diff --git a/pkg/gui/context/traits/list_cursor.go b/pkg/gui/context/traits/list_cursor.go
index c471d9a0f..3b3e58639 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/context/traits/list_cursor.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/context/traits/list_cursor.go
@@ -133,10 +133,19 @@ func (self *ListCursor) GetRangeStartIdx() (int, bool) {
 	return 0, false
 }
 
+// Cancel range select mode, but keep the "moving end" of the range selected.
+// Used when pressing 'v' or escape to toggle range select mode, for example.
 func (self *ListCursor) CancelRangeSelect() {
 	self.rangeSelectMode = RangeSelectModeNone
 }
 
+// Cancel range select mode, but keep the top of the range selected. Note that
+// this is different from CancelRangeSelect. Useful after deleting a range of items.
+func (self *ListCursor) CollapseRangeSelectionToTop() {
+	start, _ := self.GetSelectionRange()
+	self.SetSelection(start)
+}
+
 // Returns true if we are in range select mode. Note that we may be in range select
 // mode and still only selecting a single item. See AreMultipleItemsSelected below.
 func (self *ListCursor) IsSelectingRange() bool {
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
index 2478dee58..4bb390b3e 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ func (self *BranchesHelper) ConfirmLocalDelete(branches []*models.Branch) error
 			if err := self.c.Git().Branch.LocalDelete(branchNames, true); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			selectionStart, _ := self.c.Contexts().Branches.GetSelectionRange()
-			self.c.Contexts().Branches.SetSelectedLineIdx(selectionStart)
+
+			self.c.Contexts().Branches.CollapseRangeSelectionToTop()
 			self.c.Refresh(types.RefreshOptions{Mode: types.ASYNC, Scope: []types.RefreshableView{types.BRANCHES}})
 			return nil
 		})
@@ -180,9 +180,7 @@ func (self *BranchesHelper) ConfirmLocalAndRemoteDelete(branches []*models.Branc
 					return err
 				}
 
-				selectionStart, _ := self.c.Contexts().Branches.GetSelectionRange()
-				self.c.Contexts().Branches.SetSelectedLineIdx(selectionStart)
-
+				self.c.Contexts().Branches.CollapseRangeSelectionToTop()
 				self.c.Refresh(types.RefreshOptions{Mode: types.ASYNC, Scope: []types.RefreshableView{types.BRANCHES, types.REMOTES}})
 				return nil
 			})