diff --git a/wagtail/wagtailadmin/static/wagtailadmin/js/submenu.js b/wagtail/wagtailadmin/static/wagtailadmin/js/submenu.js
index d273e3e677..61ec1e878d 100644
--- a/wagtail/wagtailadmin/static/wagtailadmin/js/submenu.js
+++ b/wagtail/wagtailadmin/static/wagtailadmin/js/submenu.js
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ $(function(){
                 $explorer.dlmenu('closeMenu');
             }
 
+            // Close other active submenus first, if any
+            if($('.nav-wrapper.submenu-active').length){
+                $('.nav-main .submenu-active, .nav-wrapper').removeClass('submenu-active');
+            }
+
             $(this).closest('li').toggleClass('submenu-active');
             $('.nav-wrapper').toggleClass('submenu-active');
             return false