diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalTabsWidget.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalTabsWidget.ts
index 35ae08a9d7c..ae744d13873 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalTabsWidget.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalTabsWidget.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ export class TerminalTabsWidget extends WorkbenchObjectTree<ITerminalInstance>
 
 		this.onMouseDblClick(e => {
 			if (this.getFocus().length === 0) {
-				this._terminalService.createTerminal();
+				const instance = this._terminalService.createTerminal();
+				this.setSelection([instance]);
+				this.setFocus([instance]);
 			}
 		});