diff --git a/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.test.js b/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.test.js
index ff144d10..276385a0 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.test.js
+++ b/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.test.js
@@ -255,6 +255,17 @@ describe('openNewSessionDraft project binding', () => {
     expect(draft.directoryOverride).toBe(projectB.path);
   });
 
+  test('does not attach active project when current directory is unmatched', () => {
+    useDirectoryStore.getState().setDirectory('/external/worktree', { showOverlay: false });
+
+    useSessionUIStore.getState().openNewSessionDraft();
+    const draft = useSessionUIStore.getState().newSessionDraft;
+
+    expect(draft.open).toBe(true);
+    expect(draft.selectedProjectId).toBeNull();
+    expect(draft.directoryOverride).toBe('/external/worktree');
+  });
+
   test('respects explicit directoryOverride over active project', () => {
     useSessionUIStore.getState().openNewSessionDraft({ directoryOverride: '/projects/beta/src' });
     const draft = useSessionUIStore.getState().newSessionDraft;
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.ts b/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.ts
index e2f3a248..3026ec7b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/sync/session-ui-store.ts
@@ -623,10 +623,9 @@ export const useSessionUIStore = create<SessionUIState>()((set, get) => ({
     const currentDirProject = resolveDraftProjectForDirectory(projects, availableWorktreesByProject, currentDirectory)
 
     const selectedProject = (() => {
-      if (explicitProject || explicitDirectory !== null) {
-        return explicitProject ?? inferredProjectFromDir ?? fallbackProject
-      }
-      if (currentDirectory) return currentDirProject ?? fallbackProject
+      if (explicitProject) return explicitProject
+      if (explicitDirectory !== null) return inferredProjectFromDir
+      if (currentDirectory) return currentDirProject
       return persistedProjectByDir ?? persistedProjectById ?? fallbackProject
     })()