diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
index c791acdfe..413a41754 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   useOpenDmMutation,
 } from "@/features/channels/hooks";
 import { useUnreadChannels } from "@/features/channels/useUnreadChannels";
+import { getThreadReference } from "@/features/messages/lib/threading";
 import { useThreadFollows } from "@/features/messages/lib/useThreadFollows";
 import {
   useHomeFeedNotifications,
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ function toSearchHit(target: DesktopNotificationTarget): SearchHit | null {
     channelName: target.channelName ?? null,
     createdAt: target.createdAt ?? Math.floor(Date.now() / 1_000),
     score: 0,
+    threadRootId: target.threadRootId ?? null,
   };
 }
 
@@ -228,6 +230,8 @@ export function AppShell() {
             : content
           : "New message";
 
+      const threadRootId = getThreadReference(event.tags).rootId ?? null;
+
       void sendDesktopNotification({
         title: channelName,
         body,
@@ -239,6 +243,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
           eventId: event.id,
           kind: event.kind,
           pubkey: event.pubkey,
+          threadRootId,
         },
       }).then((didSend) => {
         if (!didSend) return;
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/navigation/resolveSearchHitDestination.ts b/desktop/src/app/navigation/resolveSearchHitDestination.ts
index 2e8d3df8b..2575bcfd4 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/navigation/resolveSearchHitDestination.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/app/navigation/resolveSearchHitDestination.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export type SearchHitDestination =
       kind: "channel";
       channelId: string;
       messageId?: string;
+      threadRootId?: string | null;
     }
   | {
       kind: "forum-post";
@@ -68,5 +69,6 @@ export async function resolveSearchHitDestination(
     kind: "channel",
     channelId: hit.channelId,
     messageId: hit.eventId,
+    threadRootId: hit.threadRootId ?? null,
   };
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/navigation/useAppNavigation.ts b/desktop/src/app/navigation/useAppNavigation.ts
index f08e9f2ae..5efd18c17 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/navigation/useAppNavigation.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/app/navigation/useAppNavigation.ts
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ export function useAppNavigation() {
       options?: {
         messageId?: string;
         replace?: boolean;
+        threadRootId?: string | null;
       },
     ) =>
       commitNavigation(
@@ -143,7 +144,12 @@ export function useAppNavigation() {
           params: {
             channelId,
           },
-          search: options?.messageId ? { messageId: options.messageId } : {},
+          search: options?.messageId
+            ? {
+                messageId: options.messageId,
+                threadRootId: options.threadRootId ?? undefined,
+              }
+            : {},
         },
         {
           replace: options?.replace,
@@ -217,6 +223,7 @@ export function useAppNavigation() {
 
       return goChannel(destination.channelId, {
         messageId: destination.messageId,
+        threadRootId: destination.threadRootId,
       });
     },
     [goChannel, goForumPost],
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/routes/ChannelRouteScreen.tsx b/desktop/src/app/routes/ChannelRouteScreen.tsx
index 08a6df924..431ec753e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/routes/ChannelRouteScreen.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/routes/ChannelRouteScreen.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ type ChannelRouteScreenProps = {
   selectedPostId: string | null;
   targetMessageId: string | null;
   targetReplyId: string | null;
+  targetThreadRootId: string | null;
 };
 
 export function ChannelRouteScreen({
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export function ChannelRouteScreen({
   selectedPostId,
   targetMessageId,
   targetReplyId,
+  targetThreadRootId,
 }: ChannelRouteScreenProps) {
   const { closeForumPost, goForumPost } = useAppNavigation();
   const channelsQuery = useChannelsQuery();
@@ -30,42 +32,61 @@ export function ChannelRouteScreen({
   const channels = channelsQuery.data ?? [];
   const activeChannel =
     channels.find((channel) => channel.id === channelId) ?? null;
-  const [targetMessageEvent, setTargetMessageEvent] =
-    React.useState<RelayEvent | null>(() =>
-      getCachedSearchHitEvent(targetMessageId),
-    );
+  const [targetMessageEvents, setTargetMessageEvents] = React.useState<
+    RelayEvent[]
+  >(() => {
+    const cachedTarget = getCachedSearchHitEvent(targetMessageId);
+    return cachedTarget ? [cachedTarget] : [];
+  });
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     let isCancelled = false;
 
     if (!targetMessageId || selectedPostId) {
-      setTargetMessageEvent(null);
+      setTargetMessageEvents([]);
       return () => {
         isCancelled = true;
       };
     }
 
-    setTargetMessageEvent(getCachedSearchHitEvent(targetMessageId));
-    void getEventById(targetMessageId)
-      .then((event) => {
-        if (!isCancelled) {
-          setTargetMessageEvent(event);
+    const cachedTarget = getCachedSearchHitEvent(targetMessageId);
+    setTargetMessageEvents(cachedTarget ? [cachedTarget] : []);
+
+    const eventIds = [
+      targetMessageId,
+      targetThreadRootId && targetThreadRootId !== targetMessageId
+        ? targetThreadRootId
+        : null,
+    ].filter((eventId): eventId is string => eventId !== null);
+
+    void Promise.all(
+      eventIds.map(async (eventId) => {
+        try {
+          return await getEventById(eventId);
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error("Failed to load route event", eventId, error);
+          return null;
         }
-      })
-      .catch((error) => {
-        if (!isCancelled) {
-          console.error(
-            "Failed to load route target event",
-            targetMessageId,
-            error,
+      }),
+    ).then((events) => {
+      if (!isCancelled) {
+        setTargetMessageEvents((currentEvents) => {
+          const fetchedEvents = events.filter(
+            (event): event is RelayEvent => event !== null,
           );
-        }
-      });
+          const eventsById = new Map<string, RelayEvent>();
+          for (const event of [...currentEvents, ...fetchedEvents]) {
+            eventsById.set(event.id, event);
+          }
+          return Array.from(eventsById.values());
+        });
+      }
+    });
 
     return () => {
       isCancelled = true;
     };
-  }, [selectedPostId, targetMessageId]);
+  }, [selectedPostId, targetMessageId, targetThreadRootId]);
 
   if (channelsQuery.isPending && !activeChannel) {
     return (
@@ -89,7 +110,7 @@ export function ChannelRouteScreen({
       }}
       selectedForumPostId={selectedPostId}
       targetForumReplyId={targetReplyId}
-      targetMessageEvent={targetMessageEvent}
+      targetMessageEvents={targetMessageEvents}
       targetMessageId={targetMessageId}
     />
   );
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.posts.$postId.tsx b/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.posts.$postId.tsx
index 94f153d5e..85d34ed8e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.posts.$postId.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.posts.$postId.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ function ForumPostRouteComponent() {
         selectedPostId={postId}
         targetMessageId={null}
         targetReplyId={search.replyId ?? null}
+        targetThreadRootId={null}
       />
     </React.Suspense>
   );
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.tsx b/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.tsx
index 2394d5fb0..eb16c6bfe 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/routes/channels.$channelId.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { ViewLoadingFallback } from "@/shared/ui/ViewLoadingFallback";
 
 type ChannelRouteSearch = {
   messageId?: string;
+  threadRootId?: string;
 };
 
 function validateChannelSearch(
@@ -15,6 +16,10 @@ function validateChannelSearch(
       typeof search.messageId === "string" && search.messageId.length > 0
         ? search.messageId
         : undefined,
+    threadRootId:
+      typeof search.threadRootId === "string" && search.threadRootId.length > 0
+        ? search.threadRootId
+        : undefined,
   };
 }
 
@@ -41,6 +46,7 @@ function ChannelRouteComponent() {
         selectedPostId={null}
         targetMessageId={search.messageId ?? null}
         targetReplyId={null}
+        targetThreadRootId={search.threadRootId ?? null}
       />
     </React.Suspense>
   );
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelScreen.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelScreen.tsx
index 4437a54d5..fd3af4d90 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelScreen.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelScreen.tsx
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ type ChannelScreenProps = {
   onSelectForumPost: (postId: string) => void;
   selectedForumPostId: string | null;
   targetForumReplyId: string | null;
-  targetMessageEvent: RelayEvent | null;
+  targetMessageEvents: RelayEvent[];
   targetMessageId: string | null;
 };
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export function ChannelScreen({
   onSelectForumPost,
   selectedForumPostId,
   targetForumReplyId,
-  targetMessageEvent,
+  targetMessageEvents,
   targetMessageId,
 }: ChannelScreenProps) {
   const {
@@ -144,9 +144,11 @@ export function ChannelScreen({
 
   const resolvedMessages = React.useMemo(() => {
     const currentMessages = messagesQuery.data ?? [];
-    if (!activeChannel || !targetMessageEvent) return currentMessages;
-    return mergeMessages(currentMessages, targetMessageEvent);
-  }, [activeChannel, messagesQuery.data, targetMessageEvent]);
+    if (!activeChannel || targetMessageEvents.length === 0) {
+      return currentMessages;
+    }
+    return targetMessageEvents.reduce(mergeMessages, currentMessages);
+  }, [activeChannel, messagesQuery.data, targetMessageEvents]);
   const messageAuthorPubkeys = React.useMemo(
     () => collectMessageAuthorPubkeys(resolvedMessages),
     [resolvedMessages],
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/notifications/lib/desktop.ts b/desktop/src/features/notifications/lib/desktop.ts
index e08c189ff..f42292132 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/notifications/lib/desktop.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/notifications/lib/desktop.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export type DesktopNotificationTarget = {
   eventId: string | null;
   kind: number | null;
   pubkey?: string;
+  threadRootId?: string | null;
 };
 
 type DesktopNotificationPayload = {
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ function parseNotificationTarget(
   const kind = typeof candidate.kind === "number" ? candidate.kind : null;
   const pubkey =
     typeof candidate.pubkey === "string" ? candidate.pubkey : undefined;
+  const threadRootId =
+    typeof candidate.threadRootId === "string" ? candidate.threadRootId : null;
 
   if (!channelId && !eventId) {
     return null;
@@ -86,6 +89,7 @@ function parseNotificationTarget(
     eventId,
     kind,
     pubkey,
+    threadRootId,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/notifications/use-feed-desktop-notifications.ts b/desktop/src/features/notifications/use-feed-desktop-notifications.ts
index da02f625a..273d2f130 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/notifications/use-feed-desktop-notifications.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/notifications/use-feed-desktop-notifications.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   truncatePubkey,
   type UserProfileLookup,
 } from "@/features/profile/lib/identity";
+import { getThreadReference } from "@/features/messages/lib/threading";
 import type { FeedItem, HomeFeedResponse } from "@/shared/api/types";
 import {
   collectHomeAlertItems,
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ export function useFeedDesktopNotifications(
 
   const deliverFeedNotification = React.useEffectEvent(
     async (item: FeedItem, senderName?: string) => {
+      const threadRootId = getThreadReference(item.tags).rootId ?? null;
       const didSend = await sendDesktopNotification({
         body: notificationBody(item),
         target: {
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ export function useFeedDesktopNotifications(
           eventId: item.id,
           kind: item.kind,
           pubkey: item.pubkey,
+          threadRootId,
         },
         title: notificationTitle(item, senderName),
       });
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
index 39111531a..6172524a8 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ export type SearchHit = {
   channelName: string | null;
   createdAt: number;
   score: number;
+  threadRootId?: string | null;
 };
 
 export type SearchMessagesResponse = {
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown.tsx b/desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown.tsx
index a67f68002..6408f6937 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/ui/markdown.tsx
@@ -571,7 +571,10 @@ function MarkdownInner({
           // "the thread root is a forum post" up front would require an
           // event lookup we don't currently have synchronously; the brief
           // explicitly allows skipping that detection and falling through.
-          void goChannel(link.channelId, { messageId: link.messageId });
+          void goChannel(link.channelId, {
+            messageId: link.messageId,
+            threadRootId: link.threadRootId,
+          });
         },
         imetaByUrl,
         mentionPubkeysByName,
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/useMessageDeepLinks.ts b/desktop/src/shared/useMessageDeepLinks.ts
index ff7a74443..08c02e029 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/useMessageDeepLinks.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/useMessageDeepLinks.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ export function useMessageDeepLinks() {
     let cancelled = false;
     const unlistenPromise = listenForMessageDeepLinks((payload) => {
       if (cancelled) return;
-      void goChannel(payload.channelId, { messageId: payload.messageId });
+      void goChannel(payload.channelId, {
+        messageId: payload.messageId,
+        threadRootId: payload.threadRootId,
+      });
     });
     return () => {
       cancelled = true;