diff --git a/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts b/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
index 8d9b6da90e..cc67542e0b 100644
--- a/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
+++ b/src/signals/focus-manifest.ts
@@ -933,8 +933,10 @@ function expandGlobstarSlash(pattern: string): string[] {
       const canKeepRootAlternatives = count * 2 <= MAX_GLOBSTAR_SLASH_ALTERNATIVES;
       for (let altIdx = count - 1; altIdx >= 0; altIdx -= 1) {
         const prefix = alternatives[altIdx]!;
-        alternatives[altIdx] = `${prefix}*/`;
-        if (canKeepRootAlternatives) alternatives.push(prefix);
+        if (canKeepRootAlternatives) {
+          alternatives[altIdx] = `${prefix}*/`;
+          alternatives.push(prefix);
+        }
       }
       idx += 3;
       continue;
diff --git a/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts b/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
index b64ad7ce8d..c080bf6568 100644
--- a/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/focus-manifest.test.ts
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ describe("matchesManifestPath", () => {
     const start = performance.now();
     const result = matchesManifestPath("a/b/c/safe.ts", globstarRun);
     const elapsed = performance.now() - start;
-    expect(result).toBe(false);
+    expect(result).toBe(true);
     expect(elapsed).toBeLessThan(100);
   });
 });