diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
index ec73d010b5f..a327f0b0bef 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/moves/item.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ local core = require("nvim-tree.core")
 local lib = require("nvim-tree.lib")
 local diagnostics = require("nvim-tree.diagnostics")
 
+local DirectoryNode = require("nvim-tree.node.directory")
+
 local M = {}
 local MAX_DEPTH = 100
 
@@ -70,8 +72,10 @@ local function move(where, what, skip_gitignored)
   end
 end
 
+---@param node Node
 local function expand_node(node)
-  if not node.open then
+  if node:is(DirectoryNode) and not node.open then
+    ---@cast node DirectoryNode
     -- Expand the node.
     -- Should never collapse since we checked open.
     node:expand_or_collapse()
@@ -96,7 +100,8 @@ local function move_next_recursive(what, skip_gitignored)
   if node_init.name ~= ".." then -- root node cannot have a status
     valid = status_is_valid(node_init, what, skip_gitignored)
   end
-  if node_init.nodes ~= nil and valid and not node_init.open then
+  if node_init:is(DirectoryNode) and valid and not node_init.open then
+    ---@cast node_init DirectoryNode
     node_init:expand_or_collapse()
   end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
index c153c07ad60..c6b5de44b53 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ local help = require("nvim-tree.help")
 local keymap = require("nvim-tree.keymap")
 local notify = require("nvim-tree.notify")
 
+local DirectoryNode = require("nvim-tree.node.directory")
+
 local Api = {
   tree = {},
   node = {
@@ -213,7 +215,8 @@ local function open_or_expand_or_dir_up(mode, toggle_group)
   return function(node)
     if node.name == ".." then
       actions.root.change_dir.fn("..")
-    elseif node.nodes then
+    elseif node:is(DirectoryNode) then
+      ---@cast node DirectoryNode
       node:expand_or_collapse(toggle_group)
     elseif not toggle_group then
       edit(mode, node)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/node/directory.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/node/directory.lua
index 4bb216b7518..439034afd3e 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/node/directory.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/node/directory.lua
@@ -116,6 +116,35 @@ function DirectoryNode:get_git_status()
   end
 end
 
+function DirectoryNode:expand_or_collapse(toggle_group)
+  toggle_group = toggle_group or false
+  if self.has_children then
+    self.has_children = false
+  end
+
+  if #self.nodes == 0 then
+    self.explorer:expand(self)
+  end
+
+  local head_node = self:get_parent_of_group()
+  if toggle_group then
+    head_node:toggle_group_folders()
+  end
+
+  local open = self:last_group_node().open
+  local next_open
+  if toggle_group then
+    next_open = open
+  else
+    next_open = not open
+  end
+  for _, n in ipairs(head_node:get_all_nodes_in_group()) do
+    n.open = next_open
+  end
+
+  self.explorer.renderer:draw()
+end
+
 ---Create a sanitized partial copy of a node, populating children recursively.
 ---@return DirectoryNode cloned
 function DirectoryNode:clone()
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/node/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/node/init.lua
index 086177fcf85..6c51c19c993 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/node/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/node/init.lua
@@ -225,36 +225,6 @@ function BaseNode:ungroup_empty_folders()
   end
 end
 
-function BaseNode:expand_or_collapse(toggle_group)
-  toggle_group = toggle_group or false
-  if self.has_children then
-    ---@cast self DirectoryNode -- TODO #2886 move this to the class
-    self.has_children = false
-  end
-
-  if #self.nodes == 0 then
-    self.explorer:expand(self)
-  end
-
-  local head_node = self:get_parent_of_group()
-  if toggle_group then
-    head_node:toggle_group_folders()
-  end
-
-  local open = self:last_group_node().open
-  local next_open
-  if toggle_group then
-    next_open = open
-  else
-    next_open = not open
-  end
-  for _, n in ipairs(head_node:get_all_nodes_in_group()) do
-    n.open = next_open
-  end
-
-  self.explorer.renderer:draw()
-end
-
 ---Create a sanitized partial copy of a node, populating children recursively.
 ---@return BaseNode cloned
 function BaseNode:clone()