diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
index 35eadad3cc99b1..89bbb641cdbabe 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/selectors.js
@@ -2986,11 +2986,21 @@ export const __unstableGetVisibleBlocks = createSelector(
 );
 
 export function __unstableHasActiveBlockOverlayActive( state, clientId ) {
+	const blockName = getBlockName( state, clientId );
+	const editingMode = getBlockEditingMode( state, clientId );
+
+	// Temporary: Allow Navigation block to have overlay in contentOnly mode
+	// to promote the off-canvas editing experience.
+	// See: https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/71757
+	// TODO: Replace with block support mechanism in future iteration.
+	const isNavigationInContentOnly =
+		blockName === 'core/navigation' && editingMode === 'contentOnly';
+
 	// Prevent overlay on blocks with a non-default editing mode. If the mode is
 	// 'disabled' then the overlay is redundant since the block can't be
 	// selected. If the mode is 'contentOnly' then the overlay is redundant
 	// since there will be no controls to interact with once selected.
-	if ( getBlockEditingMode( state, clientId ) !== 'default' ) {
+	if ( editingMode !== 'default' && ! isNavigationInContentOnly ) {
 		return false;
 	}