diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/index.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/index.tsx
index d6f4b64c725..6a3a6ba1fa1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/index.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/index.tsx
@@ -124,12 +124,11 @@ function RightSidebarInner(): React.JSX.Element {
   const checksStatus = useAppStore(getActiveChecksStatus)
   const activityBarPosition = useAppStore((s) => s.activityBarPosition)
   const setActivityBarPosition = useAppStore((s) => s.setActivityBarPosition)
-  // Why: the bottom-docked agent dashboard is opt-out via Settings → Agents,
-  // AND gated behind the experimental opt-in setting. Users who prefer a
-  // quieter sidebar can hide the panel without losing any in-terminal agent
-  // status — the per-tab status indicators remain. While settings are still
-  // loading, render the panel so it doesn't flash in once settings arrive.
-  const showAgentDashboard = useAppStore((s) => s.settings?.showAgentDashboard !== false)
+  // Why: the bottom-docked agent dashboard is opt-in via Settings → Agents
+  // AND gated behind the experimental opt-in setting. Undefined/missing
+  // settings (first hydrate, never-toggled) must read as off so the panel
+  // doesn't flash in before settings load.
+  const showAgentDashboard = useAppStore((s) => s.settings?.showAgentDashboard === true)
   const dashboardExperimentEnabled = useAppStore(
     (s) => s.settings?.experimentalAgentDashboard === true
   )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/AgentsPane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/AgentsPane.tsx
index 843c586e39d..1457595f0a2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/AgentsPane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/AgentsPane.tsx
@@ -246,11 +246,10 @@ export function AgentsPane({ settings, updateSettings }: AgentsPaneProps): React
     defaultAgent === null || (defaultAgent !== 'blank' && !detectedIds?.has(defaultAgent))
   const isBlankDefault = defaultAgent === 'blank'
 
-  // Why: match right-sidebar's `s.settings?.showAgentDashboard !== false` read.
-  // Persisted settings from older versions may be missing this field — treating
-  // `undefined` as "on" here keeps the toggle's displayed state in sync with
-  // the sidebar's actual rendering, so the UI never contradicts itself.
-  const showDashboard = settings.showAgentDashboard !== false
+  // Why: match right-sidebar's `s.settings?.showAgentDashboard === true` read
+  // so the toggle's displayed state stays in sync with the sidebar's actual
+  // rendering. Undefined reads as off (opt-in).
+  const showDashboard = settings.showAgentDashboard === true
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-8">
diff --git a/src/shared/types.ts b/src/shared/types.ts
index d5ff5d01271..e5cc98f5341 100644
--- a/src/shared/types.ts
+++ b/src/shared/types.ts
@@ -920,14 +920,9 @@ export type GlobalSettings = {
   /** Whether to show the live agent activity count badge in the titlebar. */
   showTitlebarAgentActivity: boolean
   /** Whether to show the Agent Dashboard panel at the bottom of the right sidebar.
-   *  Why: optional because readers use the `settings?.showAgentDashboard !== false`
-   *  idiom (right-sidebar/index.tsx, AgentsPane.tsx) which presumes the field may
-   *  be undefined — e.g. on first hydrate before main-process defaults apply, or
-   *  when migrating settings persisted before this field existed. A required
-   *  `boolean` here would make those readers' fallback branches dead-on-paper
-   *  while still being reached at runtime, which is exactly the kind of type
-   *  hack that drifts silently. Aligning the declaration with reader intent
-   *  keeps the contract honest. */
+   *  Why: optional because renderer readers use `settings?.showAgentDashboard === true`
+   *  — the field may be undefined on first hydrate before main-process defaults
+   *  apply, and undefined must read as off (opt-in). */
   showAgentDashboard?: boolean
   /** Why: the Tasks sidebar label can be kept cleaner for users who do not
    *  actively use the GitHub/Linear integrations behind it. */