diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/view.js b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/view.js
index cfb60cd0985404..ca593e7537ce94 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/view.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/view.js
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ const { state, actions } = store(
 				}
 			},
 			handleMenuFocusout( event ) {
-				const { modal } = getContext();
+				const { modal, type } = getContext();
 				// If focus is outside modal, and in the document, close menu
 				// event.target === The element losing focus
 				// event.relatedTarget === The element receiving focus (if any)
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ const { state, actions } = store(
 				if (
 					event.relatedTarget === null ||
 					( ! modal?.contains( event.relatedTarget ) &&
-						event.target !== window.document.activeElement )
+						event.target !== window.document.activeElement &&
+						type === 'submenu' )
 				) {
 					actions.closeMenu( 'click' );
 					actions.closeMenu( 'focus' );