diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue b/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
index 56ab38258..557f7586e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ defineExpose({ focusSearch });
 
 <template>
   <div class="h-full min-h-0 flex flex-col text-sm select-none">
-    <div v-if="store.treeNodes.length > 0" class="sticky top-0 z-10 bg-background px-2 py-1">
+    <div class="sticky top-0 z-10 bg-background px-2 py-1">
       <div class="relative flex items-center gap-1">
         <div class="relative flex-1">
           <Search class="absolute left-2 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground" />
diff --git a/packages/app-tests/connectionTreeToolbar.test.ts b/packages/app-tests/connectionTreeToolbar.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..94876e394
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-tests/connectionTreeToolbar.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import test from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+
+const connectionTreeSource = readFileSync(
+  new URL("../../apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue", import.meta.url),
+  "utf8",
+);
+
+test("connection tree toolbar is visible before any connection exists", () => {
+  assert.ok(connectionTreeSource.includes(":title=\"t('connectionGroup.createGroup')\""));
+  assert.ok(
+    !connectionTreeSource.includes('v-if="store.treeNodes.length > 0" class="sticky'),
+    "the toolbar should not be hidden when the connection tree is empty",
+  );
+});