diff --git a/extensions/data-workspace/src/main.ts b/extensions/data-workspace/src/main.ts
index 2736cdbc66..c872169816 100644
--- a/extensions/data-workspace/src/main.ts
+++ b/extensions/data-workspace/src/main.ts
@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@ import { createNewProjectWithQuickpick } from './dialogs/newProjectQuickpick';
 
 export async function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promise<IExtension> {
 	const workspaceService = new WorkspaceService(context);
-	await workspaceService.loadTempProjects();
-	workspaceService.checkForProjectsNotAddedToWorkspace();
-	context.subscriptions.push(vscode.workspace.onDidChangeWorkspaceFolders(async () => {
-		await workspaceService.checkForProjectsNotAddedToWorkspace();
+
+	// this is not being awaited to not block the rest of activate function from running while loading any temp projects and
+	// checking for projects not added to the workspace yet
+	workspaceService.loadTempProjects().then(() => {
+		return workspaceService.checkForProjectsNotAddedToWorkspace();
+	}).catch(error => {
+		console.error(error);
+		vscode.window.showErrorMessage(error instanceof Error ? error.message : error);
+	});
+
+	context.subscriptions.push(vscode.workspace.onDidChangeWorkspaceFolders(() => {
+		workspaceService.checkForProjectsNotAddedToWorkspace();
 	}));
 
 	const workspaceTreeDataProvider = new WorkspaceTreeDataProvider(workspaceService);