diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
index 2e29a8fca84..d6d37e947c8 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/panel/panelPart.ts
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ export abstract class BasePanelPart extends CompositePart<PaneComposite> impleme
 
 		if (activeContainers.length) {
 			if (this.getActivePaneComposite()?.getId() === panelId) {
-				const defaultPanelId = this.viewDescriptorService.getDefaultViewContainer(this.viewContainerLocation)!.id;
+				const defaultPanelId = this.viewDescriptorService.getDefaultViewContainer(this.viewContainerLocation)?.id;
 				const containerToOpen = activeContainers.filter(c => c.id === defaultPanelId)[0] || activeContainers[0];
 				await this.openPaneComposite(containerToOpen.id);
 			}