diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation-submenu/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/navigation-submenu/edit.js
index 02abd4a35dbca..f97137623ae65 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation-submenu/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation-submenu/edit.js
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ export default function NavigationSubmenuEdit( {
 					! selectedBlockHasDescendants ) ||
 				// Show the appender while dragging to allow inserting element between item and the appender.
 				hasDescendants
-					? InnerBlocks.DefaultAppender
+					? InnerBlocks.ButtonBlockAppender
 					: false,
 		}
 	);
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/editor.scss b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/editor.scss
index 0fbb03a5ed630..5b3d7f4c8671c 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/navigation/editor.scss
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/navigation/editor.scss
@@ -96,6 +96,18 @@
 	}
 }
 
+// Show even when a child is selected. This is an edgecase just for navigation submenus.
+.is-editing > .wp-block-navigation__submenu-container > .block-list-appender {
+	display: block;
+	position: static;
+}
+
+// Hide when hovering.
+.wp-block-navigation__submenu-container .block-list-appender {
+	display: none;
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Colors Selector component
  */