diff --git a/debugger/interfaces/ivariablecontroller.cpp b/debugger/interfaces/ivariablecontroller.cpp
--- a/debugger/interfaces/ivariablecontroller.cpp
+++ b/debugger/interfaces/ivariablecontroller.cpp
@@ -79,8 +79,6 @@
 {
     IFrameStackModel *sm = session()->frameStackModel();
     if (sm->currentThread() != m_activeThread || sm->currentFrame() != m_activeFrame) {
-        m_activeThread = sm->currentThread();
-        m_activeFrame = sm->currentFrame();
         variableCollection()->root()->resetChanged();
         update();
     }
@@ -103,6 +101,11 @@
         if (m_autoUpdate != UpdateNone) {
             updateIfFrameOrThreadChanged();
         }
+
+        // update our cache of active thread/frame regardless of m_autoUpdate
+        // to keep them synced when user currently hides the variable list
+        m_activeThread = session()->frameStackModel()->currentThread();
+        m_activeFrame = session()->frameStackModel()->currentFrame();
         break;
 
     default: