diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 2e9c4fddd7..6d2f7b8666 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -17933,6 +17933,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows 0.61.1",
  "workspace-hack",
  "zed_actions",
+ "zedless_settings",
  "zlog",
 ]
 
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/app.rs b/crates/gpui/src/app.rs
index 759d33563e..86a249a4eb 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/app.rs
@@ -799,8 +799,9 @@ impl App {
     pub fn prompt_for_paths(
         &self,
         options: PathPromptOptions,
+        initial_path: Option<String>
     ) -> oneshot::Receiver<Result<Option<Vec<PathBuf>>>> {
-        self.platform.prompt_for_paths(options)
+        self.platform.prompt_for_paths(options, initial_path)
     }
 
     /// Displays a platform modal for selecting a new path where a file can be saved.
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs b/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
index 27ba9940f5..a6d9e594bb 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ pub(crate) trait Platform: 'static {
     fn prompt_for_paths(
         &self,
         options: PathPromptOptions,
+        initial_path: Option<String>,
     ) -> oneshot::Receiver<Result<Option<Vec<PathBuf>>>>;
     fn prompt_for_new_path(&self, directory: &Path) -> oneshot::Receiver<Result<Option<PathBuf>>>;
     fn can_select_mixed_files_and_dirs(&self) -> bool;
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/platform/linux/platform.rs b/crates/gpui/src/platform/linux/platform.rs
index fce0db610d..1aa1ca6487 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/platform/linux/platform.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/platform/linux/platform.rs
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ impl<P: LinuxClient + 'static> Platform for P {
     fn prompt_for_paths(
         &self,
         options: PathPromptOptions,
+        initial_path: Option<String>,
     ) -> oneshot::Receiver<Result<Option<Vec<PathBuf>>>> {
         let (done_tx, done_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
@@ -290,14 +291,27 @@ impl<P: LinuxClient + 'static> Platform for P {
                     "Open File"
                 };
 
-                let request = match ashpd::desktop::file_chooser::OpenFileRequest::default()
+                let req = ashpd::desktop::file_chooser::OpenFileRequest::default()
                     .modal(true)
                     .title(title)
                     .multiple(options.multiple)
-                    .directory(options.directories)
-                    .send()
-                    .await
-                {
+                    .directory(options.directories);
+
+                let req2 = if let Some(initpath) = initial_path {
+                    if let Ok(r) = req.current_folder(initpath) {
+                        r
+                    } else {
+                        ashpd::desktop::file_chooser::OpenFileRequest::default()
+                            .modal(true)
+                            .title(title)
+                            .multiple(options.multiple)
+                            .directory(options.directories)
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    req
+                };
+
+                let request = match req2.send().await {
                     Ok(request) => request,
                     Err(err) => {
                         let result = match err {
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/platform/test/platform.rs b/crates/gpui/src/platform/test/platform.rs
index a26b65576c..4529f703df 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/platform/test/platform.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/platform/test/platform.rs
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ impl Platform for TestPlatform {
     fn prompt_for_paths(
         &self,
         _options: crate::PathPromptOptions,
+        _initial_path: Option<String>,
     ) -> oneshot::Receiver<Result<Option<Vec<std::path::PathBuf>>>> {
         unimplemented!()
     }
diff --git a/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml b/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
index 1f542f7920..80bfe856ae 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/workspace/Cargo.toml
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ ui.workspace = true
 util.workspace = true
 uuid.workspace = true
 zed_actions.workspace = true
+zedless_settings.workspace = true
 workspace-hack.workspace = true
 
 [target.'cfg(target_os = "windows")'.dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
index 491c2c62d2..c6b60d4977 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/workspace.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ pub use workspace_settings::{
     AutosaveSetting, BottomDockLayout, RestoreOnStartupBehavior, TabBarSettings, WorkspaceSettings,
 };
 use zed_actions::{Spawn, feedback::FileBugReport};
+use zedless_settings::ZedlessSettings;
 
 use crate::notifications::NotificationId;
 use crate::persistence::{
@@ -511,7 +512,7 @@ pub fn init_settings(cx: &mut App) {
 }
 
 fn prompt_and_open_paths(app_state: Arc<AppState>, options: PathPromptOptions, cx: &mut App) {
-    let paths = cx.prompt_for_paths(options);
+    let paths = cx.prompt_for_paths(options, None);
     cx.spawn(
         async move |cx| match paths.await.anyhow().and_then(|res| res) {
             Ok(Some(paths)) => {
@@ -2024,6 +2025,9 @@ impl Workspace {
         window: &mut Window,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) -> oneshot::Receiver<Option<Vec<PathBuf>>> {
+        let initial_path = ZedlessSettings::get_global(cx)
+            .projects_base_path
+            .clone();
         if !lister.is_local(cx) || !WorkspaceSettings::get_global(cx).use_system_path_prompts {
             let prompt = self.on_prompt_for_open_path.take().unwrap();
             let rx = prompt(self, lister, window, cx);
@@ -2031,7 +2035,7 @@ impl Workspace {
             rx
         } else {
             let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
-            let abs_path = cx.prompt_for_paths(path_prompt_options);
+            let abs_path = cx.prompt_for_paths(path_prompt_options, initial_path);
 
             cx.spawn_in(window, async move |workspace, cx| {
                 let Ok(result) = abs_path.await else {
diff --git a/crates/zedless_settings/src/zedless_settings.rs b/crates/zedless_settings/src/zedless_settings.rs
index 2816c3c196..aefd2528d5 100644
--- a/crates/zedless_settings/src/zedless_settings.rs
+++ b/crates/zedless_settings/src/zedless_settings.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ pub struct ZedlessSettings {
     #[serde(default)]
     /// Zeta server URL.
     pub zeta_url: Option<String>,
+    /// Starting path for path prompts.
+    pub projects_base_path: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl Settings for ZedlessSettings {