diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-session-actions.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-session-actions.test.tsx
index 531937b64b83..31882d91b66d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-session-actions.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-session-actions.test.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { MutableRefObject } from 'react'
 import { useEffect } from 'react'
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
+import { noteActiveTreeGroup, revealTreePane } from '@/components/pane-shell/tree/store'
 import { getSession, getSessionMessages, type SessionInfo } from '@/hermes'
 import { createClientSessionState } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
 import { clearSessionDraft, stashSessionDraft, takeSessionDraft } from '@/store/composer'
@@ -55,6 +56,12 @@ vi.mock('@/store/profile', async importOriginal => ({
   ensureGatewayProfile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
 }))
 
+vi.mock('@/components/pane-shell/tree/store', async importOriginal => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<Record<string, unknown>>()),
+  noteActiveTreeGroup: vi.fn(),
+  revealTreePane: vi.fn()
+}))
+
 const RUNTIME_SESSION_ID = 'rt-new-001'
 
 function deferred<T>() {
@@ -69,7 +76,7 @@ function deferred<T>() {
 
 type HarnessHandle = Pick<
   ReturnType<typeof useSessionActions>,
-  'createBackendSessionForSend' | 'startFreshSessionDraft'
+  'createBackendSessionForSend' | 'selectSidebarItem' | 'startFreshSessionDraft'
 >
 
 function storedSession(overrides: Partial<SessionInfo> = {}): SessionInfo {
@@ -1590,3 +1597,21 @@ describe('createBackendSessionForSend workspace target', () => {
     expect(params).toMatchObject({ cwd: '/clicked-workspace' })
   })
 })
+describe('selectSidebarItem', () => {
+  it('fronts the workspace pane when navigating to a sidebar route (issue #72602)', async () => {
+    const navigate = vi.fn()
+    const requestGateway = vi.fn(async () => ({}) as never)
+    let handle: HarnessHandle | null = null
+
+    render(<Harness navigate={navigate} onReady={value => (handle = value)} requestGateway={requestGateway} />)
+    await waitFor(() => expect(handle).not.toBeNull())
+
+    act(() => {
+      handle!.selectSidebarItem({ icon: (() => null) as never, id: 'skills', label: 'Capabilities', route: '/skills' })
+    })
+
+    expect(navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/skills', undefined)
+    expect(noteActiveTreeGroup).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null)
+    expect(revealTreePane).toHaveBeenCalledWith('workspace')
+  })
+})