diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-command-service.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-command-service.ts
index 270c9ecce97c4..4c74088b30edf 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-command-service.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/quick-open/quick-command-service.ts
@@ -248,6 +248,8 @@ export class CommandQuickOpenItem extends QuickOpenGroupItem {
             // reset focus on the previously active element.
             this.activeElement.focus({ preventScroll: true });
             this.commands.executeCommand(this.command.id);
+
+            this.commands.addRecentCommand(this.command);
         }, 50);
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/common/command.spec.ts b/packages/core/src/common/command.spec.ts
index 4f15c463f5117..f1f9e2bb1a056 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/common/command.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/common/command.spec.ts
@@ -37,15 +37,15 @@ describe('Commands', () => {
         expect('abc').equals(result);
     });
 
-    it('should execute a given command, and add it to recently used', async () => {
+    it('should add command to recently used', async () => {
         const commandId = 'stub';
         const command: Command = { id: commandId };
         commandRegistry.registerCommand(command, new StubCommandHandler());
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandId);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(command);
         expect(commandRegistry.recent.length).equal(1);
     });
 
-    it('should execute multiple commands, and add them to recently used in the order they were used', async () => {
+    it('should add multiple commands to recently used in the order they were used', async () => {
         const commandIds = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
         const commands: Command[] = [
             { id: commandIds[0] },
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ describe('Commands', () => {
         });
 
         // Execute order c, b, a.
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[2]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[1]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[0]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[2]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[1]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[0]);
 
         // Expect recently used to be a, b, c.
         const result: Command[] = commandRegistry.recent;
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ describe('Commands', () => {
         expect(result[2].id).equal(commandIds[2]);
     });
 
-    it('should execute a command that\'s already been executed, and add it to the top of the most recently used', async () => {
+    it('should add a previously used command to the top of the most recently used', async () => {
         const commandIds = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
         const commands: Command[] = [
             { id: commandIds[0] },
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ describe('Commands', () => {
         });
 
         // Execute order a, b, c, a.
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[0]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[1]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[2]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[0]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[0]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[1]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[2]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[0]);
 
         // Expect recently used to be a, b, c.
         const result: Command[] = commandRegistry.recent;
@@ -114,9 +114,9 @@ describe('Commands', () => {
         });
 
         // Execute each command.
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[0]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[1]);
-        await commandRegistry.executeCommand(commandIds[2]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[0]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[1]);
+        commandRegistry.addRecentCommand(commands[2]);
 
         // Clear the list of recently used commands.
         commandRegistry.clearCommandHistory();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/common/command.ts b/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
index c4d53c74332f5..e1f5987709384 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
@@ -289,10 +289,6 @@ export class CommandRegistry implements CommandService {
             await this.fireWillExecuteCommand(commandId, args);
             const result = await handler.execute(...args);
             this.onDidExecuteCommandEmitter.fire({ commandId, args });
-            const command = this.getCommand(commandId);
-            if (command) {
-                this.addRecentCommand(command);
-            }
             return result;
         }
         const argsMessage = args && args.length > 0 ? ` (args: ${JSON.stringify(args)})` : '';