diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickInput.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickInput.ts
index 49c079ab126aa..0e877b51bf49b 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickInput.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickInput.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ export interface IPickOptions<T extends IQuickPickItem> {
 	 */
 	canPickMany?: boolean;
 
+	/**
+	 * a context key to set when this picker is active
+	 */
+	contextKey?: string;
+
 	/**
 	 * an optional property for the item to focus initially.
 	 */
@@ -104,6 +109,8 @@ export interface IQuickInput {
 
 	enabled: boolean;
 
+	contextKey: string | undefined;
+
 	busy: boolean;
 
 	ignoreFocusOut: boolean;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickinput/quickInput.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickinput/quickInput.ts
index 50da9587f5af8..b668f260e620d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickinput/quickInput.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/quickinput/quickInput.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ interface QuickInputUI {
 	show(controller: QuickInput): void;
 	setVisibilities(visibilities: Visibilities): void;
 	setEnabled(enabled: boolean): void;
+	setContextKey(contextKey?: string): void;
 	hide(): void;
 }
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ class QuickInput implements IQuickInput {
 	private _totalSteps: number;
 	protected visible = false;
 	private _enabled = true;
+	private _contextKey: string;
 	private _busy = false;
 	private _ignoreFocusOut = false;
 	private _buttons: IQuickInputButton[] = [];
@@ -148,6 +150,15 @@ class QuickInput implements IQuickInput {
 		this.update();
 	}
 
+	get contextKey() {
+		return this._contextKey;
+	}
+
+	set contextKey(contextKey: string) {
+		this._contextKey = contextKey;
+		this.update();
+	}
+
 	get busy() {
 		return this._busy;
 	}
@@ -249,6 +260,7 @@ class QuickInput implements IQuickInput {
 		}
 		this.ui.ignoreFocusOut = this.ignoreFocusOut;
 		this.ui.setEnabled(this.enabled);
+		this.ui.setContextKey(this.contextKey);
 	}
 
 	private getTitle() {
@@ -740,6 +752,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 	private enabled = true;
 	private inQuickOpenWidgets: Record<string, boolean> = {};
 	private inQuickOpenContext: IContextKey<boolean>;
+	private contexts: { [id: string]: IContextKey<boolean>; } = Object.create(null);
 	private onDidAcceptEmitter = this._register(new Emitter<void>());
 	private onDidTriggerButtonEmitter = this._register(new Emitter<IQuickInputButton>());
 
@@ -753,7 +766,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 		@IQuickOpenService private quickOpenService: IQuickOpenService,
 		@IEditorGroupsService private editorGroupService: IEditorGroupsService,
 		@IKeybindingService private keybindingService: IKeybindingService,
-		@IContextKeyService contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
+		@IContextKeyService private contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
 		@IThemeService themeService: IThemeService
 	) {
 		super(QuickInputService.ID, themeService);
@@ -779,6 +792,36 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 		}
 	}
 
+	private setContextKey(id?: string) {
+		let key: IContextKey<boolean>;
+		if (id) {
+			key = this.contexts[id];
+			if (!key) {
+				key = new RawContextKey<boolean>(id, false)
+					.bindTo(this.contextKeyService);
+				this.contexts[id] = key;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (key && key.get()) {
+			return; // already active context
+		}
+
+		this.resetContextKeys();
+
+		if (key) {
+			key.set(true);
+		}
+	}
+
+	private resetContextKeys() {
+		for (const key in this.contexts) {
+			if (this.contexts[key].get()) {
+				this.contexts[key].reset();
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	private create() {
 		if (this.ui) {
 			return;
@@ -923,6 +966,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 			hide: () => this.hide(),
 			setVisibilities: visibilities => this.setVisibilities(visibilities),
 			setEnabled: enabled => this.setEnabled(enabled),
+			setContextKey: contextKey => this.setContextKey(contextKey),
 		};
 		this.updateStyles();
 	}
@@ -976,6 +1020,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 			input.ignoreFocusOut = options.ignoreFocusLost;
 			input.matchOnDescription = options.matchOnDescription;
 			input.matchOnDetail = options.matchOnDetail;
+			input.contextKey = options.contextKey;
 			input.busy = true;
 			TPromise.join([picks, options.activeItem])
 				.then(([items, activeItem]) => {
@@ -1096,6 +1141,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 		backButton.tooltip = keybinding ? localize('quickInput.backWithKeybinding', "Back ({0})", keybinding.getLabel()) : localize('quickInput.back', "Back");
 
 		this.inQuickOpen('quickInput', true);
+		this.resetContextKeys();
 
 		this.ui.container.style.display = '';
 		this.updateLayout();
@@ -1136,6 +1182,7 @@ export class QuickInputService extends Component implements IQuickInputService {
 		if (controller) {
 			this.controller = null;
 			this.inQuickOpen('quickInput', false);
+			this.resetContextKeys();
 			this.ui.container.style.display = 'none';
 			if (!focusLost) {
 				this.editorGroupService.activeGroup.focus();