diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index adf99bb6..20e9b796 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ import { getTelemetryLogger } from "./telemetry/telemetryLogger";
 import { getUriHandler } from "./uriHandler";
 import { ResourceViewProvider } from "./viewProviders/resources";
 import { SchemasViewProvider } from "./viewProviders/schemas";
+import { SEARCH_DECORATION_PROVIDER } from "./viewProviders/search";
 import { SupportViewProvider } from "./viewProviders/support";
 import { TopicViewProvider } from "./viewProviders/topics";
 
@@ -236,6 +237,12 @@ async function _activateExtension(
   // ensure our diagnostic collection(s) are cleared when the extension is deactivated
   context.subscriptions.push(JSON_DIAGNOSTIC_COLLECTION);
 
+  // register the search decoration provider for the tree views so any matches can be highlighted
+  // with a dot to the right of the item label+description area
+  context.subscriptions.push(
+    vscode.window.registerFileDecorationProvider(SEARCH_DECORATION_PROVIDER),
+  );
+
   // XXX: used for testing; do not remove
   return context;
 }
diff --git a/src/viewProviders/resources.ts b/src/viewProviders/resources.ts
index 0f555bbf..0b4071f9 100644
--- a/src/viewProviders/resources.ts
+++ b/src/viewProviders/resources.ts
@@ -53,12 +53,7 @@ import { updateLocalConnection } from "../sidecar/connections/local";
 import { ConnectionStateWatcher } from "../sidecar/connections/watcher";
 import { DirectConnectionsById, getResourceManager } from "../storage/resourceManager";
 import { updateCollapsibleStateFromSearch } from "./collapsing";
-import {
-  filterItems,
-  itemMatchesSearch,
-  SEARCH_DECORATION_PROVIDER,
-  SEARCH_DECORATION_URI_SCHEME,
-} from "./search";
+import { filterItems, itemMatchesSearch, SEARCH_DECORATION_URI_SCHEME } from "./search";
 
 const logger = new Logger("viewProviders.resources");
 
@@ -131,13 +126,8 @@ export class ResourceViewProvider implements vscode.TreeDataProvider<ResourceVie
 
     const listeners = this.setEventListeners();
 
-    // register the search decoration provider for the tree view so any matches can be highlighted
-    // with a dot to the right of the item label+description area
-    const searchDecorationProvider: vscode.Disposable =
-      vscode.window.registerFileDecorationProvider(SEARCH_DECORATION_PROVIDER);
-
     // dispose of the tree view and listeners when the extension is deactivated
-    this.disposables.push(this.treeView, searchDecorationProvider, ...listeners);
+    this.disposables.push(this.treeView, ...listeners);
   }
 
   static getInstance(): ResourceViewProvider {