diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-activation.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-activation.ts
index 381e6cf1e27..46202c85e3d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-activation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-activation.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../shared/execution-host'
 import { findFolderWorkspaceOwner } from './folder-workspace-runtime-owner'
 import type { WorktreeStartupPayload } from '@/lib/worktree-startup-payload'
 import type { IssueCommandLaunch } from '@/lib/worktree-setup-issue-command-queue'
-import { ensureWorktreeHasInitialTerminal } from '@/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding'
+import {
+  ensureWorktreeHasInitialTerminal,
+  reseedGatedEmptyWorkspace
+} from '@/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding'
 import { ensureWebRuntimeWorktreeTerminalAfterWake } from '@/lib/web-runtime-worktree-terminal-after-wake'
 import { applyWorktreeNavViewEntry } from '@/lib/worktree-nav-view-history-replay'
 
@@ -146,12 +149,8 @@ export function activateAndRevealFolderWorkspace(
   }
   if (shouldGateAgentActivation) {
     void gateWorktreeAgentActivation(workspaceKey).then((outcome) => {
-      if (outcome === 'empty' && useAppStore.getState().activeWorktreeId === workspaceKey) {
-        ensureFolderWorkspaceInitialTerminal(
-          folderWorkspace,
-          undefined,
-          opts?.providesInitialSurface
-        )
+      if (outcome === 'empty') {
+        reseedGatedEmptyWorkspace(workspaceKey, opts?.providesInitialSurface)
       }
     })
   }
@@ -264,17 +263,8 @@ export function activateAndRevealWorktree(
   }
   if (shouldGateAgentActivation) {
     void gateWorktreeAgentActivation(worktreeId).then((outcome) => {
-      const currentState = useAppStore.getState()
-      if (outcome === 'empty' && currentState.activeWorktreeId === worktreeId) {
-        ensureWorktreeHasInitialTerminal(
-          currentState,
-          worktreeId,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          undefined,
-          { reseedEmptiedWorkspace: opts?.providesInitialSurface !== true }
-        )
+      if (outcome === 'empty') {
+        reseedGatedEmptyWorkspace(worktreeId, opts?.providesInitialSurface)
       }
     })
   }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding.ts
index f2057537565..6b4214a3fd3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-initial-terminal-seeding.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,29 @@ function getSetupRunnerCommandPlatformForLaunch(setup: WorktreeSetupLaunch): 'wi
   )
 }
 
+/** After the async activation gate reports an empty workspace: re-seed a shell unless the caller
+ *  promised its own surface or the user has already moved on. */
+export function reseedGatedEmptyWorkspace(
+  workspaceKey: string,
+  callerProvidesSurface: boolean | undefined
+): void {
+  const state = useAppStore.getState()
+  if (callerProvidesSurface === true || state.activeWorktreeId !== workspaceKey) {
+    return
+  }
+  ensureWorktreeHasInitialTerminal(
+    state,
+    workspaceKey,
+    undefined,
+    undefined,
+    undefined,
+    undefined,
+    {
+      reseedEmptiedWorkspace: true
+    }
+  )
+}
+
 export function ensureWorktreeHasInitialTerminal(
   store: WorktreeActivationStore,
   worktreeId: string,