diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/worktree-list/rows/virtual-row-dispatch.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/worktree-list/rows/virtual-row-dispatch.tsx
index 1b3574437fe..1126a898ba3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/worktree-list/rows/virtual-row-dispatch.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/worktree-list/rows/virtual-row-dispatch.tsx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function renderHostHeaderVirtualRow(
   row: Extract<RenderRow, { type: 'host-header' }>,
   vItem: VirtualItem
 ): React.JSX.Element {
-  // Why: the host card is the outer tier; it pins above group headers (z-30 vs z-20) and stays put as they hand off.
+  // Incoming hosts must cover the outgoing sticky group before they pin.
   const isActiveStickyHost = ctx.activeStickyHostIndexRef.current === vItem.index
   const hasHeaderTopSpacing = shouldUseHeaderTopSpacing({
     rows: ctx.renderRows,
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ function renderHostHeaderVirtualRow(
       data-index={vItem.index}
       ref={ctx.measureVirtualRowElement}
       className={cn(
-        'left-0 right-0',
+        'left-0 right-0 z-30 bg-worktree-sidebar',
         hasHeaderTopSpacing && !isActiveStickyHost && 'pt-1',
-        isActiveStickyHost ? 'sticky -top-px z-30 bg-worktree-sidebar' : 'absolute top-0'
+        isActiveStickyHost ? 'sticky -top-px' : 'absolute top-0'
       )}
       style={isActiveStickyHost ? undefined : { transform: getVirtualRowTransform(vItem.start) }}
     >