diff --git a/packages/framework/src/Framework/Features/Navigation/NavigationMenuGenerator.php b/packages/framework/src/Framework/Features/Navigation/NavigationMenuGenerator.php
index d2bd01921f8..4d787584c0c 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/Framework/Features/Navigation/NavigationMenuGenerator.php
+++ b/packages/framework/src/Framework/Features/Navigation/NavigationMenuGenerator.php
@@ -96,10 +96,17 @@ protected function usesGroups(): bool
 
             return $this->routes->first(fn (Route $route): bool => filled($route->getPage()->navigationMenuGroup())) !== null;
         } else {
-            return Config::getString('hyde.navigation.subdirectories', 'hidden') === 'dropdown';
+            return Config::getString('hyde.navigation.subdirectories', 'hidden') === 'dropdown' || $this->hasGroupExplicitlySetInFrontMatter();
         }
     }
 
+    private function hasGroupExplicitlySetInFrontMatter(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->routes->contains(function (Route $item): bool {
+            return ($item->getPage()->navigationMenuGroup() !== null) && (! $item->getPage() instanceof DocumentationPage);
+        });
+    }
+
     protected function canAddRoute(Route $route): bool
     {
         if (! $route->getPage()->showInNavigation()) {