diff --git a/packages/core-components/src/layout/Sidebar/SidebarSubmenuItem.tsx b/packages/core-components/src/layout/Sidebar/SidebarSubmenuItem.tsx
index 0503f58f1c..da00b0a367 100644
--- a/packages/core-components/src/layout/Sidebar/SidebarSubmenuItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-components/src/layout/Sidebar/SidebarSubmenuItem.tsx
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ export type SidebarSubmenuItemProps = {
   icon?: IconComponent;
   dropdownItems?: SidebarSubmenuItemDropdownItem[];
   exact?: boolean;
+  expanded?: boolean;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ export const SidebarSubmenuItem = (props: SidebarSubmenuItemProps) => {
   const currentLocation = useLocation();
   let isActive = isLocationMatch(currentLocation, toLocation, exact);
 
-  const [showDropDown, setShowDropDown] = useState(false);
+  const [showDropDown, setShowDropDown] = useState(props.expanded ?? false);
   const handleClickDropdown = () => {
     setShowDropDown(!showDropDown);
   };