diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/filetree.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/filetree.rs
index f5aa2c05..dcd6355f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/filetree.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/filetree.rs
@@ -248,6 +248,19 @@ impl Filetree {
                 ctx.editor.filetree.focused = false;
                 EventResult::Consumed(None)
             }
+            // Forward leader / command-line keys to the editor so leader
+            // sequences like <space>f (file picker) and the `:` command
+            // prompt work from within the panel. We unfocus first so the
+            // key (and any subsequent keys in a sequence) route to the
+            // editor's keymap rather than ours — emulating Helix's
+            // leader state machine from here would mean tracking a
+            // multi-key trie, and the modal "lose focus, regain with
+            // <space>e" pattern is both simpler and the convention
+            // pickers already follow.
+            KeyCode::Char(' ' | ':') if key.modifiers.is_empty() => {
+                ctx.editor.filetree.focused = false;
+                EventResult::Ignored(None)
+            }
             KeyCode::Down | KeyCode::Char('j') => {
                 self.move_cursor(&mut ctx.editor.filetree, 1);
                 EventResult::Consumed(None)