diff --git a/src/sql/workbench/contrib/notebook/browser/cellViews/placeholderCell.component.ts b/src/sql/workbench/contrib/notebook/browser/cellViews/placeholderCell.component.ts
index 74a9f58a0c..e6e594e5dc 100644
--- a/src/sql/workbench/contrib/notebook/browser/cellViews/placeholderCell.component.ts
+++ b/src/sql/workbench/contrib/notebook/browser/cellViews/placeholderCell.component.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ export class PlaceholderCellComponent extends CellView implements OnInit, OnChan
 
 	public addCell(cellType: string, event?: Event): void {
 		if (event) {
+			event.preventDefault();
 			event.stopPropagation();
 		}
 		let type: CellType = <CellType>cellType;