderSection,
   EuiHeaderSectionItem,
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ import { HeaderHelpMenu } from './header_help_menu';
 import { HeaderLogo } from './header_logo';
 import { HeaderNavControls } from './header_nav_controls';
 import { HeaderActionMenu } from './header_action_menu';
+import { HeaderExtension } from './header_extension';
 
 export interface HeaderProps {
   kibanaVersion: string;
@@ -73,11 +75,13 @@ export function Header({
   basePath,
   onIsLockedUpdate,
   homeHref,
+  breadcrumbsAppendExtension$,
   ...observables
 }: HeaderProps) {
   const isVisible = useObservable(observables.isVisible$, false);
   const isLocked = useObservable(observables.isLocked$, false);
   const [isNavOpen, setIsNavOpen] = useState(false);
+  const breadcrumbsAppendExtension = useObservable(breadcrumbsAppendExtension$);
 
   if (!isVisible) {
     return <LoadingIndicator loadingCount$={observables.loadingCount$} showAsBar />;
@@ -87,6 +91,10 @@ export function Header({
   const navId = htmlIdGenerator()();
   const className = classnames('hide-for-sharing', 'headerGlobalNav');
 
+  const Breadcrumbs = (
+    <HeaderBreadcrumbs appTitle$={observables.appTitle$} breadcrumbs$={observables.breadcrumbs$} />
+  );
+
   return (
     <>
       <header className={className} data-test-subj="headerGlobalNav">
@@ -157,11 +165,23 @@ export function Header({
               <HeaderNavControls side="left" navControls$={observables.navControlsLeft$} />
             </EuiHeaderSection>
 
-            <HeaderBreadcrumbs
-              appTitle$={observables.appTitle$}
-              breadcrumbs$={observables.breadcrumbs$}
-              breadcrumbsAppendExtension$={observables.breadcrumbsAppendExtension$}
-            />
+            {!breadcrumbsAppendExtension ? (
+              Breadcrumbs
+            ) : (
+              <EuiFlexGroup
+                responsive={false}
+                wrap={false}
+                alignItems={'center'}
+                className={'header__breadcrumbsWithExtensionContainer'}
+                gutterSize={'none'}
+              >
+                {Breadcrumbs}
+                <HeaderExtension
+                  extension={breadcrumbsAppendExtension.content}
+                  containerClassName={'header__breadcrumbsAppendExtension'}
+                />
+              </EuiFlexGroup>
+            )}
 
             <HeaderBadge badge$={observables.badge$} />
 
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
index 33314f69278f..34f741caf850 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.test.tsx
@@ -11,17 +11,12 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { act } from 'react-dom/test-utils';
 import { BehaviorSubject } from 'rxjs';
 import { HeaderBreadcrumbs } from './header_breadcrumbs';
-import { ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension } from '../../chrome_service';
 
 describe('HeaderBreadcrumbs', () => {
   it('renders updates to the breadcrumbs$ observable', () => {
     const breadcrumbs$ = new BehaviorSubject([{ text: 'First' }]);
     const wrapper = mount(
-      <HeaderBreadcrumbs
-        appTitle$={new BehaviorSubject('')}
-        breadcrumbs$={breadcrumbs$}
-        breadcrumbsAppendExtension$={new BehaviorSubject(undefined)}
-      />
+      <HeaderBreadcrumbs appTitle$={new BehaviorSubject('')} breadcrumbs$={breadcrumbs$} />
     );
     expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb')).toMatchSnapshot();
 
@@ -33,29 +28,4 @@ describe('HeaderBreadcrumbs', () => {
     wrapper.update();
     expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb')).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
-
-  it('renders breadcrumbs extension', () => {
-    const breadcrumbs$ = new BehaviorSubject([{ text: 'First' }]);
-    const breadcrumbsAppendExtension$ = new BehaviorSubject<
-      undefined | ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension
-    >({
-      content: (root: HTMLDivElement) => {
-        root.innerHTML = '<div class="my-extension">__render__</div>';
-        return () => (root.innerHTML = '');
-      },
-    });
-
-    const wrapper = mount(
-      <HeaderBreadcrumbs
-        appTitle$={new BehaviorSubject('')}
-        breadcrumbs$={breadcrumbs$}
-        breadcrumbsAppendExtension$={breadcrumbsAppendExtension$}
-      />
-    );
-
-    expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb').getDOMNode().querySelector('my-extension')).toBeDefined();
-    act(() => breadcrumbsAppendExtension$.next(undefined));
-    wrapper.update();
-    expect(wrapper.find('.euiBreadcrumb').getDOMNode().querySelector('my-extension')).toBeNull();
-  });
 });
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.tsx b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
index 3b9cb22f56d8..3797389fe484 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_breadcrumbs.tsx
@@ -6,24 +6,21 @@
  * Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import { EuiFlexGroup, EuiHeaderBreadcrumbs } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { EuiHeaderBreadcrumbs } from '@elastic/eui';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
 import React from 'react';
 import useObservable from 'react-use/lib/useObservable';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
-import { ChromeBreadcrumb, ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension } from '../../chrome_service';
-import { HeaderExtension } from './header_extension';
+import { ChromeBreadcrumb } from '../../chrome_service';
 
 interface Props {
   appTitle$: Observable<string>;
   breadcrumbs$: Observable<ChromeBreadcrumb[]>;
-  breadcrumbsAppendExtension$: Observable<ChromeBreadcrumbsAppendExtension | undefined>;
 }
 
-export function HeaderBreadcrumbs({ appTitle$, breadcrumbs$, breadcrumbsAppendExtension$ }: Props) {
+export function HeaderBreadcrumbs({ appTitle$, breadcrumbs$ }: Props) {
   const appTitle = useObservable(appTitle$, 'Kibana');
   const breadcrumbs = useObservable(breadcrumbs$, []);
-  const breadcrumbsAppendExtension = useObservable(breadcrumbsAppendExtension$);
   let crumbs = breadcrumbs;
 
   if (breadcrumbs.length === 0 && appTitle) {
@@ -40,14 +37,5 @@ export function HeaderBreadcrumbs({ appTitle$, breadcrumbs$, breadcrumbsAppendEx
     ),
   }));
 
-  if (breadcrumbsAppendExtension && crumbs[crumbs.length - 1]) {
-    const lastCrumb = crumbs[crumbs.length - 1];
-    lastCrumb.text = (
-      <EuiFlexGroup responsive={false} gutterSize={'none'} alignItems={'baseline'}>
-        <div className="eui-textTruncate">{lastCrumb.text}</div>
-        <HeaderExtension extension={breadcrumbsAppendExtension.content} />
-      </EuiFlexGroup>
-    );
-  }
   return <EuiHeaderBreadcrumbs breadcrumbs={crumbs} max={10} data-test-subj="breadcrumbs" />;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_extension.tsx b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_extension.tsx
index 53f21d42c534..c5a101476bdb 100644
--- a/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_extension.tsx
+++ b/src/core/public/chrome/ui/header/header_extension.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { MountPoint } from '../../../types';
 interface Props {
   extension?: MountPoint<HTMLDivElement>;
   display?: 'block' | 'inlineBlock';
+  containerClassName?: string;
 }
 
 export class HeaderExtension extends React.Component<Props> {
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export class HeaderExtension extends React.Component<Props> {
     return (
       <div
         ref={this.ref}
+        className={this.props.containerClassName}
         style={{ display: this.props.display === 'inlineBlock' ? 'inline-block' : undefined }}
       />
     );