diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 814be85..e8ed2ce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,11 +37,14 @@ make install  # installs to /usr/local/bin/bontree
 ## Usage
 
 ```bash
-bontree [path]
+bontree [path] [focus-path]
 ```
 
 Defaults to the current directory if no path is given.
 
+- If `path` is a file, bontree opens its parent directory and focuses that file.
+- `focus-path` can be absolute or relative to `path`.
+
 ## Keybindings
 
 Every keybinding listed below is a default — all of them can be remapped or removed in the [config file](#configuration).
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index ff6c27e..d914722 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/cellbuf v0.0.13-0.20250311204145-2c3ea96c31dd // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.1 // indirect
 	github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f // indirect
+	github.com/google/shlex v0.0.0-20191202100458-e7afc7fbc510 // indirect
 	github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-localereader v0.0.1 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 050645d..109c920 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.1 h1:AQeHeLZ1OqSXhrAWpYUtZyX1T3zVxfpZuEQMIQ
 github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.1/go.mod h1:oQ4enTYFV7QN4m0i9mzHrViD7TQKvNEEkHUMCmsxdUg=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f h1:Y/CXytFA4m6baUTXGLOoWe4PQhGxaX0KpnayAqC48p4=
 github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f/go.mod h1:vw97MGsxSvLiUE2X8qFplwetxpGLQrlU1Q9AUEIzCaM=
+github.com/google/shlex v0.0.0-20191202100458-e7afc7fbc510 h1:El6M4kTTCOh6aBiKaUGG7oYTSPP8MxqL4YI3kZKwcP4=
+github.com/google/shlex v0.0.0-20191202100458-e7afc7fbc510/go.mod h1:pupxD2MaaD3pAXIBCelhxNneeOaAeabZDe5s4K6zSpQ=
 github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.2.0 h1:1nnpGOrhyZZuNyfu1QjKiUICQ74+3FNCN69Aj6K7nkY=
 github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.2.0/go.mod h1:R4dSotOR9KMtayYi1e77YzuveK+i7ruzyGqttikkLy0=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 h1:xfD0iDuEKnDkl03q4limB+vH+GxLEtL/jb4xVJSWWEY=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 4e0dde4..9c3b112 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/almonk/bontree/config"
 	"github.com/almonk/bontree/theme"
@@ -19,21 +20,11 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
-	path := "."
-	if len(os.Args) > 1 {
-		path = os.Args[1]
-	}
-
-	// Verify path exists
-	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	rootPath, focusPath, err := resolveLaunchPaths(os.Args[1:])
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	if !info.IsDir() {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error: %s is not a directory\n", path)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
 
 	cfg, err := config.Load()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -51,7 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 		ui.ApplyTheme(t)
 	}
 
-	model, err := ui.New(path, cfg)
+	model, err := ui.NewWithFocus(rootPath, focusPath, cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error building tree: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -63,3 +54,39 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }
+
+func resolveLaunchPaths(args []string) (string, string, error) {
+	switch len(args) {
+	case 0:
+		return ".", "", nil
+	case 1:
+		info, err := os.Stat(args[0])
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", "", err
+		}
+		if info.IsDir() {
+			return args[0], "", nil
+		}
+		return filepath.Dir(args[0]), args[0], nil
+	case 2:
+		rootPath := args[0]
+		info, err := os.Stat(rootPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", "", err
+		}
+		if !info.IsDir() {
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("%s is not a directory", rootPath)
+		}
+
+		focusPath := args[1]
+		if !filepath.IsAbs(focusPath) {
+			focusPath = filepath.Join(rootPath, focusPath)
+		}
+		if _, err := os.Stat(focusPath); err != nil {
+			return "", "", err
+		}
+		return rootPath, focusPath, nil
+	default:
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("usage: bontree [path] [focus-path]")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ui/model.go b/ui/model.go
index d990616..6b14863 100644
--- a/ui/model.go
+++ b/ui/model.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package ui
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/almonk/bontree/config"
@@ -10,15 +13,15 @@ import (
 
 // Model is the Bubble Tea model
 type Model struct {
-	root      *tree.Node
-	flatNodes []*tree.Node
-	cursor    int
-	width     int
-	height    int
-	rootPath  string
-	flashMsg  string
-	showHelp  bool
-	scrollOff int
+	root       *tree.Node
+	flatNodes  []*tree.Node
+	cursor     int
+	width      int
+	height     int
+	rootPath   string
+	flashMsg   string
+	showHelp   bool
+	scrollOff  int
 	gitBranch  string
 	gitFiles   map[string]gitFileStatus // relative path -> status
 	showHidden bool
@@ -45,6 +48,11 @@ type Model struct {
 
 // New creates a new Model with the given config. If cfg is nil, defaults are used.
 func New(rootPath string, cfg *config.Config) (Model, error) {
+	return NewWithFocus(rootPath, "", cfg)
+}
+
+// NewWithFocus creates a new Model and optionally reveals/focuses focusPath.
+func NewWithFocus(rootPath, focusPath string, cfg *config.Config) (Model, error) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		cfg = config.DefaultConfig()
 	}
@@ -56,13 +64,95 @@ func New(rootPath string, cfg *config.Config) (Model, error) {
 		return Model{}, err
 	}
 
-	return Model{
+	m := Model{
 		root:       root,
 		flatNodes:  flattenTree(root),
 		rootPath:   rootPath,
 		showHidden: cfg.ShowHidden,
 		cfg:        cfg,
-	}, nil
+	}
+
+	if err := m.focusByPath(focusPath); err != nil {
+		return Model{}, err
+	}
+
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// focusByPath expands ancestor directories and moves the cursor to the target path.
+// targetPath may be absolute or relative to rootPath.
+func (m *Model) focusByPath(targetPath string) error {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(targetPath) == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	rootAbs, err := filepath.Abs(m.rootPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	targetAbs, err := filepath.Abs(targetPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	relPath, err := filepath.Rel(rootAbs, targetAbs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	relPath = filepath.ToSlash(relPath)
+	if relPath == "." {
+		m.cursor = 0
+		m.ensureVisible()
+		return nil
+	}
+	if relPath == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relPath, "../") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("focus path %q is outside root %q", targetPath, m.rootPath)
+	}
+
+	parts := strings.Split(relPath, "/")
+	current := m.root
+	for i, part := range parts {
+		if part == "" || part == "." {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !current.Loaded {
+			if err := current.Expand(); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+		var next *tree.Node
+		for _, child := range current.Children {
+			if child.Name == part {
+				next = child
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if next == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("focus path %q not found", targetPath)
+		}
+
+		if i < len(parts)-1 {
+			if !next.IsDir {
+				return fmt.Errorf("focus path %q is invalid", targetPath)
+			}
+			if err := next.Expand(); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		current = next
+	}
+
+	m.refreshFlatNodes()
+	for i, n := range m.flatNodes {
+		if n == current {
+			m.cursor = i
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	m.ensureVisible()
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
@@ -174,6 +264,9 @@ func (m *Model) viewportHeight() int {
 }
 
 func (m *Model) ensureVisible() {
+	if m.height <= 0 {
+		return
+	}
 	viewH := m.viewportHeight()
 	if m.cursor < m.scrollOff {
 		m.scrollOff = m.cursor
diff --git a/ui/update.go b/ui/update.go
index 8f4daff..ff7055e 100644
--- a/ui/update.go
+++ b/ui/update.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/almonk/bontree/tree"
 	"github.com/atotto/clipboard"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+	"github.com/google/shlex"
 )
 
 // editorFinishedMsg is sent when the external editor process exits.
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
 		m.width = msg.Width
 		m.height = msg.Height
+		m.ensureVisible()
 		return m, nil
 
 	case clearFlashMsg:
@@ -181,10 +183,15 @@ func (m Model) dispatchAction(action config.Action) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			return m, nil
 		}
 		editor := os.Getenv("EDITOR")
-		if editor == "" {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(editor) == "" {
 			return m, flash(&m, "✗ $EDITOR is not set")
 		}
-		c := exec.Command(editor, node.AbsPath)
+		parts, err := shlex.Split(editor)
+		if err != nil || len(parts) == 0 {
+			return m, flash(&m, "✗ Invalid $EDITOR")
+		}
+		args := append(parts[1:], node.AbsPath)
+		c := exec.Command(parts[0], args...)
 		return m, tea.ExecProcess(c, func(err error) tea.Msg {
 			return editorFinishedMsg{err}
 		})