diff --git a/src/vs/editor/browser/viewParts/lines/viewLines.ts b/src/vs/editor/browser/viewParts/lines/viewLines.ts
index 0f3b5939cdd8d..37d0d72ea5029 100644
--- a/src/vs/editor/browser/viewParts/lines/viewLines.ts
+++ b/src/vs/editor/browser/viewParts/lines/viewLines.ts
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ export class ViewLines extends ViewPart implements IVisibleLinesHost<ViewLine>,
 
 		if (!shouldIgnoreScrollOff) {
 			const context = Math.min((viewportHeight / this._lineHeight) / 2, this._cursorSurroundingLines);
-			if (this._stickyScrollEnabled) {
+			if (this._stickyScrollEnabled && source !== 'api') {
 				paddingTop = Math.max(context, this._maxNumberStickyLines) * this._lineHeight;
 			} else {
 				paddingTop = context * this._lineHeight;