diff --git a/web/client/actions/backgroundselector.js b/web/client/actions/backgroundselector.js
index a08cdc8b57..ffa293353d 100644
--- a/web/client/actions/backgroundselector.js
+++ b/web/client/actions/backgroundselector.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export const CLEAR_MODAL_PARAMETERS = 'BACKGROUND_SELECTOR:CLEAR_MODAL_PARAMETER
 export const CONFIRM_DELETE_BACKGROUND_MODAL = 'BACKGROUND_SELECTOR:CONFIRM_DELETE_BACKGROUND_MODAL';
 export const ALLOW_BACKGROUNDS_DELETION = 'BACKGROUND_SELECTOR:ALLOW_BACKGROUNDS_DELETION';
 export const SYNC_CURRENT_BACKGROUND_LAYER = 'BACKGROUND_SELECTOR:SYNC_CURRENT_BACKGROUND_LAYER';
+export const STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE = 'BACKGROUND_SELECTOR:STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE';
 
 export function createBackgroundsList(backgrounds) {
     return {
@@ -125,3 +126,20 @@ export function confirmDeleteBackgroundModal(show, layerTitle = null, layerId =
         layerId
     };
 }
+
+/**
+ * Stashes the currently selected catalog service for later restoration.
+ * This is useful when closing the catalog and reopening it for background selection,
+ * allowing the user to easily return to their previous selection.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} service - The service object representing the currently selected catalog.
+ * @returns {Object} An action object with the type `STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE`
+ *                  and the selected service.
+ */
+
+export function stashSelectedCatalogService(service) {
+    return {
+        type: STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE,
+        service
+    };
+}
diff --git a/web/client/epics/backgroundselector.js b/web/client/epics/backgroundselector.js
index 7ea5aee5c1..2fab9b4108 100644
--- a/web/client/epics/backgroundselector.js
+++ b/web/client/epics/backgroundselector.js
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ import {
     setBackgroundModalParams,
     setCurrentBackgroundLayer,
     allowBackgroundsDeletion,
-    backgroundAdded
+    backgroundAdded,
+    stashSelectedCatalogService
 } from '../actions/backgroundselector';
 
 import { setControlProperty } from '../actions/controls';
@@ -35,15 +36,18 @@ import { getLayerCapabilities } from '../observables/wms';
 import { getCustomTileGridProperties, getLayerOptions } from '../utils/WMSUtils';
 import { getLayerTileMatrixSetsInfo } from '../api/WMTS';
 import { generateGeoServerWMTSUrl } from '../utils/WMTSUtils';
+import { selectedServiceSelector } from '../selectors/catalog';
 
-const accessMetadataExplorer = (action$) =>
+const accessMetadataExplorer = (action$, store) =>
     action$.ofType(ADD_BACKGROUND)
         .switchMap(() => Rx.Observable.of(
             setControlProperty('metadataexplorer', 'enabled', true),
             allowBackgroundsDeletion(false),
+            stashSelectedCatalogService(selectedServiceSelector(store.getState())),
             changeSelectedService('default_map_backgrounds')
         ));
 
+
 const addBackgroundPropertiesEpic = (action$) =>
     action$.ofType(ADD_BACKGROUND_PROPERTIES)
         .switchMap(({modalParams}) => {
diff --git a/web/client/epics/catalog.js b/web/client/epics/catalog.js
index 19cc9ea87a..a7cf90eaa8 100644
--- a/web/client/epics/catalog.js
+++ b/web/client/epics/catalog.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ import {
     catalogSearchInfoSelector,
     isActiveSelector, servicesSelectorWithBackgrounds
 } from '../selectors/catalog';
-import { metadataSourceSelector } from '../selectors/backgroundselector';
+import { metadataSourceSelector, stashedServiceSelector } from '../selectors/backgroundselector';
 import { currentMessagesSelector } from "../selectors/locale";
 import { getSelectedLayer, selectedNodesSelector } from '../selectors/layers';
 
@@ -592,13 +592,13 @@ export default (API) => ({
             .switchMap(() => {
                 const state = store.getState();
                 const metadataSource = metadataSourceSelector(state);
-                const services = servicesSelector(state);
+                const stashedService = stashedServiceSelector(state);
                 return Rx.Observable.of(...([
                     setControlProperties('metadataexplorer', "enabled", false, "group", null),
                     changeCatalogMode("view"),
                     resetCatalog()
                 ].concat(metadataSource === 'backgroundSelector' ?
-                    [changeSelectedService(head(keys(services))), allowBackgroundsDeletion(true)] : [])));
+                    [changeSelectedService(stashedService), allowBackgroundsDeletion(true)] : [])));
             }),
 
     /**
diff --git a/web/client/reducers/backgroundselector.js b/web/client/reducers/backgroundselector.js
index 5f0dfe76cd..d699240b19 100644
--- a/web/client/reducers/backgroundselector.js
+++ b/web/client/reducers/backgroundselector.js
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import {
     REMOVE_BACKGROUND,
     CREATE_BACKGROUNDS_LIST,
     CLEAR_MODAL_PARAMETERS,
-    CONFIRM_DELETE_BACKGROUND_MODAL
+    CONFIRM_DELETE_BACKGROUND_MODAL,
+    STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE
 } from '../actions/backgroundselector';
 
 import { RESET_CATALOG } from '../actions/catalog';
@@ -102,6 +103,13 @@ function backgroundselector(state = null, action) {
     case ALLOW_BACKGROUNDS_DELETION: {
         return assign({}, state, {allowDeletion: action.allow || false});
     }
+    case STASH_SELECTED_SERVICE : {
+        return assign({}, state, {
+            stashedService: action.service
+        });
+    }
+
+
     default:
         return state;
     }
diff --git a/web/client/selectors/backgroundselector.js b/web/client/selectors/backgroundselector.js
index b08bb2b21d..fd1d4d60fb 100644
--- a/web/client/selectors/backgroundselector.js
+++ b/web/client/selectors/backgroundselector.js
@@ -23,3 +23,4 @@ export const backgroundLayersSelector = createSelector(layersSelector, mapTypeSe
     const  backgroundLayers = layers.filter((l) => l && l.group === "background");
     return loaded && loaded[maptype] ? backgroundLayers.map((l) => invalidateUnsupportedLayer(l, maptype)) || [] : backgroundLayers;
 });
+export const stashedServiceSelector = state => state.backgroundSelector && state?.backgroundSelector.stashedService;