diff --git a/docs/resources/changelog.md b/docs/resources/changelog.md
index 79facb20b..d1440d6b6 100644
--- a/docs/resources/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/resources/changelog.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ _During the beta period, these restrictions may be relaxed in the event of a mis
 - Added read-only custom properties `--auto-size-available-width` and `--auto-size-available-height` to `<sl-popup>` to improve support for overflowing popup content
 - Fixed a bug where auto-size wasn't being applied to `<sl-dropdown>` and `<sl-select>`
 - Fixed a bug in `<sl-popup>` that caused auto-size to kick in before flip
+- Removed the default hover effect in `<sl-tree-items>` to make selections more obvious
 
 ## 2.0.0-beta.80
 
diff --git a/src/components/tree-item/tree-item.styles.ts b/src/components/tree-item/tree-item.styles.ts
index 4004165dd..32e742370 100644
--- a/src/components/tree-item/tree-item.styles.ts
+++ b/src/components/tree-item/tree-item.styles.ts
@@ -81,10 +81,6 @@ export default css`
     cursor: not-allowed;
   }
 
-  :host(:not([aria-disabled='true'])) .tree-item__item:hover {
-    background-color: var(--sl-color-neutral-100);
-  }
-
   :host(:focus-visible) .tree-item__item {
     outline: var(--sl-focus-ring);
     outline-offset: var(--sl-focus-ring-offset);