diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/NewWorkspaceComposerCard.start-from.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/NewWorkspaceComposerCard.start-from.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5b186fc9378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/NewWorkspaceComposerCard.start-from.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import React, { act } from 'react'
+import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import NewWorkspaceComposerCard from './NewWorkspaceComposerCard'
+
+vi.mock('@/store', () => ({
+  useAppStore: Object.assign(
+    (selector: (state: unknown) => unknown) =>
+      selector({
+        closeModal: vi.fn(),
+        openModal: vi.fn(),
+        openSettingsPage: vi.fn(),
+        openSettingsTarget: vi.fn(),
+        setRuntimeEnvironmentStatus: vi.fn(),
+        activeModal: 'new-workspace-composer',
+        settings: { defaultTuiAgent: null, disabledTuiAgents: [] },
+        updateSettings: vi.fn(),
+        projects: [],
+        repos: [],
+        worktreesByRepo: {}
+      }),
+    { getState: () => ({}) }
+  )
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/contextual-tours/use-contextual-tour', () => ({
+  useContextualTour: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/ui/tooltip', () => ({
+  Tooltip: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <>{children}</>,
+  TooltipContent: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <>{children}</>,
+  TooltipTrigger: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <>{children}</>
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/agent/AgentCombobox', () => ({
+  default: () => <button type="button">Agent picker</button>
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/sidebar/AddRemoteHostDialog', () => ({
+  AddRemoteHostDialog: () => null
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/new-workspace/SmartWorkspaceNameField', () => ({
+  default: () => <input aria-label="workspace name" />
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/new-workspace/ProjectCombobox', () => ({
+  default: () => <div data-testid="project-combobox" />
+}))
+
+// Why: the picker owns its own test; here it only has to report its value and emit picks.
+vi.mock('@/components/repo/CreateFromPicker', () => ({
+  CreateFromPicker: ({
+    value,
+    onValueChange
+  }: {
+    value: string
+    onValueChange: (next: string) => void
+  }) => (
+    <div data-testid="base-ref-picker" data-value={value}>
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => onValueChange('release/1.2')}>
+        Pick release
+      </button>
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => onValueChange('')}>
+        Pick project default
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  )
+}))
+
+function renderCard(
+  overrides: Partial<React.ComponentProps<typeof NewWorkspaceComposerCard>> = {}
+): HTMLDivElement {
+  const container = document.createElement('div')
+  document.body.appendChild(container)
+  act(() => {
+    createRoot(container).render(
+      <NewWorkspaceComposerCard
+        quickAgent={null}
+        onQuickAgentChange={() => {}}
+        eligibleRepos={[]}
+        repoId="repo-a"
+        selectedRepoIsGit
+        onRepoChange={() => {}}
+        onProjectChange={() => {}}
+        primaryActionLabel="Create workspace"
+        name=""
+        onNameValueChange={() => {}}
+        branchNameOverride={undefined}
+        onBranchNameOverrideChange={() => {}}
+        onSmartGitHubItemSelect={() => {}}
+        onSmartGitLabItemSelect={() => {}}
+        onSmartBranchSelect={() => {}}
+        onSmartLinearIssueSelect={() => {}}
+        smartNameSelection={{ kind: 'jira', label: 'ERP-1491' }}
+        onClearSmartNameSelection={() => {}}
+        canReuseSelectedBranch={false}
+        reuseSelectedBranch={false}
+        onReuseSelectedBranchChange={() => {}}
+        forkPushWarning={null}
+        detectedAgentIds={null}
+        onOpenAgentSettings={() => {}}
+        advancedOpen={false}
+        onToggleAdvanced={() => {}}
+        parentWorktreeId={null}
+        onParentWorktreeIdChange={() => {}}
+        createDisabled={false}
+        projectError={null}
+        creating={false}
+        onCreate={() => {}}
+        note=""
+        onNoteChange={() => {}}
+        setupConfig={null}
+        requiresExplicitSetupChoice={false}
+        setupDecision={null}
+        onSetupDecisionChange={() => {}}
+        setupAgentStartupPolicy="start-immediately"
+        onSetupAgentStartupPolicyChange={() => {}}
+        shouldWaitForSetupCheck={false}
+        resolvedSetupDecision={null}
+        createError={null}
+        selectedRepoConnectionId={null}
+        selectedRepoSshStatus={null}
+        selectedRepoRequiresConnection={false}
+        selectedRepoConnectInProgress={false}
+        onConnectSelectedRepo={async () => {}}
+        canUseSparseCheckout={false}
+        sparsePresets={[]}
+        sparseSelectedPresetId={null}
+        onSparseSelectPreset={() => {}}
+        branchesEnabled
+        setupControlsEnabled={false}
+        sparseControlsEnabled={false}
+        baseBranch={undefined}
+        onBaseBranchChange={() => {}}
+        startFromResetHint={null}
+        {...overrides}
+      />
+    )
+  })
+  return container
+}
+
+function clickButton(container: HTMLDivElement, label: string): void {
+  const button = [...container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('button')].find(
+    (candidate) => candidate.textContent === label
+  )
+  act(() => button?.click())
+}
+
+describe('NewWorkspaceComposerCard start from', () => {
+  let container: HTMLDivElement | null = null
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    container?.remove()
+    container = null
+  })
+
+  it('offers a base ref while a Jira issue names the workspace', () => {
+    container = renderCard()
+
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="base-ref-picker"]')).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  it('reports the picked ref to the composer', () => {
+    const picks: (string | undefined)[] = []
+    container = renderCard({ onBaseBranchChange: (next) => picks.push(next) })
+
+    clickButton(container, 'Pick release')
+
+    expect(picks).toEqual(['release/1.2'])
+  })
+
+  it('reports the project default as no base at all', () => {
+    const picks: (string | undefined)[] = []
+    container = renderCard({
+      baseBranch: 'release/1.2',
+      onBaseBranchChange: (next) => picks.push(next)
+    })
+
+    clickButton(container, 'Pick project default')
+
+    expect(picks).toEqual([undefined])
+  })
+
+  // Why: picking a base clears reuse, so offering one here would silently turn a checkout of
+  // the picked branch into a new branch off something else.
+  it('omits the base ref for a branch source, which already is the base', () => {
+    container = renderCard({
+      smartNameSelection: { kind: 'branch', label: 'feature/export-v2' },
+      baseBranch: 'feature/export-v2'
+    })
+
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="base-ref-picker"]')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('offers the base ref while a plain typed name owns the field', () => {
+    container = renderCard({ smartNameSelection: null, name: 'my-own-name' })
+
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="base-ref-picker"]')).toBeTruthy()
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['github-pr', { kind: 'github-pr' as const, label: '#42 Fix' }],
+    ['gitlab-mr', { kind: 'gitlab-mr' as const, label: '!42 Fix' }]
+  ])(
+    'omits the base ref for a %s source that carries its own base',
+    (_label, smartNameSelection) => {
+      container = renderCard({ smartNameSelection })
+
+      expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="base-ref-picker"]')).toBeNull()
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('omits the base ref when branches are disabled', () => {
+    container = renderCard({ branchesEnabled: false })
+
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-testid="base-ref-picker"]')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('surfaces the reset hint left by a project switch', () => {
+    container = renderCard({ startFromResetHint: 'was origin/main' })
+
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('was origin/main')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/AutomationWorkspaceField.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/automations/AutomationWorkspaceField.tsx
index 80e6feeda32..9bbcf37cb9a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/AutomationWorkspaceField.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/automations/AutomationWorkspaceField.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { Info } from 'lucide-react'
 import { ToggleGroup, ToggleGroupItem } from '@/components/ui/toggle-group'
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
+import { CreateFromPicker } from '@/components/repo/CreateFromPicker'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import type { AutomationWorkspaceMode } from '../../../../shared/automations-types'
 import type { Repo } from '../../../../shared/repo-types'
 import type { Worktree } from '../../../../shared/worktree/types'
 import { AUTOMATION_EDITOR_SECTION_LABEL_CLASS, Field } from './automation-page-parts'
-import { CreateFromPicker } from './CreateFromPicker'
 import { WorkspaceCombobox } from './WorkspaceCombobox'
 import type { AutomationDraft } from './AutomationEditorDialog'
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/ComposerBaseRefPicker.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/ComposerBaseRefPicker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e97f980ee87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/ComposerBaseRefPicker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import { CreateFromPicker } from '@/components/repo/CreateFromPicker'
+import { useRepoMap, useWorktreesForRepo } from '@/store/selectors'
+
+type ComposerBaseRefPickerProps = {
+  repoId: string
+  baseBranch: string | undefined
+  onBaseBranchChange: (value: string | undefined) => void
+  resetHint: string | null | undefined
+}
+
+/**
+ * Base ref control for the New Workspace composer.
+ *
+ * Owns its own store reads so the name section stays presentational and the
+ * worktree subscription only exists while the picker is actually on screen.
+ */
+export function ComposerBaseRefPicker({
+  repoId,
+  baseBranch,
+  onBaseBranchChange,
+  resetHint
+}: ComposerBaseRefPickerProps): React.JSX.Element {
+  const repoMap = useRepoMap()
+  const repoWorktrees = useWorktreesForRepo(repoId)
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-1 pt-1">
+      <CreateFromPicker
+        // Why: branch search state is repo-scoped, so a project switch must drop it before the next paint.
+        key={repoId}
+        repoId={repoId}
+        repoMap={repoMap}
+        worktrees={repoWorktrees}
+        value={baseBranch ?? ''}
+        onValueChange={(nextBaseBranch) => onBaseBranchChange(nextBaseBranch || undefined)}
+      />
+      {resetHint ? <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">{resetHint}</p> : null}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
+export default ComposerBaseRefPicker
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection.tsx
index 225e0f790a5..f05ef9d06a1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { AlertTriangle, Check } from 'lucide-react'
 import SmartWorkspaceNameField from '@/components/new-workspace/SmartWorkspaceNameField'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
+import { shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker } from './base-ref-picker-visibility'
+import { ComposerBaseRefPicker } from './ComposerBaseRefPicker'
 import type { NewWorkspaceComposerCardProps } from './new-workspace-composer-card-props'
 
 type NewWorkspaceComposerNameSectionProps = Pick<
@@ -35,6 +37,9 @@ type NewWorkspaceComposerNameSectionProps = Pick<
   | 'canReuseSelectedBranch'
   | 'reuseSelectedBranch'
   | 'onReuseSelectedBranchChange'
+  | 'baseBranch'
+  | 'onBaseBranchChange'
+  | 'startFromResetHint'
 > & {
   onNamePlainEnter: () => void
 }
@@ -68,8 +73,18 @@ export function NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection({
   forkPushWarning,
   canReuseSelectedBranch,
   reuseSelectedBranch,
-  onReuseSelectedBranchChange
+  onReuseSelectedBranchChange,
+  baseBranch,
+  onBaseBranchChange,
+  startFromResetHint
 }: NewWorkspaceComposerNameSectionProps): React.JSX.Element {
+  const showBaseRefPicker =
+    Boolean(onBaseBranchChange) &&
+    shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({
+      selectedRepoIsGit,
+      branchesEnabled,
+      smartNameSelectionKind: smartNameSelection?.kind ?? null
+    })
   return (
     <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1" data-contextual-tour-target="workspace-creation-name">
       <label className="block min-w-0 truncate text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground">
@@ -120,6 +135,14 @@ export function NewWorkspaceComposerNameSection({
           <span>{forkPushWarning}</span>
         </p>
       ) : null}
+      {showBaseRefPicker && onBaseBranchChange ? (
+        <ComposerBaseRefPicker
+          repoId={repoId}
+          baseBranch={baseBranch}
+          onBaseBranchChange={onBaseBranchChange}
+          resetHint={startFromResetHint}
+        />
+      ) : null}
       <div
         className={cn(
           'grid overflow-hidden transition-[grid-template-rows] duration-200 ease-out',
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c8fa91dd6c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker } from './base-ref-picker-visibility'
+
+const gitRepo = { selectedRepoIsGit: true, branchesEnabled: true }
+
+describe('shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker', () => {
+  it('offers a base ref when no source is selected yet', () => {
+    expect(shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({ ...gitRepo, smartNameSelectionKind: null })).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it.each(['github-issue', 'gitlab-issue', 'linear', 'jira'] as const)(
+    'offers a base ref for a %s source',
+    (smartNameSelectionKind) => {
+      expect(shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({ ...gitRepo, smartNameSelectionKind })).toBe(true)
+    }
+  )
+
+  it.each(['github-pr', 'gitlab-mr', 'branch'] as const)(
+    'hides the base ref for a %s source that carries its own base',
+    (smartNameSelectionKind) => {
+      expect(shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({ ...gitRepo, smartNameSelectionKind })).toBe(false)
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('hides the base ref for a non-git project', () => {
+    expect(
+      shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({
+        selectedRepoIsGit: false,
+        branchesEnabled: true,
+        smartNameSelectionKind: 'jira'
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('hides the base ref when branches are disabled, as on a folder workspace', () => {
+    expect(
+      shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker({
+        selectedRepoIsGit: true,
+        branchesEnabled: false,
+        smartNameSelectionKind: 'jira'
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e3c985a8142
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/base-ref-picker-visibility.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import type { SmartWorkspaceNameSelection } from '@/components/new-workspace/SmartWorkspaceNameField'
+
+/**
+ * Whether the composer offers a base ref for the worktree it is about to create.
+ *
+ * The name field's tabs pick how the workspace is NAMED; the base ref is a separate
+ * decision, so the picker stays available for every naming source — except those that
+ * already carry a base of their own.
+ */
+export function shouldShowComposerBaseRefPicker(args: {
+  selectedRepoIsGit: boolean
+  branchesEnabled: boolean
+  smartNameSelectionKind: SmartWorkspaceNameSelection['kind'] | null
+}): boolean {
+  if (!args.selectedRepoIsGit || !args.branchesEnabled) {
+    return false
+  }
+  // Why: these already carry a base — a PR/MR pins its own head, and a branch pick IS the base,
+  // where overriding would silently turn a checkout of it into a new branch off something else.
+  return (
+    args.smartNameSelectionKind !== 'github-pr' &&
+    args.smartNameSelectionKind !== 'gitlab-mr' &&
+    args.smartNameSelectionKind !== 'branch'
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/new-workspace-composer-card-props.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/new-workspace-composer-card-props.ts
index bcff4c96f63..aebfdb12204 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/new-workspace-composer-card-props.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/new-workspace-composer-card-props.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ export type NewWorkspaceComposerCardProps = {
   onNameValueChange: (value: string) => void
   branchNameOverride: string | undefined
   onBranchNameOverrideChange: (value: string | undefined) => void
+  baseBranch?: string
+  onBaseBranchChange?: (value: string | undefined) => void
+  startFromResetHint?: string | null
   parentWorktreeId?: string | null
   onParentWorktreeIdChange?: (value: string | null) => void
   selectedRepoExecutionHostId?: ExecutionHostId | null
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx
similarity index 74%
rename from src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx
rename to src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx
index 3aaeb3f2a7f..38c13cbb282 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.test.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,19 @@ import {
 } from '@/runtime/runtime-repo-client'
 
 vi.mock('@/components/ui/popover', () => ({
-  Popover: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <div>{children}</div>,
+  // Why: the real popover owns open state; expose onOpenChange so a test can open the list.
+  Popover: ({
+    children,
+    onOpenChange
+  }: {
+    children: React.ReactNode
+    onOpenChange?: (open: boolean) => void
+  }) => (
+    <div>
+      <button type="button" data-testid="open-popover" onClick={() => onOpenChange?.(true)} />
+      {children}
+    </div>
+  ),
   PopoverContent: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <div>{children}</div>,
   PopoverTrigger: ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => <>{children}</>
 }))
@@ -101,6 +113,28 @@ describe('CreateFromPicker host routing', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  // Why: the composer's Branch tab already lists on an empty query; a minimum-length gate left
+  // this picker showing only the default ref and branches that happen to have a worktree.
+  it('lists the repo branches as soon as it opens, with no query typed', async () => {
+    const repo = makeRepo({ executionHostId: 'local' })
+    storeState.repos = [repo]
+
+    await renderPicker(repo)
+    await act(async () => {
+      container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="open-popover"]')?.click()
+    })
+    await act(async () => {
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 250))
+    })
+
+    expect(searchRuntimeRepoBaseRefs).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      { activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: null },
+      repo.id,
+      '',
+      30
+    )
+  })
+
   it('keeps an explicit local repo on the local client even when a runtime is focused', async () => {
     const repo = makeRepo({ executionHostId: 'local' })
     storeState.repos = [repo]
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.tsx
similarity index 97%
rename from src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.tsx
rename to src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.tsx
index d990be6b12b..3652e955ff2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/automations/CreateFromPicker.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/repo/CreateFromPicker.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-/* oxlint-disable react-doctor/no-adjust-state-on-prop-change -- Why: picker base-ref defaults and search results come from debounced runtime IPC, so loading/result state is intentionally synchronized from effects. */
 import React from 'react'
 import { Check, ChevronsUpDown } from 'lucide-react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
@@ -144,7 +143,9 @@ export function CreateFromPicker({
       return
     }
     const trimmedQuery = query.trim()
-    if (!open || !repoId || trimmedQuery.length < 2) {
+    // Why: an empty query lists the repo's branches, as the composer's Branch tab already does;
+    // a minimum length left this picker showing only the default and worktree branches.
+    if (!open || !repoId) {
       setSearchResults([])
       setIsSearching(false)
       return
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0a11c271ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { act, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { useBranchStartPointActions } from './branch-start-point-actions'
+
+type Input = Parameters<typeof useBranchStartPointActions>[0]
+
+function createInput(overrides: Partial<Input> = {}): Input {
+  return {
+    applyLinkedGitLabWorkItem: vi.fn(),
+    applyLinkedWorkItem: vi.fn(),
+    baseBranch: undefined,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true,
+    branchAutoNameRef: { current: 'alice/sta-42-fix-export' },
+    handleRepoChange: vi.fn(),
+    initialProjectGroupAppliedRef: { current: false },
+    lastAutoNoteRef: { current: '' },
+    noteRef: { current: '' },
+    setBaseBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace: vi.fn(),
+    setBranchNameOverride: vi.fn(),
+    setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits: vi.fn(),
+    setCompareBaseRef: vi.fn(),
+    setForkPushWarning: vi.fn(),
+    setNote: vi.fn(),
+    setProjectError: vi.fn(),
+    setSelectedProjectGroupId: vi.fn(),
+    setPushTarget: vi.fn(),
+    setReuseEligibleBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setReuseSelectedBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setSparseDirectories: vi.fn(),
+    setSparseEnabled: vi.fn(),
+    setSparseSelectedPresetId: vi.fn(),
+    setStartFromResetHint: vi.fn(),
+    smartGitHubPrStartPointSelectionRef: { current: null },
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+describe('composer base changes', () => {
+  it('marks a PR head as source-owned after replacing an independent base', () => {
+    const input = createInput({ baseBranch: 'release/1.2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false })
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBranchStartPointActions(input))
+
+    act(() =>
+      result.current.handleBaseBranchPrSelect('refs/pull/42/head', {
+        id: 'pr-42',
+        type: 'pr',
+        number: 42,
+        title: 'Fix export',
+        state: 'open',
+        url: 'https://github.com/o/r/pull/42',
+        labels: [],
+        updatedAt: '',
+        author: null,
+        repoId: 'repo-1'
+      })
+    )
+
+    expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('refs/pull/42/head')
+    expect(input.setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true)
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    { baseBranch: undefined, baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true },
+    { baseBranch: 'release/1.2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false }
+  ])('preserves independent branch naming state from %j', (previous) => {
+    const input = createInput(previous)
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBranchStartPointActions(input))
+
+    act(() => result.current.handleBaseBranchChange('release/2.0'))
+    act(() => result.current.handleBaseBranchChange(undefined))
+
+    expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, 'release/2.0')
+    expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, undefined)
+    expect(input.setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false)
+    expect(input.setBranchNameOverride).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(input.setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(input.branchAutoNameRef.current).toBe('alice/sta-42-fix-export')
+  })
+
+  it('still drops branch reuse and its pinned name when replacing a source-owned base', () => {
+    const input = createInput({ baseBranch: 'feature/existing' })
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useBranchStartPointActions(input))
+
+    act(() => result.current.handleBaseBranchChange('release/2.0'))
+
+    expect(input.setBranchNameOverride).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined)
+    expect(input.setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false)
+    expect(input.setReuseEligibleBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null)
+    expect(input.setReuseSelectedBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false)
+    expect(input.branchAutoNameRef.current).toBe('')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.ts
index 304ba065bbd..6a5a7b0af8c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/branch-start-point-actions.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@ type BranchStartPointActionsInput = Pick<
   ComposerModel,
   | 'applyLinkedGitLabWorkItem'
   | 'applyLinkedWorkItem'
+  | 'baseBranch'
+  | 'baseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'branchAutoNameRef'
   | 'handleRepoChange'
   | 'initialProjectGroupAppliedRef'
   | 'lastAutoNoteRef'
   | 'noteRef'
   | 'setBaseBranch'
+  | 'setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'setBranchNameOverride'
   | 'setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits'
   | 'setCompareBaseRef'
@@ -38,12 +41,15 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
   const {
     applyLinkedGitLabWorkItem,
     applyLinkedWorkItem,
+    baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     branchAutoNameRef,
     handleRepoChange,
     initialProjectGroupAppliedRef,
     lastAutoNoteRef,
     noteRef,
     setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
     setCompareBaseRef,
@@ -91,20 +97,26 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
     (next: string | undefined): void => {
       smartGitHubPrStartPointSelectionRef.current = null
       setBaseBranch(next)
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(false)
       setCompareBaseRef(undefined)
       setPushTarget(undefined)
-      setBranchNameOverride(undefined)
-      // Why (#5181): Start-from means "new branch from this base", so it never reuses — clear reuse state from a prior smart-field branch pick.
-      setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits(false)
+      // Only source-owned refs pin a name that changing the base invalidates.
+      if (baseBranch && baseBranchNamesWorkspace) {
+        setBranchNameOverride(undefined)
+        setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits(false)
+        branchAutoNameRef.current = ''
+      }
       setReuseEligibleBranch(null)
       setReuseSelectedBranch(false)
       setForkPushWarning(null)
-      branchAutoNameRef.current = ''
       setStartFromResetHint(null)
     },
     [
+      baseBranch,
+      baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       branchAutoNameRef,
       setBaseBranch,
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       setBranchNameOverride,
       setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
       setCompareBaseRef,
@@ -126,6 +138,7 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
       nextCompareBaseRef?: string
     ): void => {
       setBaseBranch(nextBaseBranch)
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(true)
       setCompareBaseRef(nextCompareBaseRef)
       setPushTarget(nextPushTarget)
       setBranchNameOverride(nextBranchNameOverride)
@@ -151,6 +164,7 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
       lastAutoNoteRef,
       noteRef,
       setBaseBranch,
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       setBranchNameOverride,
       setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
       setCompareBaseRef,
@@ -169,6 +183,7 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
       nextCompareBaseRef?: string
     ): void => {
       setBaseBranch(nextBaseBranch)
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(true)
       setCompareBaseRef(nextCompareBaseRef)
       setPushTarget(nextPushTarget)
       setBranchNameOverride(undefined)
@@ -190,6 +205,7 @@ export function useBranchStartPointActions(input: BranchStartPointActionsInput)
       lastAutoNoteRef,
       noteRef,
       setBaseBranch,
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       setBranchNameOverride,
       setCompareBaseRef,
       setNote,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-external-sync.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-external-sync.ts
index c572f5b37b5..d3dba81665a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-external-sync.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-external-sync.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export function useComposerExternalSync(target: ComposerTargetState): ComposerEx
     selectedRepoGitHubSourceContext: target.sourceContextState.selectedRepoGitHubSourceContext,
     selectedRepoIsGit: target.runtimeTargetSelection.selectedRepoIsGit,
     setBaseBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits:
       target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-name-source-selection.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-name-source-selection.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3de3c57099d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-name-source-selection.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { act, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { useIssueSourceActions } from './issue-source-actions'
+import { resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace } from './workspace-identity-state'
+import { useGitHubProviderSelection } from './github-provider-selection'
+
+type Input = Parameters<typeof useIssueSourceActions>[0]
+
+function createInput(overrides: Partial<Input> = {}): Input {
+  return {
+    baseBranch: undefined,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true,
+    branchAutoNameRef: { current: '' },
+    isProjectGroupTarget: false,
+    lastAutoNameRef: { current: '' },
+    lastAutoNoteRef: { current: '' },
+    linkedWorkItem: null,
+    name: '',
+    noteRef: { current: '' },
+    setBaseBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setBranchNameOverride: vi.fn(),
+    setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits: vi.fn(),
+    setCompareBaseRef: vi.fn(),
+    setForkPushWarning: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedGitLabIssue: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedGitLabMR: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedIssue: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedPR: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedTaskSourceContext: vi.fn(),
+    setLinkedWorkItem: vi.fn(),
+    setName: vi.fn(),
+    setNote: vi.fn(),
+    setPushTarget: vi.fn(),
+    setReuseEligibleBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setReuseSelectedBranch: vi.fn(),
+    setStartFromResetHint: vi.fn(),
+    smartGitHubPrStartPointSelectionRef: { current: null },
+    ...overrides
+  } as Input
+}
+
+describe('composer name source selection', () => {
+  it.each([false, true])('clears only source-owned bases when selecting Jira (%s)', (owned) => {
+    const input = createInput({ baseBranch: 'release/1.2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: owned })
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useIssueSourceActions(input))
+
+    act(() =>
+      result.current.handleSmartJiraIssueSelect(
+        {
+          id: '42',
+          key: 'APP-42',
+          title: 'Fix export',
+          url: 'https://jira.example/browse/APP-42',
+          project: { id: 'app', key: 'APP', name: 'App' },
+          issueType: { id: 'bug', name: 'Bug' },
+          status: { id: 'open', name: 'Open', categoryKey: 'new', categoryName: 'To do' },
+          labels: [],
+          updatedAt: '',
+          createdAt: ''
+        },
+        { kind: 'task-source', provider: 'jira', projectId: 'app', hostId: 'local' }
+      )
+    )
+
+    expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(owned ? 1 : 0)
+    if (owned) {
+      expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it.each([false, true])('clears only source-owned bases when removing a source (%s)', (owned) => {
+    const input = createInput({ baseBranch: 'release/1.2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: owned })
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useIssueSourceActions(input))
+
+    act(() => result.current.handleClearSmartNameSelection())
+
+    expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(owned ? 1 : 0)
+    if (owned) {
+      expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined)
+    }
+  })
+
+  it.each([false, true])(
+    'clears only source-owned bases when selecting a GitHub issue (%s)',
+    (owned) => {
+      const input = {
+        ...createInput({ baseBranch: 'release/1.2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: owned }),
+        applyLinkedWorkItem: vi.fn(),
+        eligibleRepos: [],
+        handleBaseBranchPrSelect: vi.fn(),
+        selectedRepo: undefined,
+        selectedRepoGitHubSourceContext: null,
+        settings: null
+      }
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useGitHubProviderSelection(input))
+
+      act(() =>
+        result.current.handleSmartGitHubItemSelect({
+          id: 'issue-42',
+          type: 'issue',
+          number: 42,
+          title: 'Fix export',
+          state: 'open',
+          url: 'https://github.com/o/r/issues/42',
+          labels: [],
+          updatedAt: '',
+          author: null,
+          repoId: 'repo-1'
+        })
+      )
+
+      expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(owned ? 1 : 0)
+      if (owned) {
+        expect(input.setBaseBranch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined)
+      }
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('names the workspace after a branch the name field picked', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useIssueSourceActions(
+        createInput({ baseBranch: 'feature/export-v2', baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true })
+      )
+    )
+
+    expect(result.current.smartNameSelection).toEqual({
+      kind: 'branch',
+      label: 'feature/export-v2'
+    })
+  })
+
+  // Why: the field swaps the text input for a source pill, so a pill here would hide a typed name.
+  it('claims no source for a base ref the composer picker chose, leaving a typed name on screen', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useIssueSourceActions(
+        createInput({
+          baseBranch: 'release/1.2',
+          baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false,
+          name: 'my-own-name'
+        })
+      )
+    )
+
+    expect(result.current.smartNameSelection).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a linked issue as the source whatever the base ref', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useIssueSourceActions(
+        createInput({
+          baseBranch: 'release/1.2',
+          baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false,
+          linkedWorkItem: {
+            type: 'issue',
+            number: 42,
+            title: 'Broken export',
+            url: 'https://github.com/o/r/issues/42'
+          } as Input['linkedWorkItem']
+        })
+      )
+    )
+
+    expect(result.current.smartNameSelection?.kind).toBe('github-issue')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('base ref intent across a draft round trip', () => {
+  it('restores a base ref chosen in the picker as a base, not as a name source', () => {
+    expect(resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace({ persistDraft: true, draftValue: false })).toBe(
+      false
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('restores a branch picked in the name field as a name source', () => {
+    expect(resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace({ persistDraft: true, draftValue: true })).toBe(
+      true
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('treats a draft written before the flag existed as a name source', () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace({ persistDraft: true, draftValue: undefined })
+    ).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('ignores any stored intent when the composer does not persist drafts', () => {
+    expect(resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace({ persistDraft: false, draftValue: false })).toBe(
+      true
+    )
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-source-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-source-state.ts
index 8b1a8dbe566..b19e6ee75b8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-source-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-source-state.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ export function useComposerSourceState(
     workspaceHostScope: target.composerTargetStore.workspaceHostScope
   })
   const branchStartPointActions = useBranchStartPointActions({
+    baseBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     applyLinkedGitLabWorkItem: sourceIdentityActions.applyLinkedGitLabWorkItem,
     applyLinkedWorkItem: external.githubSourceApplication.applyLinkedWorkItem,
     branchAutoNameRef: target.asyncComposerState.branchAutoNameRef,
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ export function useComposerSourceState(
     lastAutoNoteRef: target.asyncComposerState.lastAutoNoteRef,
     noteRef: target.asyncComposerState.noteRef,
     setBaseBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits:
       target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
@@ -159,6 +162,7 @@ export function useComposerSourceState(
       target.asyncComposerState.smartGitHubPrStartPointSelectionRef
   })
   const githubProviderSelection = useGitHubProviderSelection({
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     applyLinkedWorkItem: external.githubSourceApplication.applyLinkedWorkItem,
     branchAutoNameRef: target.asyncComposerState.branchAutoNameRef,
     eligibleRepos: target.composerTargetStore.eligibleRepos,
@@ -220,6 +224,7 @@ export function useComposerSourceState(
     repoId: target.initialTargetState.repoId,
     reuseEligibleBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.reuseEligibleBranch,
     setBaseBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride: target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits:
       target.workspaceIdentityState.setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
@@ -236,6 +241,7 @@ export function useComposerSourceState(
   })
   const issueSourceActions = useIssueSourceActions({
     baseBranch: target.workspaceIdentityState.baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: target.workspaceIdentityState.baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     branchAutoNameRef: target.asyncComposerState.branchAutoNameRef,
     isProjectGroupTarget: target.runtimeTargetSelection.isProjectGroupTarget,
     lastAutoNameRef: target.asyncComposerState.lastAutoNameRef,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-target-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-target-state.ts
index bb73549cac0..bbc3eb2fe47 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-target-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/composer-target-state.ts
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ export function useComposerTargetState(
     agentPrompt: sourceContextState.agentPrompt,
     attachmentPaths: sourceContextState.attachmentPaths,
     baseBranch: workspaceIdentityState.baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: workspaceIdentityState.baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     compareBaseRef: workspaceIdentityState.compareBaseRef,
     eligibleRepos: composerTargetStore.eligibleRepos,
     fetchSparsePresets: composerTargetStore.fetchSparsePresets,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.test.ts
index a44847bd5b2..1f74d15e699 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ function createState(overrides: Partial<DraftTargetSyncInput> = {}): DraftTarget
     agentPrompt: 'Fix the issue',
     attachmentPaths: ['/tmp/context.txt'],
     baseBranch: 'main',
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true,
     compareBaseRef: 'origin/main',
     eligibleRepos: [],
     fetchSparsePresets: vi.fn<DraftTargetSyncInput['fetchSparsePresets']>(),
@@ -78,6 +79,25 @@ describe('useDraftTargetSync', () => {
     expect(setRepoId).toHaveBeenCalledWith('repo-1')
   })
 
+  it('persists whether the base ref also names the workspace', () => {
+    const setNewWorkspaceDraft = vi.fn<DraftTargetSyncInput['setNewWorkspaceDraft']>()
+    const state = createState({
+      eligibleRepos: [createRepo('repo-1')],
+      baseBranch: 'release/2.1',
+      baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false,
+      setNewWorkspaceDraft
+    })
+
+    renderHook(() => useDraftTargetSync(state))
+
+    expect(setNewWorkspaceDraft).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        baseBranch: 'release/2.1',
+        baseBranchNamesWorkspace: false
+      })
+    )
+  })
+
   it('does not persist or repair transient quick-composer state', () => {
     const state = createState({
       persistDraft: false,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.ts
index 8783f0ef0d0..dcfc90b53bc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/draft-target-sync.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export type DraftTargetSyncInput = Pick<
   | 'agentPrompt'
   | 'attachmentPaths'
   | 'baseBranch'
+  | 'baseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'compareBaseRef'
   | 'eligibleRepos'
   | 'fetchSparsePresets'
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export function useDraftTargetSync(state: DraftTargetSyncInput): void {
     agentPrompt,
     attachmentPaths,
     baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     compareBaseRef,
     eligibleRepos,
     fetchSparsePresets,
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ export function useDraftTargetSync(state: DraftTargetSyncInput): void {
       linkedPR,
       linkedGitLabIssue,
       linkedGitLabMR,
-      ...(baseBranch !== undefined ? { baseBranch } : {}),
+      ...(baseBranch !== undefined ? { baseBranch, baseBranchNamesWorkspace } : {}),
       ...(compareBaseRef !== undefined ? { compareBaseRef } : {})
     })
   }, [
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ export function useDraftTargetSync(state: DraftTargetSyncInput): void {
     agentPrompt,
     attachmentPaths,
     baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     compareBaseRef,
     linkedIssue,
     linkedPR,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-provider-selection.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-provider-selection.ts
index e124abefe96..cfa5ebbd3cd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-provider-selection.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-provider-selection.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { ComposerModel } from './composer-model'
 type GitHubProviderSelectionInput = Pick<
   ComposerModel,
   | 'applyLinkedWorkItem'
+  | 'baseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'branchAutoNameRef'
   | 'eligibleRepos'
   | 'handleBaseBranchPrSelect'
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ import type { SmartGitHubPrStartPointSelection } from './source-selection-decisi
 export function useGitHubProviderSelection(input: GitHubProviderSelectionInput) {
   const {
     applyLinkedWorkItem,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     branchAutoNameRef,
     eligibleRepos,
     handleBaseBranchPrSelect,
@@ -112,7 +114,9 @@ export function useGitHubProviderSelection(input: GitHubProviderSelectionInput)
       const runRepo = selectedRepo ?? eligibleRepos.find((repo) => repo.id === item.repoId)
       applyLinkedWorkItem(normalizedItem)
       if (identity.type !== 'pr' || !runRepo) {
-        setBaseBranch(undefined)
+        if (identity.type === 'pr' || baseBranchNamesWorkspace) {
+          setBaseBranch(undefined)
+        }
         setCompareBaseRef(undefined)
         setPushTarget(undefined)
         return
@@ -171,6 +175,7 @@ export function useGitHubProviderSelection(input: GitHubProviderSelectionInput)
     },
     [
       applyLinkedWorkItem,
+      baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       eligibleRepos,
       handleBaseBranchPrSelect,
       isProjectGroupTarget,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-submit-resolution.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-submit-resolution.ts
index 3e23e3492e6..bab2db999b3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-submit-resolution.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/github-submit-resolution.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ type GitHubSubmitResolutionInput = Pick<
   | 'selectedRepoGitHubSourceContext'
   | 'selectedRepoIsGit'
   | 'setBaseBranch'
+  | 'setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'setBranchNameOverride'
   | 'setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits'
   | 'setCompareBaseRef'
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ export function useGitHubSubmitResolution(input: GitHubSubmitResolutionInput) {
     selectedRepoGitHubSourceContext,
     selectedRepoIsGit,
     setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
     setCompareBaseRef,
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@ export function useGitHubSubmitResolution(input: GitHubSubmitResolutionInput) {
               : {})
           }
           setBaseBranch(selectedPrStartPoint.baseBranch)
+          setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(true)
           setCompareBaseRef(selectedPrStartPoint.compareBaseRef)
           setPushTarget(selectedPrStartPoint.pushTarget)
           if (selectedPrStartPoint.branchNameOverride) {
@@ -234,6 +237,7 @@ export function useGitHubSubmitResolution(input: GitHubSubmitResolutionInput) {
       lastAutoNameRef.current = resolution.workspaceName
       if (prStartPoint) {
         setBaseBranch(prStartPoint.baseBranch)
+        setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(true)
         setCompareBaseRef(prStartPoint.compareBaseRef)
         setPushTarget(prStartPoint.pushTarget)
         if (prStartPoint.branchNameOverride) {
@@ -263,6 +267,7 @@ export function useGitHubSubmitResolution(input: GitHubSubmitResolutionInput) {
       branchAutoNameRef,
       lastAutoNameRef,
       setBaseBranch,
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       setBranchNameOverride,
       setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
       setCompareBaseRef,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/identity-model.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/identity-model.ts
index e375dd754d7..b207d3ed88b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/identity-model.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/identity-model.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ export type ComposerIdentityModel = {
   setLinkedGitLabMR: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<number | null>>
   baseBranch: string | undefined
   setBaseBranch: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<string | undefined>>
+  baseBranchNamesWorkspace: boolean
+  setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<boolean>>
   compareBaseRef: string | undefined
   setCompareBaseRef: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<string | undefined>>
   branchNameOverride: string | undefined
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/issue-source-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/issue-source-actions.ts
index 049e40fdf7b..64a6cf54e9a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/issue-source-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/issue-source-actions.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { ComposerModel } from './composer-model'
 type IssueSourceActionsInput = Pick<
   ComposerModel,
   | 'baseBranch'
+  | 'baseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'branchAutoNameRef'
   | 'isProjectGroupTarget'
   | 'lastAutoNameRef'
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ import type { TaskSourceContext } from '../../../../shared/task-source-context'
 export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
   const {
     baseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     branchAutoNameRef,
     isProjectGroupTarget,
     lastAutoNameRef,
@@ -161,7 +163,9 @@ export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
       setLinkedPR(null)
       setLinkedGitLabIssue(null)
       setLinkedGitLabMR(null)
-      setBaseBranch(undefined)
+      if (baseBranchNamesWorkspace) {
+        setBaseBranch(undefined)
+      }
       setCompareBaseRef(undefined)
       setPushTarget(undefined)
       setBranchNameOverride(undefined)
@@ -187,6 +191,7 @@ export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
     },
     [
       name,
+      baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       branchAutoNameRef,
       lastAutoNameRef,
       setBaseBranch,
@@ -213,7 +218,9 @@ export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
     setLinkedGitLabMR(null)
     setLinkedWorkItem(null)
     setLinkedTaskSourceContext(null)
-    setBaseBranch(undefined)
+    if (baseBranchNamesWorkspace) {
+      setBaseBranch(undefined)
+    }
     setCompareBaseRef(undefined)
     setPushTarget(undefined)
     setBranchNameOverride(undefined)
@@ -233,6 +240,7 @@ export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
     }
   }, [
     name,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     branchAutoNameRef,
     lastAutoNameRef,
     lastAutoNoteRef,
@@ -263,9 +271,11 @@ export function useIssueSourceActions(input: IssueSourceActionsInput) {
     }
     return buildWorkspaceSourceSelection({
       linkedWorkItem,
-      baseBranch
+      // Why: only a branch picked to NAME the workspace becomes a source pill; a base ref
+      // chosen in the composer's own picker must leave a typed name on screen.
+      baseBranch: baseBranchNamesWorkspace ? baseBranch : undefined
     }) as SmartWorkspaceNameSelection | null
-  }, [baseBranch, isProjectGroupTarget, linkedWorkItem])
+  }, [baseBranch, baseBranchNamesWorkspace, isProjectGroupTarget, linkedWorkItem])
 
   return {
     handleSmartLinearIssueSelect,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/multiple-create-reset.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/multiple-create-reset.test.ts
index 910143cace8..c2ba2f2664d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/multiple-create-reset.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/multiple-create-reset.test.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ function useSelectedSourceReset(
   )
   const source = useIssueSourceActions({
     baseBranch,
+    // Why: a PR/issue/branch source owns the base, so "create more" must still clear it.
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace: true,
     branchAutoNameRef,
     isProjectGroupTarget,
     lastAutoNameRef,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/work-item-source-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/work-item-source-actions.ts
index 409b34cb729..75763f9c772 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/work-item-source-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/work-item-source-actions.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ type WorkItemSourceActionsInput = Pick<
   | 'repoId'
   | 'reuseEligibleBranch'
   | 'setBaseBranch'
+  | 'setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace'
   | 'setBranchNameOverride'
   | 'setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits'
   | 'setCompareBaseRef'
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export function useWorkItemSourceActions(input: WorkItemSourceActionsInput) {
     repoId,
     reuseEligibleBranch,
     setBaseBranch,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     setBranchNameOverride,
     setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
     setCompareBaseRef,
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ export function useWorkItemSourceActions(input: WorkItemSourceActionsInput) {
         worktreeBranches: getComposerRepoWorktreeBranches(worktreesByRepo[repoId] ?? [], repoId)
       })
       setBaseBranch(selection.baseBranch)
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(true)
       setCompareBaseRef(undefined)
       setPushTarget(undefined)
       setStartFromResetHint(null)
@@ -86,6 +89,7 @@ export function useWorkItemSourceActions(input: WorkItemSourceActionsInput) {
       branchAutoNameRef,
       lastAutoNameRef,
       setBaseBranch,
+      setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
       setBranchNameOverride,
       setBranchNameOverridePreservesNameEdits,
       setCompareBaseRef,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/workspace-identity-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/workspace-identity-state.ts
index 6b7e73e9417..b31878ccb96 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/workspace-identity-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/composer-state/workspace-identity-state.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,19 @@ import { filterEnabledTuiAgents, isTuiAgentEnabled } from '../../../../shared/tu
 import { getAgentCatalog } from '@/lib/agent-catalog'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 
+/**
+ * Whether a restored draft's `baseBranch` still names the workspace.
+ *
+ * A draft written before the flag existed carries no intent, so it restores as a branch pick —
+ * the behavior it had when it was saved.
+ */
+export function resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace(args: {
+  persistDraft: boolean
+  draftValue: boolean | undefined
+}): boolean {
+  return args.persistDraft ? (args.draftValue ?? true) : true
+}
+
 export function useWorkspaceIdentityState(input: WorkspaceIdentityStateInput) {
   const {
     initialBaseBranch,
@@ -91,6 +104,14 @@ export function useWorkspaceIdentityState(input: WorkspaceIdentityStateInput) {
   const [baseBranch, setBaseBranch] = useState<string | undefined>(
     persistDraft ? newWorkspaceDraft?.baseBranch : initialBaseBranch
   )
+  // Why: a branch picked to name the workspace shows as a source pill; a base ref chosen in
+  // the composer's own picker must not, or it would hide the name the user typed.
+  const [baseBranchNamesWorkspace, setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace] = useState(() =>
+    resolveDraftBaseBranchNamesWorkspace({
+      persistDraft,
+      draftValue: newWorkspaceDraft?.baseBranchNamesWorkspace
+    })
+  )
 
   const [compareBaseRef, setCompareBaseRef] = useState<string | undefined>(
     persistDraft ? newWorkspaceDraft?.compareBaseRef : undefined
@@ -193,6 +214,8 @@ export function useWorkspaceIdentityState(input: WorkspaceIdentityStateInput) {
     setLinkedGitLabMR,
     baseBranch,
     setBaseBranch,
+    baseBranchNamesWorkspace,
+    setBaseBranchNamesWorkspace,
     compareBaseRef,
     setCompareBaseRef,
     branchNameOverride,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui/ui-slice-contract-core.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui/ui-slice-contract-core.ts
index 2506e5dd071..ffb37c40a01 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui/ui-slice-contract-core.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui/ui-slice-contract-core.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ export type NewWorkspaceDraft = {
   linkedGitLabMR?: number | null
   // Why: repo-scoped start ref from the "Start from" picker; absent means "use the repo's effective base ref".
   baseBranch?: string
+  // Why: false when `baseBranch` came from the base-ref picker rather than a branch pick, so restoring the
+  // draft doesn't turn it back into a name-field pill. Absent on pre-flag drafts, which restore as a pick.
+  baseBranchNamesWorkspace?: boolean
   // Why: review worktrees start from a head ref/SHA while Source Control compares against the provider target branch.
   compareBaseRef?: string
 }