diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/ui/impl/UpdatableDebuggerView.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/ui/impl/UpdatableDebuggerView.java
index a8c7bbc8e753..f042bf22a7c2 100644
--- a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/ui/impl/UpdatableDebuggerView.java
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/ui/impl/UpdatableDebuggerView.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public abstract class UpdatableDebuggerView extends JPanel implements DebuggerVi
   }
 
   protected final boolean isUpdateEnabled() {
-    return myUpdateEnabled;
+    return myUpdateEnabled || isShowing();
   }
 
   public final void setUpdateEnabled(final boolean enabled) {