diff --git a/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts b/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
index b84e8f9180163..e4c18c9f15df8 100644
--- a/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
@@ -947,6 +947,11 @@ export class DebugFrontendApplicationContribution extends AbstractViewContributi
 
     async start(noDebug?: boolean): Promise<void> {
         let { current } = this.configurations;
+        // If not current configurations are present, create the `launch.json` and prompt users to select the config.
+        if (!current) {
+            await this.configurations.addConfiguration();
+            return;
+        }
         if (current) {
             if (noDebug !== undefined) {
                 current = {