diff --git a/rust/app/src/app.rs b/rust/app/src/app.rs
index dc6b315..82a167a 100644
--- a/rust/app/src/app.rs
+++ b/rust/app/src/app.rs
@@ -614,7 +614,13 @@ impl App {
                 }
                 Request::ExportEncrypted(ids) => self.transfer.export_encrypted(ids),
                 Request::ImportEncrypted => self.transfer.import_encrypted(),
-                Request::Sftp(id) => self.sftp.toggle(&id),
+                Request::Sftp(id) => {
+                    let at = match self.s.pane(&id).map(|p| &p.view) {
+                        Some(View::Terminal(t)) => t.reported_cwd.as_ref().map(|c| c.1.clone()),
+                        _ => None,
+                    };
+                    self.sftp.toggle(&id, at);
+                }
                 Request::SendToActive(text) => match self.s.focused_session() {
                     Some(id) if self.s.session_state(&id) == Some(SessionState::Connected) => self.send_input(&id, text.as_bytes()),
                     _ => self.s.error("No active connected session"),
diff --git a/rust/app/src/chrome.rs b/rust/app/src/chrome.rs
index e37c346..caf7d05 100644
--- a/rust/app/src/chrome.rs
+++ b/rust/app/src/chrome.rs
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn title_bar(app: &mut App, ui: &mut Ui) {
                     if item(ui, icon::FOLDER_OPEN, "SFTP browser", "")
                         && let Some(f) = focused.clone()
                     {
-                        app.sftp.toggle(&f);
+                        app.s.request(crate::state::Request::Sftp(f));
                     }
                     if item(ui, icon::ARROWS_LEFT_RIGHT, "Port forwards", "")
                         && let Some(f) = focused.clone()
diff --git a/rust/app/src/sftp.rs b/rust/app/src/sftp.rs
index 3b37ff1..344d44a 100644
--- a/rust/app/src/sftp.rs
+++ b/rust/app/src/sftp.rs
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ pub struct Sftp {
     /// Profile id (or host:port for quick connects) → bookmarked paths. Loaded on first use.
     bookmarks: Option<BTreeMap<String, Vec<String>>>,
     inbox: Arc<Mutex<Vec<Done>>>,
+    /// Where a browser opened from a terminal should start: the directory its shell reported.
+    start_at: HashMap<String, String>,
 }
 
 // --- path helpers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -215,11 +217,16 @@ fn state_line(ui: &mut Ui, loading: bool, error: Option<&str>) -> bool {
 }
 
 impl Sftp {
-    pub fn toggle(&mut self, session: &str) {
+    /// Opens (or closes) the browser for `session`; `at` is the shell's reported directory, which
+    /// the browser goes to when it opens.
+    pub fn toggle(&mut self, session: &str, at: Option<String>) {
         if self.open_for.as_deref() == Some(session) {
             self.close(session);
         } else {
             self.open_for = Some(session.into());
+            if let Some(dir) = at.filter(|d| d.starts_with('/')) {
+                self.start_at.insert(session.into(), dir);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -488,7 +495,11 @@ impl Sftp {
         let Some(session) = self.open_for.clone() else {
             return;
         };
-        if !self.panels.contains_key(&session) {
+        if let Some(dir) = self.start_at.remove(&session) {
+            if self.panels.get(&session).is_none_or(|p| p.cwd != dir) {
+                self.navigate(s, &session, Some(dir));
+            }
+        } else if !self.panels.contains_key(&session) {
             self.navigate(s, &session, None);
         }
         let t = Tokens::get(ui.ctx());