diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0af8eb6..f34a42f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- instant scrolling to top on active `PanelSideBarItem`; scrolling smoothing to center instead.
+
 ## [5.3.0] - 2025-09-30
 
 ### Fix
diff --git a/src/lib/Layout/PanelSideBarLayout/PanelSideBar/PanelSideBarItem.tsx b/src/lib/Layout/PanelSideBarLayout/PanelSideBar/PanelSideBarItem.tsx
index d6593f3..43f9d14 100644
--- a/src/lib/Layout/PanelSideBarLayout/PanelSideBar/PanelSideBarItem.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/Layout/PanelSideBarLayout/PanelSideBar/PanelSideBarItem.tsx
@@ -50,10 +50,14 @@ const PanelSideBarItem = <TPanelItemId extends string, TPanelItem>(props: PanelS
   const collapsedWithIcon = isIconShownOnSidebarCollapse && !isSidebarOpen;
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (scrollToActiveItemRef.current && isActive) {
-      scrollToActiveItemRef.current.scrollIntoView();
+    const currentItem = scrollToActiveItemRef.current;
+
+    if (!item.active || !currentItem) {
+      return;
     }
-  }, [isActive]);
+
+    currentItem.scrollIntoView({ behavior: "smooth", block: "center" });
+  }, [scrollToActiveItemRef, item.active]);
 
   return (
     <>