diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_ops.cc b/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_ops.cc
index 0c72ccd717d..c94dfa8ed4c 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_ops.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_ops.cc
@@ -1865,6 +1865,17 @@ static wmOperatorStatus file_external_operation_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op
 #ifdef WIN32
   const FileExternalOperation operation = (FileExternalOperation)RNA_enum_get(op->ptr,
                                                                               "operation");
+
+  if (!(fileentry->typeflag & FILE_TYPE_DIR) &&
+      ELEM(operation, FILE_EXTERNAL_OPERATION_FOLDER_OPEN, FILE_EXTERNAL_OPERATION_FOLDER_CMD))
+  {
+    /* Not a folder path, so for these operations use the root. */
+    const char *root = filelist_dir(sfile->files);
+    if (BLI_file_external_operation_execute(root, operation)) {
+      WM_cursor_set(CTX_wm_window(C), WM_CURSOR_DEFAULT);
+      return OPERATOR_FINISHED;
+    }
+  }
   if (BLI_file_external_operation_execute(filepath, operation)) {
     WM_cursor_set(CTX_wm_window(C), WM_CURSOR_DEFAULT);
     return OPERATOR_FINISHED;