diff --git a/packages/core/src/common/command.ts b/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
index 3ad6eb3fc2188..f6482490029d5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/common/command.ts
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ export class CommandRegistry implements CommandService {
             return result;
         }
         const argsMessage = args && args.length > 0 ? ` (args: ${JSON.stringify(args)})` : '';
-        throw new Error(`The command '${commandId}' cannot be executed. There are no active handlers available for the command.${argsMessage}`);
+        throw Object.assign(new Error(`The command '${commandId}' cannot be executed. There are no active handlers available for the command.${argsMessage}`), { code: 'NO_ACTIVE_HANDLER' });
     }
 
     protected async fireWillExecuteCommand(commandId: string): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/packages/monaco/src/browser/monaco-editor.ts b/packages/monaco/src/browser/monaco-editor.ts
index 91a5934286d5c..11fd880a200b0 100644
--- a/packages/monaco/src/browser/monaco-editor.ts
+++ b/packages/monaco/src/browser/monaco-editor.ts
@@ -322,6 +322,11 @@ export class MonacoEditor extends MonacoEditorServices implements TextEditor {
         this.toDispose.dispose();
     }
 
+    // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+    trigger(source: string, handlerId: string, payload: any): void {
+        this.editor.trigger(source, handlerId, payload);
+    }
+
     getControl(): IStandaloneCodeEditor {
         return this.editor;
     }
diff --git a/packages/monaco/src/typings/monaco/index.d.ts b/packages/monaco/src/typings/monaco/index.d.ts
index c71fe10fa5f73..4e5f2b07213c6 100644
--- a/packages/monaco/src/typings/monaco/index.d.ts
+++ b/packages/monaco/src/typings/monaco/index.d.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ declare module monaco.editor {
     export interface IStandaloneCodeEditor extends CommonCodeEditor {
         setDecorations(decorationTypeKey: string, ranges: IDecorationOptions[]): void;
         setDecorationsFast(decorationTypeKey: string, ranges: IRange[]): void;
+        trigger(source: string, handlerId: string, payload: any): void
     }
 
     // https://github.com/TypeFox/vscode/blob/monaco/0.18.0/src/vs/editor/browser/widget/codeEditorWidget.ts#L107
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/package.json b/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/package.json
index 2677905d03010..17f5f8f96bf98 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/package.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@theia/core": "^0.13.0",
     "@theia/editor": "^0.13.0",
+    "@theia/monaco": "^0.13.0",
     "@theia/plugin": "^0.13.0",
     "@theia/plugin-ext": "^0.13.0",
     "@theia/workspace": "^0.13.0",
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/src/browser/plugin-vscode-commands-contribution.ts b/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/src/browser/plugin-vscode-commands-contribution.ts
index 865f3b1c41975..cffc578c1e39f 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/src/browser/plugin-vscode-commands-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext-vscode/src/browser/plugin-vscode-commands-contribution.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { fromViewColumn, toDocumentSymbol } from '@theia/plugin-ext/lib/plugin/t
 import { ViewColumn } from '@theia/plugin-ext/lib/plugin/types-impl';
 import { WorkspaceCommands } from '@theia/workspace/lib/browser';
 import { DiffService } from '@theia/workspace/lib/browser/diff-service';
+import { MonacoEditor } from '@theia/monaco/lib/browser/monaco-editor';
 import { inject, injectable } from 'inversify';
 import URI from 'vscode-uri';
 
@@ -137,6 +138,14 @@ export class PluginVscodeCommandsContribution implements CommandContribution {
         commands.registerCommand({ id: 'workbench.action.files.openFolder' }, {
             execute: () => commands.executeCommand(WorkspaceCommands.OPEN_FOLDER.id)
         });
+        commands.registerCommand({ id: 'default:type' }, {
+            execute: args => {
+                const editor = MonacoEditor.getCurrent(this.editorManager);
+                if (editor) {
+                    editor.trigger('keyboard', 'type', args);
+                }
+            }
+        });
         commands.registerCommand({ id: 'workbench.action.files.save', }, {
             execute: (uri?: monaco.Uri) => {
                 if (uri) {
diff --git a/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/command-registry-main.ts b/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/command-registry-main.ts
index 84c82f5a945d8..916f959c717d2 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/command-registry-main.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-ext/src/main/browser/command-registry-main.ts
@@ -72,8 +72,20 @@ export class CommandRegistryMainImpl implements CommandRegistryMain, Disposable
     }
 
     // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
-    $executeCommand<T>(id: string, ...args: any[]): PromiseLike<T | undefined> {
-        return this.delegate.executeCommand(id, ...args);
+    async $executeCommand<T>(id: string, ...args: any[]): Promise<T | undefined> {
+        if (!this.delegate.getCommand(id)) {
+            throw new Error(`Command with id '${id}' is not registered.`);
+        }
+        try {
+            return await this.delegate.executeCommand(id, ...args);
+        } catch (e) {
+            // Command handler may be not active at the moment so the error must be caught. See https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/6687#discussion_r354810079
+            if ('code' in e && e['code'] === 'NO_ACTIVE_HANDLER') {
+                return;
+            } else {
+                throw e;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     $getKeyBinding(commandId: string): PromiseLike<theia.CommandKeyBinding[] | undefined> {