diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
index 97ab95a23..f10b7aa8e 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/sidebar/tree.py
@@ -215,23 +215,35 @@ class SidebarTreeView(QTreeView):
         # start from a collapsed state, as it's faster
         self.collapseAll()
         self.setColumnHidden(0, not self.model().search(text))
-        self._expand_where_necessary(self.model(), searching=True)
+        self._expand_where_necessary(
+            self.model(), searching=True, scroll_to_first_match=True
+        )
 
     def _expand_where_necessary(
         self,
         model: SidebarModel,
         parent: Optional[QModelIndex] = None,
         searching: bool = False,
-    ) -> None:
+        scroll_to_first_match: bool = False,
+    ) -> bool:
         parent = parent or QModelIndex()
         for row in range(model.rowCount(parent)):
             idx = model.index(row, 0, parent)
             if not idx.isValid():
                 continue
-            self._expand_where_necessary(model, idx, searching)
+            scroll_to_first_match = self._expand_where_necessary(
+                model, idx, searching, scroll_to_first_match
+            )
             if item := model.item_for_index(idx):
                 if item.show_expanded(searching):
                     self.setExpanded(idx, True)
+                if item.is_highlighted() and scroll_to_first_match:
+                    self.selectionModel().setCurrentIndex(
+                        idx, QItemSelectionModel.SelectCurrent
+                    )
+                    self.scrollTo(idx)
+                    scroll_to_first_match = False
+        return scroll_to_first_match
 
     def update_search(
         self,