diff --git a/src/states/MenuState.cpp b/src/states/MenuState.cpp
index 484d584..bfbbe40 100644
--- a/src/states/MenuState.cpp
+++ b/src/states/MenuState.cpp
@@ -330,14 +330,20 @@ void MenuState::handleEvent(const SDL_Event& e) {
                     // Close help panel
                     helpPanelAnimating = true; helpDirection = -1;
                     return;
+                case SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT:
+                case SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT:
+                case SDL_SCANCODE_UP:
+                case SDL_SCANCODE_DOWN:
+                    // Arrow keys: close help and immediately return to main menu navigation.
+                    helpPanelAnimating = true; helpDirection = -1;
+                    break;
                 case SDL_SCANCODE_PAGEDOWN:
-                case SDL_SCANCODE_DOWN: {
-                    helpScroll += 40.0; return;
-                }
+                    helpScroll += 40.0;
+                    return;
                 case SDL_SCANCODE_PAGEUP:
-                case SDL_SCANCODE_UP: {
-                    helpScroll -= 40.0; if (helpScroll < 0.0) helpScroll = 0.0; return;
-                }
+                    helpScroll -= 40.0;
+                    if (helpScroll < 0.0) helpScroll = 0.0;
+                    return;
                 default:
                     return;
             }