diff --git a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
index 5f50f6815..81a2b2d45 100644
--- a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
+++ b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
@@ -478,6 +478,18 @@
       })
     );
 
+    // Navigate away immediately so the user doesn't have to wait for backend deletion.
+    // Skip projects that are already being deleted.
+    const currentIndex = projects.findIndex((p) => p.id === id);
+    const alive = projects.filter((p) => p.id !== id && !deletingProjectNames.has(p.id));
+    if (alive.length > 0) {
+      // Prefer the next project after the current one; fall back to the closest earlier one
+      const next = alive.find((p) => projects.indexOf(p) > currentIndex) ?? alive[alive.length - 1];
+      selectProject(next.id);
+    } else {
+      goHome();
+    }
+
     try {
       await commands.deleteProject(id);
       projects = projects.filter((p) => p.id !== id);