diff --git a/views/default/navigation/menu/elements/item.php b/views/default/navigation/menu/elements/item.php
index 22383ce0be2..101086cccbd 100644
--- a/views/default/navigation/menu/elements/item.php
+++ b/views/default/navigation/menu/elements/item.php
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@
 
 $link_class = 'elgg-menu-closed';
 if ($item->getSelected()) {
-	$item->setItemClass('elgg-state-selected');
+	$item_class_array = explode(' ', $item->getItemClass());
+	$item_class_array[] = 'elgg-state-selected';
+	$item->setItemClass($item_class_array);
 	$link_class = 'elgg-menu-opened';
 }