diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5a8732bd92..b03ae37d5d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 - `TreeNodeSelected` messages are now posted before `TreeNodeExpanded` messages
 when an expandable node is selected https://github.com/Textualize/textual/pull/4753
 - `Markdown.LinkClicked.href` is now automatically unquoted https://github.com/Textualize/textual/pull/4749
+- The mouse cursor hover effect of `Tree` and `DirectoryTree` will no longer linger after the mouse leaves the widget https://github.com/Textualize/textual/pull/4766
 
 
 ## [0.72.0] - 2024-07-09
diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py b/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
index 9ee5227444..ed44340d76 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_tree.py
@@ -839,6 +839,10 @@ def _on_mouse_move(self, event: events.MouseMove) -> None:
         else:
             self.hover_line = -1
 
+    def _on_leave(self, _: events.Leave) -> None:
+        # Ensure the hover effect doesn't linger after the mouse leaves.
+        self.hover_line = -1
+
     def _new_id(self) -> NodeID:
         """Create a new node ID.