diff --git a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/ui/MultiLaunchConfigurationTabGroup.java b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/ui/MultiLaunchConfigurationTabGroup.java
index e914e2d1e3f..0ba111db252 100644
--- a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/ui/MultiLaunchConfigurationTabGroup.java
+++ b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/ui/MultiLaunchConfigurationTabGroup.java
@@ -448,9 +448,10 @@ public class MultiLaunchConfigurationTabGroup extends AbstractLaunchConfiguratio
 		}
 
 		public void initializeFrom(ILaunchConfiguration configuration) {
-			MultiLaunchConfigurationDelegate.createLaunchElements(configuration, input);
+			// replace the input from previously shown launch configurations 
+			input = MultiLaunchConfigurationDelegate.createLaunchElements(configuration, new ArrayList<LaunchElement>());
 			if (treeViewer != null) {
-				treeViewer.refresh(true);
+				treeViewer.setInput(input);
 			}
 		}