diff --git a/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte b/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
index a6cadd1..1693427 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
@@ -563,10 +563,11 @@
 					if (showNewNotebook) {
 						showNewNotebook = false; newNotebookName = ''; newNotebookParent = null;
 					} else {
-						newNotebookParent = ($viewMode === 'notebook' && $activeNotebook) ? $activeNotebook : null;
+						// Unfiled Notes is the root pseudo-notebook (empty relative_path); treat it as root.
+						newNotebookParent = ($viewMode === 'notebook' && $activeNotebook?.relative_path) ? $activeNotebook : null;
 						showNewNotebook = true;
 					}
-				}} title={$viewMode === 'notebook' && $activeNotebook ? `New notebook inside ${$activeNotebook.name}` : 'New notebook'}>
+				}} title={$viewMode === 'notebook' && $activeNotebook?.relative_path ? `New notebook inside ${$activeNotebook.name}` : 'New notebook'}>
 					<svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
 						<line x1="12" y1="5" x2="12" y2="19" /><line x1="5" y1="12" x2="19" y2="12" />
 					</svg>