diff --git a/.changeset/big-pants-invite.md b/.changeset/big-pants-invite.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..43f13e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/big-pants-invite.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@clack/prompts": patch
+---
+
+Fix the `path` prompt so `directory: true` correctly enforces directory-only selection while still allowing directory navigation, and add regression tests for both directory and default file selection behavior.
diff --git a/packages/prompts/src/path.ts b/packages/prompts/src/path.ts
index b630c7cc..d575ab33 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/src/path.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/src/path.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export const path = (opts: PathOptions) => {
 					})
 					.filter(
 						({ path, isDirectory }) =>
-							path.startsWith(userInput) && (opts.directory || !isDirectory)
+							path.startsWith(userInput) && (isDirectory || !opts.directory)
 					);
 				return items.map((item) => ({
 					value: item.path,
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
index 9d81f118..0153e166 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/__snapshots__/path.test.ts.snap
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > can cancel 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "■  foo
@@ -30,10 +32,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > cannot submit unknown value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/_█
@@ -57,10 +61,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > cannot submit unknown value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -107,10 +113,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders cancelled value if one set 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/x█
@@ -141,10 +149,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders message 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
@@ -163,10 +173,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -197,10 +209,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error)
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/r█
@@ -224,10 +238,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear (using Error)
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ○ /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ● /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -253,10 +269,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/r█
@@ -280,10 +298,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = false) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ○ /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ● /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -309,10 +329,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > can cancel 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "■  foo
@@ -331,10 +353,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > cannot submit unknown value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/_█
@@ -358,10 +382,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > cannot submit unknown value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -408,10 +434,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders cancelled value if one set 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/x█
@@ -442,10 +470,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders message 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=1>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "◇  foo
@@ -464,10 +494,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > renders submitted value 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -498,10 +530,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/r█
@@ -525,10 +559,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear (using Error) 1
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ○ /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ● /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
@@ -554,10 +590,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ● /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ○ /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/r█
@@ -581,10 +619,12 @@ exports[`text (isCI = true) > validation errors render and clear 1`] = `
 │
 │  Search: /tmp/█
 │  ○ /tmp/bar
+│  ○ /tmp/foo
+│  ○ /tmp/hello
 │  ● /tmp/root.zip
 │  ↑/↓ to select • Enter: confirm • Type: to search
 └",
-  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=7>",
+  "<cursor.backward count=999><cursor.up count=9>",
   "<cursor.down count=3>",
   "<erase.down>",
   "│  Search: /tmp/b█
diff --git a/packages/prompts/test/path.test.ts b/packages/prompts/test/path.test.ts
index 0e15ec34..24f7d76d 100644
--- a/packages/prompts/test/path.test.ts
+++ b/packages/prompts/test/path.test.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,42 @@ describe.each(['true', 'false'])('text (isCI = %s)', (isCI) => {
 		expect(output.buffer).toMatchSnapshot();
 	});
 
+	test('directory mode only allows selecting directories', async () => {
+		const result = prompts.path({
+			message: 'foo',
+			root: '/tmp/',
+			directory: true,
+			input,
+			output,
+		});
+
+		input.emit('keypress', 'f', { name: 'f' });
+		input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+
+		const value = await result;
+
+		expect(value).toBe('/tmp/foo');
+	});
+
+	test('default mode allows selecting files', async () => {
+		const result = prompts.path({
+			message: 'foo',
+			root: '/tmp/',
+			input,
+			output,
+		});
+
+		input.emit('keypress', 'r', { name: 'r' });
+		input.emit('keypress', 'o', { name: 'o' });
+		input.emit('keypress', 'o', { name: 'o' });
+		input.emit('keypress', 't', { name: 't' });
+		input.emit('keypress', '', { name: 'return' });
+
+		const value = await result;
+
+		expect(value).toBe('/tmp/root.zip');
+	});
+
 	test('validation errors render and clear', async () => {
 		const result = prompts.path({
 			message: 'foo',