diff --git a/packages/ui-drilldown/src/Drilldown/index.tsx b/packages/ui-drilldown/src/Drilldown/index.tsx
index e358302ed6..01fc808827 100644
--- a/packages/ui-drilldown/src/Drilldown/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui-drilldown/src/Drilldown/index.tsx
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ class Drilldown extends Component<DrilldownProps, DrilldownState> {
       // Use action ID if exists, otherwise first non-action option's ID
       const targetId = actionLabel
         ? this._headerActionId
-        : this.currentPage.children[0]?.props.id
+        : this.getFirstOption()?.props.id
       setTimeout(() => {
         this.setState({
           highlightedOptionId: targetId
@@ -911,6 +911,24 @@ class Drilldown extends Component<DrilldownProps, DrilldownState> {
     }
   }
 
+  getFirstOption = () => {
+    const children = Children.toArray(this.currentPage?.children)
+
+    const child = children[0]
+    if (!child) return undefined
+
+    // If it's a regular option, return it
+    if (matchComponentTypes<OptionChild>(child, [DrilldownOption])) {
+      return child
+    }
+    // If it's a group, get its options
+    if (matchComponentTypes<GroupChild>(child, [Drilldown.Group])) {
+      const groupOptions = Children.toArray(child.props.children)
+      return groupOptions[0] as OptionChild
+    }
+    return undefined
+  }
+
   renderList(
     getOptionProps: SelectableRender['getOptionProps'],
     getDisabledOptionProps: SelectableRender['getDisabledOptionProps']
@@ -1512,7 +1530,7 @@ class Drilldown extends Component<DrilldownProps, DrilldownState> {
           // Use action ID if exists, otherwise first non-action option's ID
           const targetId = actionLabel
             ? this._headerActionId
-            : this.currentPage.children[0]?.props.id
+            : this.getFirstOption()?.props.id
 
           if (!targetId) return null
           return this._popover?._contentElement?.querySelector(