diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index 3e6da5bb..a3b8aa56 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ use tui::backend::Backend;
 use crate::{
     args::Args,
     commands::apply_workspace_edit,
-    compositor::{Compositor, Event},
+    compositor::{self, Compositor, Event},
     config::Config,
     job::Jobs,
     keymap::Keymaps,
-    ui::{self, overlay::overlaid},
+    ui::{self, overlay::overlaid, Explorer},
 };
 
 use log::{debug, error, warn};
@@ -153,7 +153,21 @@ impl Application {
         let keys = Box::new(Map::new(Arc::clone(&config), |config: &Config| {
             &config.keys
         }));
-        let editor_view = Box::new(ui::EditorView::new(Keymaps::new(keys)));
+        let mut editor_view = Box::new(ui::EditorView::new(Keymaps::new(keys)));
+
+        let mut jobs = Jobs::new();
+
+        if args.show_explorer {
+            let mut context = compositor::Context {
+                editor: &mut editor,
+                scroll: None,
+                jobs: &mut jobs,
+            };
+            let mut explorer = Explorer::new(&mut context)?;
+            explorer.unfocus();
+            editor_view.explorer = Some(explorer);
+        }
+
         compositor.push(editor_view);
 
         if args.load_tutor {
@@ -243,7 +257,7 @@ impl Application {
             syn_loader,
 
             signals,
-            jobs: Jobs::new(),
+            jobs,
             lsp_progress: LspProgressMap::new(),
         };
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/args.rs b/helix-term/src/args.rs
index dd787f1f..597a4688 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/args.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/args.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub struct Args {
     pub log_file: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub config_file: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub files: Vec<(PathBuf, Position)>,
+    pub show_explorer: bool,
 }
 
 impl Args {
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ impl Args {
                 "--version" => args.display_version = true,
                 "--help" => args.display_help = true,
                 "--tutor" => args.load_tutor = true,
+                "--show-explorer" => args.show_explorer = true,
                 "--vsplit" => match args.split {
                     Some(_) => anyhow::bail!("can only set a split once of a specific type"),
                     None => args.split = Some(Layout::Vertical),
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
index c5c407db..a9500f75 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/editor.rs
@@ -1533,12 +1533,32 @@ impl Component for EditorView {
 
         if let Some(explore) = self.explorer.as_mut() {
             if explore.is_focus() {
-                let area = if use_bufferline {
-                    area.clip_top(1)
-                } else {
-                    area
+                let needs_update = explore.is_focus() || {
+                    if let Some(current_document_path) = doc!(cx.editor).path().cloned() {
+                        if let Some(current_explore_path) = explore.current_file() {
+                            if *current_explore_path != current_document_path {
+                                let _ = explore.reveal_file(current_document_path);
+
+                                true
+                            } else {
+                                false
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            let _ = explore.reveal_file(current_document_path);
+                            true
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        false
+                    }
                 };
-                explore.render(area, surface, cx);
+                if needs_update {
+                    let area = if use_bufferline {
+                        area.clip_top(1)
+                    } else {
+                        area
+                    };
+                    explore.render(area, surface, cx);
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/explorer.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/explorer.rs
index 76c43751..91b18684 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/explorer.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/explorer.rs
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ impl Explorer {
         self.state.open = true;
     }
 
-    fn unfocus(&mut self) {
+    pub fn unfocus(&mut self) {
         self.state.focus = false;
     }
 
@@ -605,6 +605,11 @@ impl Explorer {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Returns the current file in the tree view
+    pub fn current_file(&self) -> Option<&PathBuf> {
+        self.tree.current_item().ok().map(|c| &c.path)
+    }
+
     pub fn is_opened(&self) -> bool {
         self.state.open
     }