diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/config/sources.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/config/sources.lua
index 6893ead0..fe8e93b1 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/config/sources.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/config/sources.lua
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@ M.lsp_references = {
 -- LSP document symbols
 ---@class snacks.picker.lsp.symbols.Config: snacks.picker.Config
 ---@field tree? boolean show symbol tree
+---@field keep_parents? boolean keep parent symbols when filtering
 ---@field filter table<string, string[]|boolean>? symbol kind filter
 ---@field workspace? boolean show workspace symbols
 M.lsp_symbols = {
diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/core/matcher.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/core/matcher.lua
index 944913ad..490f3c44 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/core/matcher.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/core/matcher.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ local Async = require("snacks.picker.util.async")
 ---@field regex? boolean used internally for positions of sources that use regex
 ---@field on_match? fun(matcher: snacks.picker.Matcher, item: snacks.picker.Item)
 ---@field on_done? fun(matcher: snacks.picker.Matcher)
+---@field keep_parents? boolean
+---@field sort? boolean
 
 ---@class snacks.picker.Matcher
 ---@field opts snacks.picker.matcher.Config
@@ -80,21 +82,64 @@ function M:close()
   self.task = Async.nop()
 end
 
+---@param picker snacks.Picker
+---@param item snacks.picker.Item
+function M:on_match(picker, item)
+  if self.opts.on_match then
+    self.opts.on_match(self, item)
+  end
+
+  if not self.opts.keep_parents or item.score == 0 then
+    return
+  end
+
+  local parent = item.parent
+  item.child_match_only = false
+  while parent and not parent.root do
+    if parent.score == 0 or parent.match_tick ~= self.tick then
+      parent.score = 1
+      parent.child_match_only = true
+      parent.match_tick = self.tick
+      parent.match_topk = nil
+      picker.list:add(parent, self.sorting)
+    else
+      break
+    end
+    parent = parent.parent
+  end
+end
+
+---@param picker snacks.Picker
+function M:on_done(picker)
+  vim.schedule(function()
+    if self.opts.on_done then
+      self.opts.on_done(self)
+    end
+    if not self.opts.keep_parents or picker.closed then
+      return
+    end
+    for item, idx in picker:iter() do
+      if not item.child_match_only then
+        picker.list:view(idx)
+        return
+      end
+    end
+  end)
+end
+
 ---@param picker snacks.Picker
 function M:run(picker)
   self.task:abort()
   picker.list:clear()
 
   self.cwd = svim.fs.normalize(picker.opts.cwd or (vim.uv or vim.loop).cwd() or ".")
-  self.sorting = not self:empty() or picker.opts.matcher.sort_empty
+  self.sorting = self.opts.sort ~= false and (not self:empty() or picker.opts.matcher.sort_empty)
 
   -- PERF: fast path for empty pattern
-  if not (self.sorting or picker.finder.task:running()) then
+  if not self.sorting and not picker.finder.task:running() and self:empty() then
     picker.list.items = picker.finder.items
     picker:update({ force = true })
-    if self.opts.on_done then
-      self.opts.on_done(self)
-    end
+    self:on_done(picker)
     return
   end
 
@@ -105,7 +150,7 @@ function M:run(picker)
     ---@async
     ---@param item snacks.picker.Item
     local function check(item)
-      if self:update(item) then
+      if self:update(picker, item) then
         picker.list:add(item, self.sorting)
       end
       yield()
@@ -161,11 +206,7 @@ function M:run(picker)
     until idx >= #picker.finder.items and not picker.finder.task:running()
 
     picker:update({ force = true })
-    if self.opts.on_done then
-      vim.schedule(function()
-        self.opts.on_done(self)
-      end)
-    end
+    self:on_done(picker)
   end)
 end
 
@@ -307,9 +348,10 @@ function M:_prepare(pattern)
   return mods
 end
 
+---@param picker snacks.Picker
 ---@param item snacks.picker.Item
 ---@return boolean matched
-function M:update(item)
+function M:update(picker, item)
   if item.match_pos then
     item.pos = nil
   end
@@ -339,9 +381,7 @@ function M:update(item)
       end
     end
     item.score = score
-    if self.opts.on_match then
-      self.opts.on_match(self, item)
-    end
+    self:on_match(picker, item)
   else
     item.score = 0
   end
diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/source/explorer.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/source/explorer.lua
index 69e74620..5b241b5b 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/source/explorer.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/source/explorer.lua
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ end
 ---@param opts snacks.picker.explorer.Config
 function M.setup(opts)
   local searching = false
-  local ref ---@type snacks.Picker.ref
   return Snacks.config.merge(opts, {
     actions = {
       confirm = Actions.actions.confirm,
@@ -153,7 +152,6 @@ function M.setup(opts)
       ---@param picker snacks.Picker
       ---@param filter snacks.picker.Filter
       transform = function(picker, filter)
-        ref = picker:ref()
         local s = not filter:is_empty()
         if searching ~= s then
           searching = s
@@ -162,46 +160,6 @@ function M.setup(opts)
         end
       end,
     },
-    matcher = {
-      --- Add parent dirs to matching items
-      ---@param matcher snacks.picker.Matcher
-      ---@param item snacks.picker.explorer.Item
-      on_match = function(matcher, item)
-        if not searching then
-          return
-        end
-        local picker = ref.value
-        if picker and item.score > 0 then
-          local parent = item.parent
-          while parent do
-            if parent.score == 0 or parent.match_tick ~= matcher.tick then
-              parent.score = 1
-              parent.match_tick = matcher.tick
-              parent.match_topk = nil
-              picker.list:add(parent)
-            else
-              break
-            end
-            parent = parent.parent
-          end
-        end
-      end,
-      on_done = function()
-        if not searching then
-          return
-        end
-        local picker = ref.value
-        if not picker or picker.closed then
-          return
-        end
-        for item, idx in picker:iter() do
-          if not item.dir then
-            picker.list:view(idx)
-            return
-          end
-        end
-      end,
-    },
     formatters = {
       file = {
         filename_only = opts.tree,
@@ -223,7 +181,9 @@ end
 function M.explorer(opts, ctx)
   local state = M.get_state(ctx.picker)
 
+  ctx.picker.matcher.opts.keep_parents = false
   if state:setup(ctx) then
+    ctx.picker.matcher.opts.keep_parents = true
     return M.search(opts, ctx)
   end
 
diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/source/lsp/init.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/source/lsp/init.lua
index 823f7d63..1ad5babe 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/source/lsp/init.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/source/lsp/init.lua
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ function M.results_to_items(client, results, opts)
     result.children = nil
   end
 
-  local root = { text = "" } ---@type snacks.picker.finder.Item
+  local root = { text = "", root = true } ---@type snacks.picker.finder.Item
   ---@type snacks.picker.finder.Item
   for _, result in ipairs(results) do
     add(result, root)
@@ -330,6 +330,10 @@ end
 ---@param opts snacks.picker.lsp.symbols.Config
 ---@type snacks.picker.finder
 function M.symbols(opts, ctx)
+  if opts.keep_parents then
+    ctx.picker.matcher.opts.keep_parents = true
+    ctx.picker.matcher.opts.sort = false
+  end
   local buf = ctx.filter.current_buf
   -- For unloaded buffers, load the buffer and
   -- refresh the picker on every LspAttach event