diff --git a/extensions/microsoft-authentication/src/AADHelper.ts b/extensions/microsoft-authentication/src/AADHelper.ts
index 7c7724d05b03b..9d77be2a4f8ca 100644
--- a/extensions/microsoft-authentication/src/AADHelper.ts
+++ b/extensions/microsoft-authentication/src/AADHelper.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export class AzureActiveDirectoryService {
 				"login" : {
 					"owner": "TylerLeonhardt",
 					"comment": "Used to determine the usage of the Microsoft Auth Provider.",
-					"scopes": { "classification": "PublicNonPersonalData", "purpose": "FeatureInsight", "comment": "Used to determine what scope combinations are being requested." }
+					"scopes": { "classification": "PublicNonPersonalData", "purpose": "FeatureInsight", "comment": "Used to determine what scope combinations are being requested." },
 					"accountType": { "classification": "PublicNonPersonalData", "purpose": "FeatureInsight", "comment": "Used to determine what account types are being used." }
 				}
 			*/
diff --git a/src/vs/editor/contrib/quickAccess/browser/editorNavigationQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/editor/contrib/quickAccess/browser/editorNavigationQuickAccess.ts
index f76e4b868b6e3..98d97438d14da 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/contrib/quickAccess/browser/editorNavigationQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/contrib/quickAccess/browser/editorNavigationQuickAccess.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import { themeColorFromId } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
 import { alert } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/aria/aria';
 
 interface IEditorLineDecoration {
-	rangeHighlightId: string;
-	overviewRulerDecorationId: string;
+	readonly rangeHighlightId: string;
+	readonly overviewRulerDecorationId: string;
 }
 
 export interface IEditorNavigationQuickAccessOptions {
diff --git a/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/quickAccess/standaloneCommandsQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/quickAccess/standaloneCommandsQuickAccess.ts
index cf853302d6fe5..5e87aa8f71050 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/quickAccess/standaloneCommandsQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/standalone/browser/quickAccess/standaloneCommandsQuickAccess.ts
@@ -37,10 +37,14 @@ export class StandaloneCommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommand
 		super({ showAlias: false }, instantiationService, keybindingService, commandService, telemetryService, dialogService);
 	}
 
-	protected getCommandPicks(): Array<ICommandQuickPick> {
+	protected async getCommandPicks(): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick>> {
 		return this.getCodeEditorCommandPicks();
 	}
 
+	protected hasAdditionalCommandPicks(): boolean {
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	protected async getAdditionalCommandPicks(): Promise<ICommandQuickPick[]> {
 		return [];
 	}
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
index 607a0bd91c073..05e07a1543dda 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ import { IStorageService, StorageScope, StorageTarget } from 'vs/platform/storag
 import { ITelemetryService } from 'vs/platform/telemetry/common/telemetry';
 
 export interface ICommandQuickPick extends IPickerQuickAccessItem {
-	commandId: string;
-	commandAlias?: string;
+	readonly commandId: string;
+	readonly commandAlias?: string;
 }
 
 export interface ICommandsQuickAccessOptions extends IPickerQuickAccessProviderOptions<ICommandQuickPick> {
-	showAlias: boolean;
+	readonly showAlias: boolean;
 	suggestedCommandIds?: Set<string>;
 }
 
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ export abstract class AbstractCommandsQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAcc
 		this.options = options;
 	}
 
-	protected _getPicks(filter: string, _disposables: DisposableStore, token: CancellationToken, runOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions): Picks<ICommandQuickPick> | FastAndSlowPicks<ICommandQuickPick> {
+	protected async _getPicks(filter: string, _disposables: DisposableStore, token: CancellationToken, runOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions): Promise<Picks<ICommandQuickPick> | FastAndSlowPicks<ICommandQuickPick>> {
 
 		// Ask subclass for all command picks
-		const allCommandPicks = this.getCommandPicks(token);
+		const allCommandPicks = await this.getCommandPicks(token);
 
 		if (token.isCancellationRequested) {
 			return [];
@@ -166,10 +166,20 @@ export abstract class AbstractCommandsQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAcc
 			commandPicks.push(this.toCommandPick(commandPick, runOptions));
 		}
 
+		if (!this.hasAdditionalCommandPicks(filter, token)) {
+			return commandPicks;
+		}
+
 		return {
 			picks: commandPicks,
-			additionalPicks: this.getAdditionalCommandPicks(allCommandPicks, filteredCommandPicks, filter, token)
-				.then(additionalCommandPicks => additionalCommandPicks.map(commandPick => this.toCommandPick(commandPick, runOptions)))
+			additionalPicks: (async (): Promise<Picks<ICommandQuickPick>> => {
+				const additionalCommandPicks = await this.getAdditionalCommandPicks(allCommandPicks, filteredCommandPicks, filter, token);
+				if (token.isCancellationRequested) {
+					return [];
+				}
+
+				return additionalCommandPicks.map(commandPick => this.toCommandPick(commandPick, runOptions));
+			})()
 		};
 	}
 
@@ -177,6 +187,7 @@ export abstract class AbstractCommandsQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAcc
 		if (commandPick.type === 'separator') {
 			return commandPick;
 		}
+
 		const keybinding = this.keybindingService.lookupKeybinding(commandPick.commandId);
 		const ariaLabel = keybinding ?
 			localize('commandPickAriaLabelWithKeybinding', "{0}, {1}", commandPick.label, keybinding.getAriaLabel()) :
@@ -210,27 +221,22 @@ export abstract class AbstractCommandsQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAcc
 		};
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Subclasses to provide the actual command entries.
-	 */
-	protected abstract getCommandPicks(token: CancellationToken): Array<ICommandQuickPick>;
+	protected abstract getCommandPicks(token: CancellationToken): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick>>;
 
-	/**
-	 * Subclasses to provide the actual command entries.
-	 */
+	protected abstract hasAdditionalCommandPicks(filter: string, token: CancellationToken): boolean;
 	protected abstract getAdditionalCommandPicks(allPicks: ICommandQuickPick[], picksSoFar: ICommandQuickPick[], filter: string, token: CancellationToken): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick | IQuickPickSeparator>>;
 }
 
 interface ISerializedCommandHistory {
-	usesLRU?: boolean;
-	entries: { key: string; value: number }[];
+	readonly usesLRU?: boolean;
+	readonly entries: { key: string; value: number }[];
 }
 
 interface ICommandsQuickAccessConfiguration {
-	workbench: {
-		commandPalette: {
-			history: number;
-			preserveInput: boolean;
+	readonly workbench: {
+		readonly commandPalette: {
+			readonly history: number;
+			readonly preserveInput: boolean;
 		};
 	};
 }
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/helpQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/helpQuickAccess.ts
index bdffa0bd228a7..0346fc0b85692 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/helpQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/helpQuickAccess.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { Extensions, IQuickAccessProvider, IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor, IQuic
 import { IQuickInputService, IQuickPick, IQuickPickItem } from 'vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickInput';
 
 interface IHelpQuickAccessPickItem extends IQuickPickItem {
-	prefix: string;
+	readonly prefix: string;
 }
 
 export class HelpQuickAccessProvider implements IQuickAccessProvider {
@@ -75,4 +75,3 @@ export class HelpQuickAccessProvider implements IQuickAccessProvider {
 		});
 	}
 }
-
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/pickerQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/pickerQuickAccess.ts
index 7ea3087de9ba8..4eae7f8ba7448 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/pickerQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/pickerQuickAccess.ts
@@ -64,18 +64,37 @@ export interface IPickerQuickAccessProviderOptions<T extends IPickerQuickAccessI
 	/**
 	 * Enables support for opening picks in the background via gesture.
 	 */
-	canAcceptInBackground?: boolean;
+	readonly canAcceptInBackground?: boolean;
 
 	/**
 	 * Enables to show a pick entry when no results are returned from a search.
 	 */
-	noResultsPick?: T | ((filter: string) => T);
+	readonly noResultsPick?: T | ((filter: string) => T);
 }
 
 export type Pick<T> = T | IQuickPickSeparator;
 export type PicksWithActive<T> = { items: readonly Pick<T>[]; active?: T };
 export type Picks<T> = readonly Pick<T>[] | PicksWithActive<T>;
-export type FastAndSlowPicks<T> = { picks: Picks<T>; additionalPicks: Promise<Picks<T>> };
+export type FastAndSlowPicks<T> = {
+
+	/**
+	 * Picks that will show instantly or after a short delay
+	 * based on the `mergeDelay` property to reduce flicker.
+	 */
+	readonly picks: Picks<T>;
+
+	/**
+	 * Picks that will show after they have been resolved.
+	 */
+	readonly additionalPicks: Promise<Picks<T>>;
+
+	/**
+	 * A delay in milliseconds to wait before showing the
+	 * `picks` to give a chance to merge with `additionalPicks`
+	 * for reduced flicker.
+	 */
+	readonly mergeDelay?: number;
+};
 
 function isPicksWithActive<T>(obj: unknown): obj is PicksWithActive<T> {
 	const candidate = obj as PicksWithActive<T>;
@@ -91,8 +110,6 @@ function isFastAndSlowPicks<T>(obj: unknown): obj is FastAndSlowPicks<T> {
 
 export abstract class PickerQuickAccessProvider<T extends IPickerQuickAccessItem> extends Disposable implements IQuickAccessProvider {
 
-	private static FAST_PICKS_RACE_DELAY = 200; // timeout before we accept fast results before slow results are present
-
 	constructor(private prefix: string, protected options?: IPickerQuickAccessProviderOptions<T>) {
 		super();
 	}
@@ -158,51 +175,50 @@ export abstract class PickerQuickAccessProvider<T extends IPickerQuickAccessItem
 				return true;
 			};
 
-			// No Picks
-			if (providedPicks === null) {
-				// Ignore
-			}
-
-			// Fast and Slow Picks
-			else if (isFastAndSlowPicks(providedPicks)) {
+			const applyFastAndSlowPicks = async (fastAndSlowPicks: FastAndSlowPicks<T>): Promise<void> => {
 				let fastPicksApplied = false;
 				let slowPicksApplied = false;
 
 				await Promise.all([
 
-					// Fast Picks: to reduce amount of flicker, we race against
-					// the slow picks over 500ms and then set the fast picks.
-					// If the slow picks are faster, we reduce the flicker by
-					// only setting the items once.
+					// Fast Picks: if `mergeDelay` is configured, in order to reduce
+					// amount of flicker, we race against the slow picks over some delay
+					// and then set the fast picks.
+					// If the slow picks are faster, we reduce the flicker by only
+					// setting the items once.
+
 					(async () => {
-						await timeout(PickerQuickAccessProvider.FAST_PICKS_RACE_DELAY);
-						if (picksToken.isCancellationRequested) {
-							return;
+						if (typeof fastAndSlowPicks.mergeDelay === 'number') {
+							await timeout(fastAndSlowPicks.mergeDelay);
+							if (picksToken.isCancellationRequested) {
+								return;
+							}
 						}
 
 						if (!slowPicksApplied) {
-							fastPicksApplied = applyPicks(providedPicks.picks, true /* skip over empty to reduce flicker */);
+							fastPicksApplied = applyPicks(fastAndSlowPicks.picks, true /* skip over empty to reduce flicker */);
 						}
 					})(),
 
 					// Slow Picks: we await the slow picks and then set them at
 					// once together with the fast picks, but only if we actually
 					// have additional results.
+
 					(async () => {
 						picker.busy = true;
 						try {
-							const awaitedAdditionalPicks = await providedPicks.additionalPicks;
+							const awaitedAdditionalPicks = await fastAndSlowPicks.additionalPicks;
 							if (picksToken.isCancellationRequested) {
 								return;
 							}
 
 							let picks: readonly Pick<T>[];
 							let activePick: Pick<T> | undefined = undefined;
-							if (isPicksWithActive(providedPicks.picks)) {
-								picks = providedPicks.picks.items;
-								activePick = providedPicks.picks.active;
+							if (isPicksWithActive(fastAndSlowPicks.picks)) {
+								picks = fastAndSlowPicks.picks.items;
+								activePick = fastAndSlowPicks.picks.active;
 							} else {
-								picks = providedPicks.picks;
+								picks = fastAndSlowPicks.picks;
 							}
 
 							let additionalPicks: readonly Pick<T>[];
@@ -243,6 +259,16 @@ export abstract class PickerQuickAccessProvider<T extends IPickerQuickAccessItem
 						}
 					})()
 				]);
+			};
+
+			// No Picks
+			if (providedPicks === null) {
+				// Ignore
+			}
+
+			// Fast and Slow Picks
+			else if (isFastAndSlowPicks(providedPicks)) {
+				await applyFastAndSlowPicks(providedPicks);
 			}
 
 			// Fast Picks
@@ -259,7 +285,11 @@ export abstract class PickerQuickAccessProvider<T extends IPickerQuickAccessItem
 						return;
 					}
 
-					applyPicks(awaitedPicks);
+					if (isFastAndSlowPicks(awaitedPicks)) {
+						await applyFastAndSlowPicks(awaitedPicks);
+					} else {
+						applyPicks(awaitedPicks);
+					}
 				} finally {
 					if (!picksToken.isCancellationRequested) {
 						picker.busy = false;
@@ -343,5 +373,5 @@ export abstract class PickerQuickAccessProvider<T extends IPickerQuickAccessItem
 	 * @returns the picks either directly, as promise or combined fast and slow results.
 	 * Pickers can return `null` to signal that no change in picks is needed.
 	 */
-	protected abstract _getPicks(filter: string, disposables: DisposableStore, token: CancellationToken, runOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions): Picks<T> | Promise<Picks<T>> | FastAndSlowPicks<T> | null;
+	protected abstract _getPicks(filter: string, disposables: DisposableStore, token: CancellationToken, runOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions): Picks<T> | Promise<Picks<T> | FastAndSlowPicks<T>> | FastAndSlowPicks<T> | null;
 }
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/quickAccess.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/quickAccess.ts
index ea8b0a35ea7e4..0f2fa5c8f3c67 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/quickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/browser/quickAccess.ts
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ export class QuickAccessController extends Disposable implements IQuickAccessCon
 	private readonly lastAcceptedPickerValues = new Map<IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor, string>();
 
 	private visibleQuickAccess: {
-		picker: IQuickPick<IQuickPickItem>;
-		descriptor: IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor | undefined;
-		value: string;
+		readonly picker: IQuickPick<IQuickPickItem>;
+		readonly descriptor: IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor | undefined;
+		readonly value: string;
 	} | undefined = undefined;
 
 	constructor(
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickAccess.ts b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickAccess.ts
index d0f8c57dbb3b3..e5c5dee917330 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/quickinput/common/quickAccess.ts
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ import { Registry } from 'vs/platform/registry/common/platform';
  * quick access.
  */
 export interface IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions {
-	from?: string;
+	readonly from?: string;
 }
 
 /**
  * The specific options for the AnythingQuickAccessProvider. Put here to share between layers.
  */
 export interface AnythingQuickAccessProviderRunOptions extends IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions {
-	includeHelp?: boolean;
+	readonly includeHelp?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface IQuickAccessOptions {
@@ -29,25 +29,25 @@ export interface IQuickAccessOptions {
 	/**
 	 * Allows to enable quick navigate support in quick input.
 	 */
-	quickNavigateConfiguration?: IQuickNavigateConfiguration;
+	readonly quickNavigateConfiguration?: IQuickNavigateConfiguration;
 
 	/**
 	 * Allows to configure a different item activation strategy.
 	 * By default the first item in the list will get activated.
 	 */
-	itemActivation?: ItemActivation;
+	readonly itemActivation?: ItemActivation;
 
 	/**
 	 * Whether to take the input value as is and not restore it
 	 * from any existing value if quick access is visible.
 	 */
-	preserveValue?: boolean;
+	readonly preserveValue?: boolean;
 
 	/**
 	 * Provider specific options for this particular showing of the
 	 * quick access.
 	 */
-	providerOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions;
+	readonly providerOptions?: IQuickAccessProviderRunOptions;
 }
 
 export interface IQuickAccessController {
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ export interface IQuickAccessProviderHelp {
 	 * The prefix to show for the help entry. If not provided,
 	 * the prefix used for registration will be taken.
 	 */
-	prefix?: string;
+	readonly prefix?: string;
 
 	/**
 	 * A description text to help understand the intent of the provider.
 	 */
-	description: string;
+	readonly description: string;
 
 	/**
 	 * The command to bring up this quick access provider.
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ export interface IQuickAccessRegistry {
 }
 
 export class QuickAccessRegistry implements IQuickAccessRegistry {
+
 	private providers: IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor[] = [];
 	private defaultProvider: IQuickAccessProviderDescriptor | undefined = undefined;
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/quickaccess.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/quickaccess.ts
index 8f10b6807e449..7aaec862f9930 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/quickaccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/quickaccess.ts
@@ -17,18 +17,18 @@ export const defaultQuickAccessContextKeyValue = 'inFilesPicker';
 export const defaultQuickAccessContext = ContextKeyExpr.and(inQuickPickContext, ContextKeyExpr.has(defaultQuickAccessContextKeyValue));
 
 export interface IWorkbenchQuickAccessConfiguration {
-	workbench: {
-		commandPalette: {
-			history: number;
-			preserveInput: boolean;
-			experimental: {
-				suggestCommands: boolean;
-				useSemanticSimilarity: boolean;
+	readonly workbench: {
+		readonly commandPalette: {
+			readonly history: number;
+			readonly preserveInput: boolean;
+			readonly experimental: {
+				readonly suggestCommands: boolean;
+				readonly useSemanticSimilarity: boolean;
 			};
 		};
-		quickOpen: {
-			enableExperimentalNewVersion: boolean;
-			preserveInput: boolean;
+		readonly quickOpen: {
+			readonly enableExperimentalNewVersion: boolean;
+			readonly preserveInput: boolean;
 		};
 	};
 }
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/quickaccess/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/quickaccess/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
index c6359ac4cd3e4..edea37c5b774e 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/quickaccess/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/quickaccess/browser/commandsQuickAccess.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import { localize } from 'vs/nls';
 import { ICommandQuickPick, CommandsHistory } from 'vs/platform/quickinput/browser/commandsQuickAccess';
 import { IEditorService } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/common/editorService';
 import { IMenuService, MenuId, MenuItemAction, SubmenuItemAction, Action2 } from 'vs/platform/actions/common/actions';
-// import { IExtensionService } from 'vs/workbench/services/extensions/common/extensions';
+import { IExtensionService } from 'vs/workbench/services/extensions/common/extensions';
 import { CancellationToken } from 'vs/base/common/cancellation';
-// import { timeout } from 'vs/base/common/async';
+import { raceTimeout, timeout } from 'vs/base/common/async';
 import { AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAccessProvider } from 'vs/editor/contrib/quickAccess/browser/commandsQuickAccess';
 import { IEditor } from 'vs/editor/common/editorCommon';
 import { Language } from 'vs/base/common/platform';
@@ -34,25 +34,21 @@ import { stripIcons } from 'vs/base/common/iconLabels';
 import { isFirefox } from 'vs/base/browser/browser';
 import { IProductService } from 'vs/platform/product/common/productService';
 import { ISemanticSimilarityService } from 'vs/workbench/services/semanticSimilarity/common/semanticSimilarityService';
-import { timeout } from 'vs/base/common/async';
 import { IInteractiveSessionService } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/interactiveSession/common/interactiveSessionService';
 import { ILogService } from 'vs/platform/log/common/log';
 import { IInteractiveSessionWidgetService } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/interactiveSession/browser/interactiveSessionWidget';
 
 export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAccessProvider {
+
 	private static SEMANTIC_SIMILARITY_MAX_PICKS = 3;
 	private static SEMANTIC_SIMILARITY_THRESHOLD = 0.8;
 	private static SEMANTIC_SIMILARITY_DEBOUNCE = 200;
 
-	// TODO: bring this back once we have a chosen strategy for FastAndSlowPicks where Fast is also Promise based
 	// If extensions are not yet registered, we wait for a little moment to give them
 	// a chance to register so that the complete set of commands shows up as result
 	// We do not want to delay functionality beyond that time though to keep the commands
 	// functional.
-	// private readonly extensionRegistrationRace = Promise.race([
-	// 	timeout(800),
-	// 	this.extensionService.whenInstalledExtensionsRegistered()
-	// ]);
+	private readonly extensionRegistrationRace = raceTimeout(this.extensionService.whenInstalledExtensionsRegistered(), 800);
 
 	private useSemanticSimilarity = false;
 
@@ -69,7 +65,7 @@ export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAcce
 	constructor(
 		@IEditorService private readonly editorService: IEditorService,
 		@IMenuService private readonly menuService: IMenuService,
-		// @IExtensionService private readonly extensionService: IExtensionService,
+		@IExtensionService private readonly extensionService: IExtensionService,
 		@IInstantiationService instantiationService: IInstantiationService,
 		@IKeybindingService keybindingService: IKeybindingService,
 		@ICommandService commandService: ICommandService,
@@ -125,11 +121,10 @@ export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAcce
 		this.useSemanticSimilarity = config.experimental.useSemanticSimilarity;
 	}
 
-	protected getCommandPicks(token: CancellationToken): Array<ICommandQuickPick> {
+	protected async getCommandPicks(token: CancellationToken): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick>> {
 
-		// TODO: bring this back once we have a chosen strategy for FastAndSlowPicks where Fast is also Promise based
 		// wait for extensions registration or 800ms once
-		// await this.extensionRegistrationRace;
+		await this.extensionRegistrationRace;
 
 		if (token.isCancellationRequested) {
 			return [];
@@ -138,23 +133,32 @@ export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAcce
 		return [
 			...this.getCodeEditorCommandPicks(),
 			...this.getGlobalCommandPicks()
-		].map(c => ({
-			...c,
+		].map(picks => ({
+			...picks,
 			buttons: [{
 				iconClass: ThemeIcon.asClassName(Codicon.gear),
 				tooltip: localize('configure keybinding', "Configure Keybinding"),
 			}],
 			trigger: (): TriggerAction => {
-				this.preferencesService.openGlobalKeybindingSettings(false, { query: `@command:${c.commandId}` });
+				this.preferencesService.openGlobalKeybindingSettings(false, { query: `@command:${picks.commandId}` });
 				return TriggerAction.CLOSE_PICKER;
 			},
 		}));
 	}
 
-	protected async getAdditionalCommandPicks(allPicks: ICommandQuickPick[], picksSoFar: ICommandQuickPick[], filter: string, token: CancellationToken): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick | IQuickPickSeparator>> {
+	protected hasAdditionalCommandPicks(filter: string, token: CancellationToken): boolean {
 		if (!this.useSemanticSimilarity || filter === '' || token.isCancellationRequested || !this.semanticSimilarityService.isEnabled()) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	protected async getAdditionalCommandPicks(allPicks: ICommandQuickPick[], picksSoFar: ICommandQuickPick[], filter: string, token: CancellationToken): Promise<Array<ICommandQuickPick | IQuickPickSeparator>> {
+		if (!this.hasAdditionalCommandPicks(filter, token)) {
 			return [];
 		}
+
 		const format = allPicks.map(p => p.commandId);
 		let scores: number[];
 		try {
@@ -164,6 +168,11 @@ export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAcce
 		} catch (e) {
 			return [];
 		}
+
+		if (token.isCancellationRequested) {
+			return [];
+		}
+
 		const sortedIndices = scores.map((_, i) => i).sort((a, b) => scores[b] - scores[a]);
 		const setOfPicksSoFar = new Set(picksSoFar.map(p => p.commandId));
 		const additionalPicks: Array<ICommandQuickPick | IQuickPickSeparator> = picksSoFar.length > 0
@@ -179,12 +188,14 @@ export class CommandsQuickAccessProvider extends AbstractEditorCommandsQuickAcce
 			if (score < CommandsQuickAccessProvider.SEMANTIC_SIMILARITY_THRESHOLD || numOfSmartPicks === CommandsQuickAccessProvider.SEMANTIC_SIMILARITY_MAX_PICKS) {
 				break;
 			}
+
 			const pick = allPicks[i];
 			if (!setOfPicksSoFar.has(pick.commandId)) {
 				additionalPicks.push(pick);
 				numOfSmartPicks++;
 			}
 		}
+
 		return additionalPicks;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/anythingQuickAccess.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/anythingQuickAccess.ts
index d35e8733ef0df..dde4d2279da47 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/anythingQuickAccess.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/anythingQuickAccess.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ export class AnythingQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAccessProvider<IAnyt
 
 	private static readonly TYPING_SEARCH_DELAY = 200; // this delay accommodates for the user typing a word and then stops typing to start searching
 
+	private static SYMBOL_PICKS_MERGE_DELAY = 200; // allow some time to merge fast and slow picks to reduce flickering
+
 	private readonly pickState = new class {
 
 		picker: IQuickPick<IAnythingQuickPickItem> | undefined = undefined;
@@ -394,7 +396,10 @@ export class AnythingQuickAccessProvider extends PickerQuickAccessProvider<IAnyt
 					{ type: 'separator', label: this.configuration.includeSymbols ? localize('fileAndSymbolResultsSeparator', "file and symbol results") : localize('fileResultsSeparator', "file results") },
 					...additionalPicks
 				] : [];
-			})()
+			})(),
+
+			// allow some time to merge files and symbols to reduce flickering
+			mergeDelay: AnythingQuickAccessProvider.SYMBOL_PICKS_MERGE_DELAY
 		};
 	}