diff --git a/focus/internal/focus-ring.ts b/focus/internal/focus-ring.ts
index a48ab3d01b..e8c494296a 100644
--- a/focus/internal/focus-ring.ts
+++ b/focus/internal/focus-ring.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import {LitElement} from 'lit';
+import {LitElement, PropertyValues} from 'lit';
 import {property} from 'lit/decorators.js';
 
 import {Attachable, AttachableController} from '../../internal/controller/attachable-controller.js';
 
 /**
  * Events that the focus ring listens to.
+ *
+ * @fires visibility-changed Fired whenever `visible` changes.
  */
 const EVENTS = ['focusin', 'focusout', 'pointerdown'];
 
@@ -80,6 +82,15 @@ export class FocusRing extends LitElement implements Attachable {
       next?.addEventListener(event, this);
     }
   }
+
+  override update(changed: PropertyValues<this>) {
+    if (changed.has('visible')) {
+      // This logic can be removed once the `:has` selector has been introduced
+      // to Firefox. This is necessary to allow correct submenu styles.
+      this.dispatchEvent(new Event('visibility-changed'));
+    }
+    super.update(changed);
+  }
 }
 
 const HANDLED_BY_FOCUS_RING = Symbol('handledByFocusRing');
diff --git a/list/internal/listitem/list-item.ts b/list/internal/listitem/list-item.ts
index 360692acb2..e2266e34a2 100644
--- a/list/internal/listitem/list-item.ts
+++ b/list/internal/listitem/list-item.ts
@@ -161,9 +161,17 @@ export class ListItemEl extends LitElement implements ListItem {
    * Handles rendering of the focus ring.
    */
   protected renderFocusRing(): TemplateResult|typeof nothing {
-    return html`<md-focus-ring class="focus-ring" part="focus-ring" for="item" inward></md-focus-ring>`;
+    return html`
+      <md-focus-ring
+          @visibility-changed=${this.onFocusRingVisibilityChanged}
+          class="focus-ring"
+          part="focus-ring"
+          for="item"
+          inward></md-focus-ring>`;
   }
 
+  protected onFocusRingVisibilityChanged(e: Event) {}
+
   /**
    * Classes applied to the list item root.
    */
diff --git a/menu/internal/menuitem/_menu-item.scss b/menu/internal/menuitem/_menu-item.scss
index c10bb04085..e8e9b67778 100644
--- a/menu/internal/menuitem/_menu-item.scss
+++ b/menu/internal/menuitem/_menu-item.scss
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
   }
 
   // Set the ripple opacity to 0 if there is a submenu that is hovered.
-  .list-item:has(.submenu:hover) {
+  .submenu-hover {
     // Have to use ripple theme directly because :has selector in this case does
     // not work in this case with the :has selector, thus we cannot override the
     // custom props set in :host
diff --git a/menu/internal/menuitem/forced-colors-styles.scss b/menu/internal/menuitem/forced-colors-styles.scss
index 8fc7d4c60a..2bbced2497 100644
--- a/menu/internal/menuitem/forced-colors-styles.scss
+++ b/menu/internal/menuitem/forced-colors-styles.scss
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
   // Show double border only when selected, and the current list item does not
   // have a focus ring on it.
-  :host([selected]) .list-item:not(:has(.focus-ring[visible]))::before {
+  :host([selected]) .list-item:not(.has-focus-ring)::before {
     content: '';
     position: absolute;
     inset: 0;
diff --git a/menu/internal/menuitem/menu-item.ts b/menu/internal/menuitem/menu-item.ts
index 4be2638c31..162209e768 100644
--- a/menu/internal/menuitem/menu-item.ts
+++ b/menu/internal/menuitem/menu-item.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
-import {property} from 'lit/decorators.js';
+import {property, state} from 'lit/decorators.js';
 
+import type {MdFocusRing} from '../../../focus/md-focus-ring.js';
 import {ListItemEl, ListItemRole} from '../../../list/internal/listitem/list-item.js';
 import {CLOSE_REASON, DefaultCloseMenuEvent, isClosableKey, MenuItem} from '../shared.js';
 
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ export class MenuItemEl extends ListItemEl implements MenuItem {
    */
   @property({type: Boolean, attribute: 'keep-open'}) keepOpen = false;
 
+  @state() protected hasFocusRing = false;
+
   /**
    * Used for overriding e.g. sub-menu-item.
    */
@@ -40,6 +43,18 @@ export class MenuItemEl extends ListItemEl implements MenuItem {
         new DefaultCloseMenuEvent(this, {kind: CLOSE_REASON.CLICK_SELECTION}));
   }
 
+  protected override getRenderClasses() {
+    return {
+      ...super.getRenderClasses(),
+      'has-focus-ring': this.hasFocusRing,
+    };
+  }
+
+  protected override onFocusRingVisibilityChanged(e: Event) {
+    const focusRing = e.target as MdFocusRing;
+    this.hasFocusRing = focusRing.visible;
+  }
+
   protected override onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
     if (this.keepOpen) return;
     const keyCode = event.code;
diff --git a/menu/internal/submenuitem/sub-menu-item.ts b/menu/internal/submenuitem/sub-menu-item.ts
index 7ab300db5e..dda6c13c12 100644
--- a/menu/internal/submenuitem/sub-menu-item.ts
+++ b/menu/internal/submenuitem/sub-menu-item.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 import {html} from 'lit';
-import {property, queryAssignedElements} from 'lit/decorators.js';
+import {property, queryAssignedElements, state} from 'lit/decorators.js';
 
 import {List} from '../../../list/internal/list.js';
 import {Corner, Menu} from '../menu.js';
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ export class SubMenuItem extends MenuItemEl {
    */
   @property({type: Boolean, reflect: true}) selected = false;
 
+  @state() protected submenuHover = false;
+
   @queryAssignedElements({slot: 'submenu', flatten: true})
   private readonly menus!: Menu[];
 
@@ -105,6 +107,10 @@ export class SubMenuItem extends MenuItemEl {
     this.show();
   }
 
+  protected override getRenderClasses() {
+    return {...super.getRenderClasses(), 'submenu-hover': this.submenuHover};
+  }
+
   /**
    * On item keydown handles opening the submenu.
    */
@@ -149,6 +155,8 @@ export class SubMenuItem extends MenuItemEl {
   private renderSubMenu() {
     return html`<span class="submenu"><slot
         name="submenu"
+        @pointerenter=${this.onSubmenuPointerEnter}
+        @pointerleave=${this.onSubmenuPointerLeave}
         @pointerdown=${stopPropagation}
         @click=${stopPropagation}
         @keydown=${this.onSubMenuKeydown}
@@ -298,4 +306,12 @@ export class SubMenuItem extends MenuItemEl {
         return false;
     }
   }
+
+  private onSubmenuPointerEnter() {
+    this.submenuHover = true;
+  }
+
+  private onSubmenuPointerLeave() {
+    this.submenuHover = false;
+  }
 }