diff --git a/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/mainController.ts b/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/mainController.ts
index 935432012f..a8cb704944 100644
--- a/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/mainController.ts
+++ b/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/mainController.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ export default class MainController implements vscode.Disposable {
 		let results = await glob(sqlprojFilter);
 
 		for (let f in results) {
-			await this.projectsController.openProject(vscode.Uri.file(results[f]));
+			// open the project, but don't switch focus to the file explorer viewlet
+			await this.projectsController.openProject(vscode.Uri.file(results[f]), false);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/projectController.ts b/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/projectController.ts
index 302aaa908c..8b815af48e 100644
--- a/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/projectController.ts
+++ b/extensions/sql-database-projects/src/controllers/projectController.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export class ProjectsController {
 		this.projectTreeViewProvider.load(this.projects);
 	}
 
-	public async openProject(projectFile: vscode.Uri): Promise<Project> {
+	public async openProject(projectFile: vscode.Uri, focusProject: boolean = true): Promise<Project> {
 		for (const proj of this.projects) {
 			if (proj.projectFilePath === projectFile.fsPath) {
 				vscode.window.showInformationMessage(constants.projectAlreadyOpened(projectFile.fsPath));
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ export class ProjectsController {
 			}
 
 			this.refreshProjectsTree();
-			await this.focusProject(newProject);
+
+			if (focusProject) {
+				await this.focusProject(newProject);
+			}
 		}
 		catch (err) {
 			// if the project didnt load - remove it from the list of open projects