diff --git a/openide.explorer/src/org/openide/explorer/view/TreeView.java b/openide.explorer/src/org/openide/explorer/view/TreeView.java
--- a/openide.explorer/src/org/openide/explorer/view/TreeView.java
+++ b/openide.explorer/src/org/openide/explorer/view/TreeView.java
@@ -1611,7 +1611,6 @@
         public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
             tree.stopEditing();
             int selRow = tree.getRowForLocation(e.getX(), e.getY());
-
             if ((selRow != -1) && SwingUtilities.isLeftMouseButton(e) && MouseUtils.isDoubleClick(e)) {
                 // Default action.
                 if (defaultActionEnabled) {
@@ -1638,6 +1637,11 @@
                 } else {
                     tree.expandRow(selRow);
                 }
+            } else if (selRow == -1 && SwingUtilities.isLeftMouseButton(e)) {
+                int row = e.getY() / tree.getRowHeight();
+                if (row < tree.getRowCount()) {
+                    tree.setSelectionRow(row);
+                }
             }
         }