diff --git a/src/extensions/registries/status-bar-registry.ts b/src/extensions/registries/status-bar-registry.ts
index 698c5f5f24..e0454fe77e 100644
--- a/src/extensions/registries/status-bar-registry.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/registries/status-bar-registry.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ interface StatusBarComponents {
 }
 
 interface StatusBarRegistrationV2 {
-  components: StatusBarComponents;
+  components?: StatusBarComponents; // has to be optional for backwards compatability
 }
 
 export interface StatusBarRegistration extends StatusBarRegistrationV2 {