diff --git a/packages/@vuepress/theme-default/components/SidebarLinks.vue b/packages/@vuepress/theme-default/components/SidebarLinks.vue
index dfdb0bef07..d6b5ff7cdb 100644
--- a/packages/@vuepress/theme-default/components/SidebarLinks.vue
+++ b/packages/@vuepress/theme-default/components/SidebarLinks.vue
@@ -77,10 +77,23 @@ export default {
 function resolveOpenGroupIndex (route, items) {
   for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
     const item = items[i]
-    if (item.type === 'group' && item.children.some(c => c.type === 'page' && isActive(route, c.path))) {
+    if (descendantIsActive(route, item)) {
       return i
     }
   }
   return -1
 }
+
+function descendantIsActive (route, item) {
+  if (item.type === 'group') {
+    return item.children.some(child => {
+      if (child.type === 'group') {
+        return descendantIsActive(route, child)
+      } else {
+        return child.type === 'page' && isActive(route, child.path)
+      }
+    })
+  }
+  return false
+}
 </script>