diff --git a/packages/react/src/components/UIShell/HeaderMenu.js b/packages/react/src/components/UIShell/HeaderMenu.js
index 1acad38bd074..d9e83c75165a 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/components/UIShell/HeaderMenu.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/components/UIShell/HeaderMenu.js
@@ -105,9 +105,18 @@ class HeaderMenu extends React.Component {
   handleOnBlur = event => {
     // Rough guess for a blur event that is triggered outside of our menu or
     // menubar context
-    if (!event.relatedTarget) {
-      this.setState({ expanded: false, selectedIndex: null });
+    const itemTriggeredBlur = this.items.find(
+      element => element === event.relatedTarget
+    );
+
+    if (
+      event.relatedTarget &&
+      (event.relatedTarget.getAttribute('href') !== '#' || itemTriggeredBlur)
+    ) {
+      return;
     }
+
+    this.setState({ expanded: false, selectedIndex: null });
   };
 
   /**