diff --git a/src/main_menu.cpp b/src/main_menu.cpp
index b7c68f4f0d144..9b3fd2199a5a4 100644
--- a/src/main_menu.cpp
+++ b/src/main_menu.cpp
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ bool main_menu::opening_screen()
 
     // for mouse selection
     ctxt.register_action( "SELECT" );
+    ctxt.register_action( "MOUSE_MOVE" );
 
     // for the menu shortcuts
     ctxt.register_action( "ANY_INPUT" );
@@ -699,6 +700,34 @@ bool main_menu::opening_screen()
                 }
             }
         }
+        if( action == "SELECT" || action == "MOUSE_MOVE" ) {
+            cata::optional<point> coord = ctxt.get_coordinates_text( catacurses::stdscr );
+            for( const auto &it : main_menu_button_map ) {
+                if( coord.has_value() && it.first.contains( coord.value() ) ) {
+                    if( sel1 != it.second ) {
+                        sel1 = it.second;
+                        sel2 = sel1 == getopt( main_menu_opts::LOADCHAR ) ? last_world_pos : 0;
+                    }
+                    if( action == "SELECT" &&
+                        ( sel1 == getopt( main_menu_opts::HELP ) || sel1 == getopt( main_menu_opts::QUIT ) ) ) {
+                        action = "CONFIRM";
+                    }
+                    ui_manager::redraw();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            for( const auto &it : main_menu_sub_button_map ) {
+                if( coord.has_value() && it.first.contains( coord.value() ) ) {
+                    sel1 = it.second.first;
+                    sel2 = it.second.second;
+                    if( action == "SELECT" ) {
+                        action = "CONFIRM";
+                    }
+                    ui_manager::redraw();
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
         // also check special keys
         if( action == "QUIT" ) {