diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/actions/quickAccessActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/actions/quickAccessActions.ts
index 2f369a77572..0295a2580ff 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/actions/quickAccessActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/actions/quickAccessActions.ts
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ CommandsRegistry.registerCommand({
 	}
 });
 
-CommandsRegistry.registerCommand('workbench.action.quickOpenPreviousEditor', async function (accessor: ServicesAccessor, prefix: string | null = null) {
+CommandsRegistry.registerCommand('workbench.action.quickOpenPreviousEditor', async accessor => {
 	const quickInputService = accessor.get(IQuickInputService);
 
 	quickInputService.quickAccess.show('', { itemActivation: ItemActivation.SECOND });
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
index f80f1ff03be..5e03ab84808 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
@@ -1339,7 +1339,8 @@ export class QuickAccessPreviousEditorFromHistoryAction extends Action {
 		id: string,
 		label: string,
 		@IQuickInputService private readonly quickInputService: IQuickInputService,
-		@IKeybindingService private readonly keybindingService: IKeybindingService
+		@IKeybindingService private readonly keybindingService: IKeybindingService,
+		@IEditorGroupsService private readonly editorGroupService: IEditorGroupsService
 	) {
 		super(id, label);
 	}
@@ -1347,7 +1348,14 @@ export class QuickAccessPreviousEditorFromHistoryAction extends Action {
 	async run(): Promise<void> {
 		const keybindings = this.keybindingService.lookupKeybindings(this.id);
 
-		this.quickInputService.quickAccess.show('', { quickNavigateConfiguration: { keybindings } });
+		// Enforce to activate the first item in quick access if
+		// the currently active editor group has n editor opened
+		let itemActivation: ItemActivation | undefined = undefined;
+		if (this.editorGroupService.activeGroup.count === 0) {
+			itemActivation = ItemActivation.FIRST;
+		}
+
+		this.quickInputService.quickAccess.show('', { quickNavigateConfiguration: { keybindings }, itemActivation });
 	}
 }