diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalEditorService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalEditorService.ts
index a13d8ffcb90fa..c8f8acbd3a6bf 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalEditorService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalEditorService.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { DeserializedTerminalEditorInput } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/b
 import { getInstanceFromResource, parseTerminalUri } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalUri';
 import { ILocalTerminalService, IOffProcessTerminalService } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/common/terminal';
 import { IEditorGroupsService } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorGroupsService';
-import { IEditorService, SIDE_GROUP } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService';
+import { IEditorService, ACTIVE_GROUP, SIDE_GROUP } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService';
 import { IWorkbenchEnvironmentService } from 'vs/workbench/services/environment/common/environmentService';
 import { ILifecycleService } from 'vs/workbench/services/lifecycle/common/lifecycle';
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export class TerminalEditorService extends Disposable implements ITerminalEditor
 					forceReload: true,
 					preserveFocus: editorOptions?.preserveFocus
 				}
-			}, editorOptions?.viewColumn);
+			}, editorOptions?.viewColumn || ACTIVE_GROUP);
 		}
 	}