diff --git a/components/mail-transfer/__tests__/mail-import-dialog.test.tsx b/components/mail-transfer/__tests__/mail-import-dialog.test.tsx
index c15a88713..f191fd56e 100644
--- a/components/mail-transfer/__tests__/mail-import-dialog.test.tsx
+++ b/components/mail-transfer/__tests__/mail-import-dialog.test.tsx
@@ -71,6 +71,17 @@ describe('MailImportDialog', () => {
     expect(startImport).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ accountId: 'acc1', targetMailboxId: null, keepFolders: true }));
   });
 
+  it('loads the folders when opened from Settings before the mail view did, then picks the Inbox', async () => {
+    const fetchMailboxes = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const loaded = useEmailStore.getState().mailboxes;
+    useEmailStore.setState({ mailboxes: [], fetchMailboxes } as never);
+    render(<MailTransferHost />);
+    act(() => openMailImport());
+    expect(fetchMailboxes).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    act(() => useEmailStore.setState({ mailboxes: loaded } as never));
+    await waitFor(() => expect((screen.getByTestId('mail-import-target') as HTMLSelectElement).value).toBe('inbox'));
+  });
+
   it('cannot start without files', () => {
     render(<MailTransferHost />);
     act(() => openMailImport());
diff --git a/components/mail-transfer/mail-import-dialog.tsx b/components/mail-transfer/mail-import-dialog.tsx
index 026fe1d00..37da46feb 100644
--- a/components/mail-transfer/mail-import-dialog.tsx
+++ b/components/mail-transfer/mail-import-dialog.tsx
@@ -72,6 +72,17 @@ export function MailImportDialog({ request }: { request: ImportRequest }) {
   const targetId = target === TOP ? null : targetMailbox ? targetMailbox.originalId || targetMailbox.id : null;
   const effectiveKeep = anyFolders && keepFolders;
 
+  // Opened from Settings, the mail view may not have loaded the folders yet.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (client && mailboxes.length === 0) void useEmailStore.getState().fetchMailboxes(client).catch(() => {});
+  }, [client, mailboxes.length]);
+
+  // Keep the choice valid when the folders arrive or the files change.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const valid = target === TOP ? anyFolders : targets.some((x) => x.mailbox.id === target);
+    if (!valid && target !== initialTarget) setTarget(initialTarget);
+  }, [targets, target, anyFolders, initialTarget]);
+
   // An earlier import of the same file into the same place that stopped part way.
   useEffect(() => {
     let current = true;