diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.test.tsx
index e3e9872f892a4..e4ecc39cb2d01 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.test.tsx
@@ -79,6 +79,30 @@ describe('SideNavLink', () => {
     expect(wrapper.find('.enterpriseSearchNavLinks__item--isActive')).toHaveLength(1);
   });
 
+  it("won't set an active class when route is a subroute of 'to'", () => {
+    (useLocation as jest.Mock).mockImplementationOnce(() => ({ pathname: '/documents/1234' }));
+
+    const wrapper = shallow(
+      <SideNavLink to="/documents" isRoot>
+        Link
+      </SideNavLink>
+    );
+
+    expect(wrapper.find('.enterpriseSearchNavLinks__item--isActive')).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('sets an active class if the current path is a subRoute of "to", and shouldShowActiveForSubroutes is true', () => {
+    (useLocation as jest.Mock).mockImplementationOnce(() => ({ pathname: '/documents/1234' }));
+
+    const wrapper = shallow(
+      <SideNavLink to="/documents" isRoot shouldShowActiveForSubroutes>
+        Link
+      </SideNavLink>
+    );
+
+    expect(wrapper.find('.enterpriseSearchNavLinks__item--isActive')).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
   it('passes down custom classes and props', () => {
     const wrapper = shallow(
       <SideNavLink to="/" className="testing" data-test-subj="testing">
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.tsx
index 6c4e1d084c16d..c75a48d5af41d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/enterprise_search/public/applications/shared/layout/side_nav.tsx
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ export const SideNav: React.FC<SideNavProps> = ({ product, children }) => {
 
 interface SideNavLinkProps {
   to: string;
+  shouldShowActiveForSubroutes?: boolean;
   isExternal?: boolean;
   className?: string;
   isRoot?: boolean;
@@ -70,8 +71,9 @@ interface SideNavLinkProps {
 }
 
 export const SideNavLink: React.FC<SideNavLinkProps> = ({
-  isExternal,
   to,
+  shouldShowActiveForSubroutes = false,
+  isExternal,
   children,
   className,
   isRoot,
@@ -82,7 +84,10 @@ export const SideNavLink: React.FC<SideNavLinkProps> = ({
 
   const { pathname } = useLocation();
   const currentPath = stripTrailingSlash(pathname);
-  const isActive = currentPath === to || (isRoot && currentPath === '');
+  const isActive =
+    currentPath === to ||
+    (shouldShowActiveForSubroutes && currentPath.startsWith(to)) ||
+    (isRoot && currentPath === '');
 
   const classes = classNames('enterpriseSearchNavLinks__item', className, {
     'enterpriseSearchNavLinks__item--isActive': !isExternal && isActive, // eslint-disable-line @typescript-eslint/naming-convention