diff --git a/packages/local-open-targets/src/index.ts b/packages/local-open-targets/src/index.ts
index ad73e9f01a..ba5ce125fe 100644
--- a/packages/local-open-targets/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/local-open-targets/src/index.ts
@@ -369,6 +369,16 @@ function parseDesktopEntryValue(line: string): [string, string] | null {
   ];
 }
 
+const LINUX_WORKSPACE_APPLICATION_CATEGORIES = new Set([
+  "FileManager",
+  "TerminalEmulator",
+  "TextEditor",
+]);
+
+function parseDesktopEntryList(value: string | undefined): string[] {
+  return value?.split(";").filter(Boolean) ?? [];
+}
+
 function parseLinuxDesktopApplication(
   desktopFilePath: string,
   content: string,
@@ -403,7 +413,14 @@ function parseLinuxDesktopApplication(
 
   const label = fields.get("Name");
   const exec = fields.get("Exec");
-  if (!label || !exec) {
+  const categories = parseDesktopEntryList(fields.get("Categories"));
+  if (
+    !label ||
+    !exec ||
+    !categories.some((category) =>
+      LINUX_WORKSPACE_APPLICATION_CATEGORIES.has(category),
+    )
+  ) {
     return null;
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/local-open-targets/test/workspace-open-targets.test.ts b/packages/local-open-targets/test/workspace-open-targets.test.ts
index b7a6486bdb..4e435e5e94 100644
--- a/packages/local-open-targets/test/workspace-open-targets.test.ts
+++ b/packages/local-open-targets/test/workspace-open-targets.test.ts
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ describe("workspace open targets", () => {
         "[Desktop Entry]",
         "Type=Application",
         "Name=Mock Edit",
+        "Categories=Utility;TextEditor;",
         "Exec=mockedit --open %f",
         "",
       ].join("\n"),
@@ -245,10 +246,41 @@ describe("workspace open targets", () => {
         "Type=Application",
         "Name=Hidden App",
         "NoDisplay=true",
+        "Categories=TextEditor;",
         "Exec=hidden %f",
         "",
       ].join("\n"),
     );
+    await Promise.all(
+      [
+        ["files", "Files", "FileManager"],
+        ["terminal", "Terminal", "TerminalEmulator"],
+      ].map(async ([id, name, category]) =>
+        writeFile(
+          path.join(desktopDirectory, `${id}.desktop`),
+          [
+            "[Desktop Entry]",
+            "Type=Application",
+            `Name=${name}`,
+            `Categories=System;${category};`,
+            `Exec=${id} %f`,
+            "",
+          ].join("\n"),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      path.join(desktopDirectory, "unrelated.desktop"),
+      [
+        "[Desktop Entry]",
+        "Type=Application",
+        "Name=Music Player",
+        "Categories=AudioVideo;Player;",
+        "MimeType=audio/mpeg;inode/directory;",
+        "Exec=music-player %f",
+        "",
+      ].join("\n"),
+    );
 
     try {
       const targets = await listWorkspaceOpenTargetsWithRuntime(
@@ -258,8 +290,12 @@ describe("workspace open targets", () => {
         }),
       );
 
-      expect(targets).toEqual([
-        {
+      expect(targets).toEqual(
+        [
+          ["desktop-app:files", "Files"],
+          ["desktop-app:mockedit", "Mock Edit"],
+          ["desktop-app:terminal", "Terminal"],
+        ].map(([id, label]) => ({
           capabilities: {
             openDirectory: true,
             openFile: true,
@@ -267,11 +303,11 @@ describe("workspace open targets", () => {
             openFileAtLine: false,
           },
           icon: { kind: "symbol", name: "app" },
-          id: "desktop-app:mockedit",
+          id,
           kind: "native-app",
-          label: "Mock Edit",
-        },
-      ]);
+          label,
+        })),
+      );
     } finally {
       await rm(root, { force: true, recursive: true });
     }
@@ -472,6 +508,7 @@ describe("workspace open targets", () => {
           "[Desktop Entry]",
           "Type=Application",
           "Name=Mock Edit",
+          "Categories=TextEditor;",
           "Exec=mockedit --open %f",
           "",
         ].join("\n"),