diff --git a/src/test/datascience/widgets/commUtils.ts b/src/test/datascience/widgets/commUtils.ts
index da99a00b70b..75dbff10c4b 100644
--- a/src/test/datascience/widgets/commUtils.ts
+++ b/src/test/datascience/widgets/commUtils.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
 // Licensed under the MIT License.
 
-import { NotebookCell, NotebookEditor, NotebookRendererMessaging, notebooks } from 'vscode';
+import { commands, NotebookCell, NotebookEditor, NotebookRendererMessaging, notebooks } from 'vscode';
 import { dispose } from '../../../platform/common/utils/lifecycle';
 import { logger } from '../../../platform/logging';
 import { IDisposable } from '../../../platform/common/types';
@@ -124,3 +124,10 @@ export class Utils {
         });
     }
 }
+
+export async function hideOutputPanel() {
+    // Work around for the removal of the command `workbench.action.closePanel`.
+    // await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.terminal.killAll');
+    await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.problems.focus');
+    await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.togglePanel');
+}
diff --git a/src/test/datascience/widgets/standardWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts b/src/test/datascience/widgets/standardWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
index 6b727f71030..fe3aca60431 100644
--- a/src/test/datascience/widgets/standardWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/datascience/widgets/standardWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import {
     waitForExecutionCompletedSuccessfully,
     waitForTextOutput
 } from '../notebook/helper';
-import { initializeWidgetComms, Utils } from './commUtils';
+import { hideOutputPanel, initializeWidgetComms, Utils } from './commUtils';
 import { WidgetRenderingTimeoutForTests } from './constants';
 import { getTextOutputValue } from '../../../kernels/execution/helpers';
 import { isWeb } from '../../../platform/common/utils/misc';
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ suite('Standard IPyWidget Tests @widgets', function () {
         // Widgets get rendered only when the output is in view. If we have a very large notebook
         // and the output is not visible, then it will not get rendered & the tests will fail. The tests inspect the rendered HTML.
         // Solution - maximize available real-estate by hiding the output panels & hiding the input cells.
-        await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.closePanel');
+        await hideOutputPanel();
         await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.maximizeEditorHideSidebar');
         await commands.executeCommand('notebook.cell.collapseAllCellInputs');
         comms = await initializeWidgetComms(disposables);
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ suite('Standard IPyWidget Tests @widgets', function () {
         await startJupyterServer();
         logger.info(`Start Test (completed) ${this.currentTest?.title}`);
         // With less realestate, the outputs might not get rendered (VS Code optimization to avoid rendering if not in viewport).
-        await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.closePanel');
+        await hideOutputPanel();
     });
     teardown(async function () {
         logger.info(`Ended Test ${this.currentTest?.title}`);
diff --git a/src/test/datascience/widgets/thirdpartyWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts b/src/test/datascience/widgets/thirdpartyWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
index 1fb7fd4632d..e2cfcccb889 100644
--- a/src/test/datascience/widgets/thirdpartyWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/datascience/widgets/thirdpartyWidgets.vscode.common.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
     initializeNotebookForWidgetTest
 } from './standardWidgets.vscode.common.test';
 import { GlobalStateKeyToTrackIfUserConfiguredCDNAtLeastOnce } from '../../../notebooks/controllers/ipywidgets/scriptSourceProvider/cdnWidgetScriptSourceProvider';
-import { initializeWidgetComms, Utils } from './commUtils';
+import { hideOutputPanel, initializeWidgetComms, Utils } from './commUtils';
 import { isWeb } from '../../../platform/common/utils/misc';
 
 [true, false].forEach((useCDN) => {
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ import { isWeb } from '../../../platform/common/utils/misc';
             // Widgets get rendered only when the output is in view. If we have a very large notebook
             // and the output is not visible, then it will not get rendered & the tests will fail. The tests inspect the rendered HTML.
             // Solution - maximize available real-estate by hiding the output panels & hiding the input cells.
-            await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.closePanel');
+            await hideOutputPanel();
             await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.maximizeEditorHideSidebar');
             comms = await initializeWidgetComms(disposables);
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ import { isWeb } from '../../../platform/common/utils/misc';
             sinon.restore();
             logger.info(`Start Test (completed) ${this.currentTest?.title}`);
             // With less real estate, the outputs might not get rendered (VS Code optimization to avoid rendering if not in viewport).
-            await commands.executeCommand('workbench.action.closePanel');
+            await hideOutputPanel();
         });
         teardown(async function () {
             logger.info(`Ended Test ${this.currentTest?.title}`);