diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
index 696e5653d51d1..fc75553b9ff9c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/shell/tab-bars.ts
@@ -726,8 +726,10 @@ export class ScrollableTabBar extends TabBar<Widget> {
             content[i] = this.renderer.renderTab(renderData);
         }
         VirtualDOM.render(content, this.contentNode);
-        if (this.dynamicTabOptions && !this.isMouseOver && this.scrollBar) {
-            this.scrollBar.update();
+        if (this.scrollBar) {
+            if (!(this.dynamicTabOptions && this.isMouseOver)) {
+                this.scrollBar.update();
+            }
         }
     }