diff --git a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/menu/menu.ts b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/menu/menu.ts
index cda0d9db4068d..10eec4315850e 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/browser/ui/menu/menu.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/browser/ui/menu/menu.ts
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 		if (this.item) {
 			addClass(this.item, 'monaco-submenu-item');
 			this.item.setAttribute('aria-haspopup', 'true');
-
+			this.updateAriaExpanded('false');
 			this.submenuIndicator = append(this.item, $('span.submenu-indicator'));
 			this.submenuIndicator.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
 		}
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 		if (this.parentData.submenu && (force || (this.parentData.submenu !== this.mysubmenu))) {
 			this.parentData.submenu.dispose();
 			this.parentData.submenu = undefined;
-
+			this.updateAriaExpanded('false');
 			if (this.submenuContainer) {
 				this.submenuDisposables.clear();
 				this.submenuContainer = undefined;
@@ -736,6 +736,7 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 		}
 
 		if (!this.parentData.submenu) {
+			this.updateAriaExpanded('true');
 			this.submenuContainer = append(this.element, $('div.monaco-submenu'));
 			addClasses(this.submenuContainer, 'menubar-menu-items-holder', 'context-view');
 
@@ -774,13 +775,7 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 
 					this.parentData.parent.focus();
 
-					if (this.parentData.submenu) {
-						this.parentData.submenu.dispose();
-						this.parentData.submenu = undefined;
-					}
-
-					this.submenuDisposables.clear();
-					this.submenuContainer = undefined;
+					this.cleanupExistingSubmenu(true);
 				}
 			}));
 
@@ -795,13 +790,7 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 			this.submenuDisposables.add(this.parentData.submenu.onDidCancel(() => {
 				this.parentData.parent.focus();
 
-				if (this.parentData.submenu) {
-					this.parentData.submenu.dispose();
-					this.parentData.submenu = undefined;
-				}
-
-				this.submenuDisposables.clear();
-				this.submenuContainer = undefined;
+				this.cleanupExistingSubmenu(true);
 			}));
 
 			this.parentData.submenu.focus(selectFirstItem);
@@ -812,6 +801,12 @@ class SubmenuMenuActionViewItem extends BaseMenuActionViewItem {
 		}
 	}
 
+	private updateAriaExpanded(value: string): void {
+		if (this.item) {
+			this.item?.setAttribute('aria-expanded', value);
+		}
+	}
+
 	protected applyStyle(): void {
 		super.applyStyle();