diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/Header.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/Header.tsx
index 8ab2bc69..c7000a9d 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/Header.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/Header.tsx
@@ -1855,7 +1855,7 @@ export const Header: React.FC = () => {
                   </button>
                 </form>
               ) : (
-                <span className="truncate text-[13px] font-medium leading-4 text-foreground max-w-full">
+                <span className="block overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap text-[13px] font-medium leading-4 text-foreground max-w-full">
                   {isNewSessionDraftOpen ? t('sessions.switcher.draftTitle') : currentSessionTitle}
                 </span>
               )}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/SessionTabsStrip.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/SessionTabsStrip.tsx
index a701774c..45018366 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/layout/SessionTabsStrip.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/layout/SessionTabsStrip.tsx
@@ -219,8 +219,9 @@ const SessionTabItem: React.FC<{
                       onClose(tab.id);
                     }
                   }}
+                  data-controls-open={overlayVisible ? 'true' : 'false'}
                   className={cn(
-                    'group/session-tab relative flex h-7 w-full min-w-0 select-none items-center rounded-md px-2',
+                    'session-tab group/session-tab relative flex h-7 w-full min-w-0 select-none items-center rounded-md px-2',
                     isActive
                       ? 'bg-interactive-selection'
                       : cn(
@@ -235,7 +236,11 @@ const SessionTabItem: React.FC<{
                     overlayVisible && 'pr-10',
                   )}
                   >
-                    <div className="session-tab-title min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap">
+                    <div className={cn(
+                      'min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap',
+                      !suppressControls && 'session-tab-title',
+                    )}
+                    >
                       {isActive ? children : (
                         <span className="text-[13px] font-medium leading-4">{title}</span>
                       )}
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/index.css b/packages/ui/src/index.css
index 67f694ec..ed6c021f 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/index.css
+++ b/packages/ui/src/index.css
@@ -1804,7 +1804,6 @@ html.desktop-runtime .markdown-content [data-openchamber-file-link="true"] {
   height: 12px;
   border-radius: 9999px;
   background: var(--border);
-  opacity: 0.6;
 }
 .session-tab-slot[data-active='true'] + .session-tab-slot::before,
 .session-tab-slot:not([data-active='true']):hover::before,
@@ -1826,8 +1825,16 @@ html.desktop-runtime .markdown-content [data-openchamber-file-link="true"] {
 
 /* Session tab titles: fade out instead of "..." — the ellipsis reads as
    clutter next to the tab's status dot and hover controls. Short titles
-   never reach the fade zone (the span spans the tab, not the text). */
+   never reach the fade zone (the span spans the tab, not the text). The
+   fade belongs to the resting state only: while the tab is hovered or its
+   controls are open, the title clips hard so the smear never sits next to
+   the menu/close/rename controls. */
 .session-tab-title {
   -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(to right, black calc(100% - 14px), transparent);
   mask-image: linear-gradient(to right, black calc(100% - 14px), transparent);
 }
+.session-tab:hover .session-tab-title,
+.session-tab[data-controls-open='true'] .session-tab-title {
+  -webkit-mask-image: none;
+  mask-image: none;
+}