diff --git a/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-sub-widgets/theia-trace-explorer-placeholder-widget.tsx b/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-sub-widgets/theia-trace-explorer-placeholder-widget.tsx
index 5fd101ae..1a0a23f1 100644
--- a/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-sub-widgets/theia-trace-explorer-placeholder-widget.tsx
+++ b/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-sub-widgets/theia-trace-explorer-placeholder-widget.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ export class TraceExplorerPlaceholderWidget extends ReactWidget {
 
     state = {
         loading: false,
-        serverStatus: false
+        serverStatus: false,
+        tracesOpened: false
     };
 
     @inject(CommandService) protected readonly commandService!: CommandService;
@@ -24,20 +25,18 @@ export class TraceExplorerPlaceholderWidget extends ReactWidget {
     protected init(): void {
         this.id = TraceExplorerPlaceholderWidget.ID;
         this.title.label = TraceExplorerPlaceholderWidget.LABEL;
-        this.traceServerConnectionStatusProxy.addServerStatusChangeListener(this.handleOnServerStatusChange);
         this.update();
     }
 
     dispose(): void {
         super.dispose();
-        this.traceServerConnectionStatusProxy.removeServerStatusChangeListener(this.handleOnServerStatusChange);
     }
 
     render(): React.ReactNode {
-        const { loading, serverStatus } = this.state;
+        const { loading, serverStatus, tracesOpened } = this.state;
         return (
             <ReactExplorerPlaceholderWidget
-                tracesOpen={false} // If we can see this component, there are no opened traces.
+                tracesOpen={tracesOpened}
                 serverOn={serverStatus}
                 handleStartServer={this.handleStartServer}
                 loading={loading}
@@ -66,10 +65,8 @@ export class TraceExplorerPlaceholderWidget extends ReactWidget {
         this.update();
     }
 
-    protected handleOnServerStatusChange = (status: boolean): void => this.doHandleOnServerStatusChange(status);
-
-    private doHandleOnServerStatusChange = (status: boolean): void => {
-        this.state.serverStatus = status;
-        this.update();
-    };
+    public setStateAndShow(newState: { serverStatus: boolean; tracesOpened: boolean }): void {
+        this.state = { ...newState, ...this.state };
+        this.show();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-widget.tsx b/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-widget.tsx
index edaab17c..da765d6e 100644
--- a/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-widget.tsx
+++ b/theia-extensions/viewer-prototype/src/browser/trace-explorer/trace-explorer-widget.tsx
@@ -105,15 +105,16 @@ export class TraceExplorerWidget extends BaseWidget {
     protected onUpdateRequest(msg: Message): void {
         super.onUpdateRequest(msg);
 
-        if (this.connectionStatusClient.status === false) {
-            this.togglePlaceholderWidget(true);
-            return;
-        }
+        const serverStatus = this.connectionStatusClient.status;
+        const tracesOpened = this._numberOfOpenedTraces > 0;
+        const shouldShowPlaceholder = serverStatus === false || tracesOpened === false;
 
-        if (this._numberOfOpenedTraces > 0) {
-            this.togglePlaceholderWidget(false);
+        if (shouldShowPlaceholder) {
+            this.placeholderWidget.setStateAndShow({ serverStatus, tracesOpened });
+            this.traceViewsContainer.hide();
         } else {
-            this.togglePlaceholderWidget(true);
+            this.placeholderWidget.hide();
+            this.traceViewsContainer.show();
         }
     }
 
@@ -136,21 +137,5 @@ export class TraceExplorerWidget extends BaseWidget {
 
     protected doHandleOnServerStatusChange(status: boolean): void {
         this.serverStatusWidget.updateStatus(status);
-        if (status === true) {
-            this.togglePlaceholderWidget(true);
-        } else {
-            this.togglePlaceholderWidget(false);
-        }
-        this.update();
-    }
-
-    private togglePlaceholderWidget(shouldShowWidget: boolean): void {
-        if (shouldShowWidget) {
-            this.placeholderWidget.show();
-            this.traceViewsContainer.hide();
-        } else {
-            this.placeholderWidget.hide();
-            this.traceViewsContainer.show();
-        }
     }
 }