diff --git a/.github/workflows/golden-e2e-experiment.yml b/.github/workflows/golden-e2e-experiment.yml
index 205faa49957..af7ffb12081 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/golden-e2e-experiment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golden-e2e-experiment.yml
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ jobs:
         if: runner.os == 'Linux'
         run: |
           xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e -- tests/e2e/golden-core-flows.spec.ts
+          xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           if [ -f tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts ]; then
             xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e -- tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts tests/e2e/golden-shell-command.spec.ts
           fi
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ jobs:
         if: runner.os == 'macOS'
         run: |
           env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e -- tests/e2e/golden-core-flows.spec.ts
+          env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           if [ -f tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts ]; then
             env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e -- tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts tests/e2e/golden-shell-command.spec.ts
           fi
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           $env:SKIP_BUILD = '1'
           $env:ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS = '1'
+          pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:windows-fresh-startup-golden
           if (Test-Path tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts) {
             pnpm run test:e2e -- tests/e2e/golden-fresh-profile-terminal.spec.ts tests/e2e/golden-shell-command.spec.ts
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
index c881765b340..e79e3c64184 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
@@ -876,6 +876,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run terminal rendering golden on Linux
         if: runner.os == 'Linux'
         run: |
+          xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e:terminal-rendering-golden
           xvfb-run --auto-servernum env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:posix-profile-index-golden
 
@@ -886,6 +887,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run terminal rendering golden on macOS
         if: runner.os == 'macOS'
         run: |
+          env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run test:e2e:terminal-rendering-golden
           env SKIP_BUILD=1 ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS=1 pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:posix-profile-index-golden
 
@@ -899,6 +901,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           $env:SKIP_BUILD = '1'
           $env:ORCA_E2E_FORWARD_APP_LOGS = '1'
+          pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:workspace-session-golden
           pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:windows-fresh-startup-golden
           pnpm run --if-present test:e2e:source-control-golden
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 368e3660de6..ed44984d97f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
     "build:mac:release": "node config/scripts/verify-macos-release-env.mjs && ORCA_MAC_RELEASE=1 pnpm run build:desktop && ORCA_MAC_RELEASE=1 pnpm run build:computer-macos && ORCA_MAC_RELEASE=1 pnpm run build:notification-status-macos && pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && ORCA_MAC_RELEASE=1 electron-builder --config config/electron-builder.config.cjs --mac",
     "build:linux": "pnpm run build:desktop && pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && electron-builder --config config/electron-builder.config.cjs --linux AppImage deb",
     "test:e2e": "pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && npx playwright test --config tests/playwright.config.ts --project=electron-headless",
+    "test:e2e:workspace-session-golden": "pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && npx playwright test tests/e2e/golden-quit-relaunch-session.spec.ts tests/e2e/golden-terminal-file-link.spec.ts tests/e2e/golden-worktree-create-switch.spec.ts --config tests/playwright.config.ts --project electron-headless --workers=1",
     "test:e2e:multi-client-navigation": "node config/scripts/run-multi-client-navigation-e2e.mjs",
     "test:e2e:floating-mobile-emulator": "pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && npx playwright test tests/e2e/floating-mobile-emulator-tab.spec.ts --config tests/playwright.config.ts --project electron-headless --workers=1",
     "test:e2e:terminal-rendering-golden": "pnpm run ensure:electron-runtime && npx playwright test tests/e2e/terminal-raw-emoji-table-scroll-restore.spec.ts tests/e2e/terminal-webgl-atlas-budget.spec.ts --grep @terminal-rendering-golden --config tests/playwright.config.ts --project electron-headless --workers=1",
diff --git a/tests/e2e/global-setup.ts b/tests/e2e/global-setup.ts
index cea4e7717a7..9b028ee572f 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/global-setup.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/global-setup.ts
@@ -17,13 +17,18 @@ import path from 'node:path'
 import os from 'node:os'
 import { prepareDockerSshRelayImage } from './helpers/docker-ssh-relay-image'
 
+export const E2E_TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE_ENV = 'ORCA_E2E_TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE'
 /** Temp file where the test repo path is stored for the fixture to read. */
-export const TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'orca-e2e-test-repo-path.txt')
+export const TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE =
+  process.env[E2E_TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE_ENV] ??
+  path.join(os.tmpdir(), `orca-e2e-test-repo-path-${randomUUID()}.txt`)
 const ELECTRON_E2E_BUILD_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000
 const CLI_E2E_BUILD_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000
 const WEB_E2E_BUILD_TIMEOUT_MS = 300_000
 
 export default function globalSetup(): void {
+  // Why: workers and teardown need this run's path, never another concurrent run's.
+  process.env[E2E_TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE_ENV] = TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE
   const root = process.cwd()
   const outMain = path.join(root, 'out', 'main', 'index.js')
   const outCli = path.join(root, 'out', 'cli', 'index.js')
diff --git a/tests/e2e/golden-quit-relaunch-session.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/golden-quit-relaunch-session.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4f00f5af055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/golden-quit-relaunch-session.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import { existsSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import type { ElectronApplication } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
+import { expect, test } from './helpers/orca-app'
+import { openFileExplorer } from './helpers/file-explorer'
+import { attachRepoAndOpenTerminal, createRestartSession } from './helpers/orca-restart'
+import { ensureTerminalVisible, waitForSessionReady } from './helpers/store'
+import { createTerminalTabFromMenu, SORTABLE_TAB } from './helpers/terminal-tab-menu'
+import {
+  execInTerminal,
+  focusActiveTerminalInput,
+  waitForActivePanePtyId,
+  waitForActiveTerminalManager,
+  waitForTerminalOutput
+} from './helpers/terminal'
+import { TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE } from './global-setup'
+import { splitMarkerEchoCommand } from './terminal-marker-echo-command'
+import { PTY_SESSION_ID_SEPARATOR } from '../../src/shared/pty-session-id-format'
+
+function seededRepoPath(): string {
+  const repoPath = existsSync(TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE)
+    ? readFileSync(TEST_REPO_PATH_FILE, 'utf8').trim()
+    : ''
+  if (!repoPath || !existsSync(repoPath)) {
+    throw new Error('Golden restart E2E requires the seeded test repo from global setup')
+  }
+  return repoPath
+}
+
+test('restores the exact file and live extra terminal after quit and relaunch @golden', async (// oxlint-disable-next-line no-empty-pattern -- this test owns both Electron launches.
+{}, testInfo) => {
+  test.setTimeout(300_000)
+  const repoPath = seededRepoPath()
+  const session = createRestartSession(testInfo)
+  let firstApp: ElectronApplication | null = null
+  let secondApp: ElectronApplication | null = null
+
+  try {
+    const first = await session.launch()
+    firstApp = first.app
+    await waitForSessionReady(first.page)
+    const primaryWorktreeId = await attachRepoAndOpenTerminal(first.page, repoPath)
+    await ensureTerminalVisible(first.page)
+    await waitForActiveTerminalManager(first.page, 30_000)
+    const extraTerminalId = await createTerminalTabFromMenu(first.page)
+    await waitForActiveTerminalManager(first.page, 30_000)
+    const extraTerminalPtyId = await waitForActivePanePtyId(first.page, 30_000)
+    expect(extraTerminalPtyId).toContain(PTY_SESSION_ID_SEPARATOR)
+    const preQuitMarkerPrefix = 'GOLDEN_RELAUNCH_PERSISTED'
+    const preQuitMarkerSuffix = `_${Date.now()}`
+    const preQuitMarker = `${preQuitMarkerPrefix}${preQuitMarkerSuffix}`
+    await execInTerminal(
+      first.page,
+      extraTerminalPtyId,
+      splitMarkerEchoCommand(preQuitMarkerPrefix, preQuitMarkerSuffix)
+    )
+    await waitForTerminalOutput(first.page, preQuitMarker, 20_000)
+
+    await openFileExplorer(first.page)
+    const fileRow = first.page
+      .locator('[data-file-explorer-row]')
+      .filter({ hasText: 'package.json' })
+      .first()
+    await expect(fileRow).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 })
+    await fileRow.click()
+    await expect(first.page.locator('.editor-header-path').first()).toContainText('package.json', {
+      timeout: 20_000
+    })
+    const tabCountAtQuit = await first.page.locator(SORTABLE_TAB).count()
+
+    await session.close(firstApp)
+    firstApp = null
+
+    const second = await session.launch()
+    secondApp = second.app
+    await waitForSessionReady(second.page)
+    await expect(
+      second.page.locator(`[role="option"][data-worktree-id="${primaryWorktreeId}"]`)
+    ).toHaveAttribute('aria-current', 'page', { timeout: 30_000 })
+    await expect(second.page.locator(SORTABLE_TAB)).toHaveCount(tabCountAtQuit, {
+      timeout: 30_000
+    })
+    await expect(second.page.locator('.editor-header-path').first()).toContainText('package.json', {
+      timeout: 30_000
+    })
+
+    const restoredExtraTab = second.page.locator(
+      `${SORTABLE_TAB}[data-tab-id="${extraTerminalId}"]`
+    )
+    await expect(restoredExtraTab).toBeVisible()
+    await restoredExtraTab.click({ force: true })
+    await waitForActiveTerminalManager(second.page, 30_000)
+    expect(await waitForActivePanePtyId(second.page, 30_000)).toBe(extraTerminalPtyId)
+    await waitForTerminalOutput(second.page, preQuitMarker, 20_000)
+    await expect(second.page.getByRole('button', { name: /Reconnect/i })).toHaveCount(0)
+    await focusActiveTerminalInput(second.page)
+    const marker = `GOLDEN_RELAUNCH_LIVE_${Date.now()}`
+    const command = process.platform === 'win32' ? `Write-Output ${marker}` : `echo ${marker}`
+    await second.page.keyboard.type(command)
+    await second.page.keyboard.press('Enter')
+    await waitForTerminalOutput(second.page, marker, 20_000)
+  } finally {
+    for (const app of [secondApp, firstApp]) {
+      if (app) {
+        await session.close(app).catch(() => undefined)
+      }
+    }
+    await session.dispose()
+  }
+})
diff --git a/tests/e2e/golden-terminal-file-link.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/golden-terminal-file-link.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eeb0742c4d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/golden-terminal-file-link.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import path from 'node:path'
+import type { Page } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
+import { expect, test } from './helpers/orca-app'
+import { openFileExplorer } from './helpers/file-explorer'
+import { ensureTerminalVisible, waitForActiveWorktree, waitForSessionReady } from './helpers/store'
+import {
+  getTerminalContent,
+  sendToTerminal,
+  waitForActivePanePtyId,
+  waitForActiveTerminalManager
+} from './helpers/terminal'
+import { nodeTerminalCommand } from './terminal-node-command'
+import { waitForPtyShellEcho } from './terminal-pty-readiness'
+
+type LinkProbe = { col: number; row: number; tabId: string }
+type LinkClientPoint = { x: number; y: number }
+
+const LINK_SCAN_CHAR_LIMIT = 12_000
+
+async function locateLink(page: Page, needle: string): Promise<LinkProbe | null> {
+  return page.evaluate((needle) => {
+    const state = window.__store?.getState()
+    const worktreeId = state?.activeWorktreeId
+    const tabId =
+      state?.activeTabType === 'terminal'
+        ? state.activeTabId
+        : worktreeId
+          ? state?.activeTabIdByWorktree?.[worktreeId]
+          : null
+    const manager = tabId ? window.__paneManagers?.get(tabId) : null
+    const pane = manager?.getActivePane?.() ?? manager?.getPanes?.()[0] ?? null
+    if (!tabId || !pane) {
+      return null
+    }
+    const buffer = pane.terminal.buffer.active
+    for (let row = 0; row < pane.terminal.rows; row += 1) {
+      const line = buffer.getLine(buffer.viewportY + row)
+      const col = line?.translateToString(true).indexOf(needle) ?? -1
+      if (col >= 0) {
+        return { col: col + Math.floor(needle.length / 2), row, tabId }
+      }
+    }
+    return null
+  }, needle)
+}
+
+async function linkClientPoint(page: Page, probe: LinkProbe): Promise<LinkClientPoint> {
+  return page.evaluate(({ col, row, tabId }) => {
+    const manager = window.__paneManagers?.get(tabId)
+    const pane = manager?.getActivePane?.() ?? manager?.getPanes?.()[0] ?? null
+    const screen = pane?.terminal.element?.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.xterm-screen')
+    if (!pane || !screen) {
+      throw new Error('terminal link surface unavailable')
+    }
+    const rect = screen.getBoundingClientRect()
+    const cell = pane.terminal.dimensions?.css.cell
+    if (!cell?.width || !cell.height) {
+      throw new Error('terminal cell dimensions unavailable')
+    }
+    return {
+      x: rect.left + (col + 0.5) * cell.width,
+      y: rect.top + (row + 0.5) * cell.height
+    }
+  }, probe)
+}
+
+async function hoverLink(page: Page, probe: LinkProbe): Promise<string | null> {
+  const point = await linkClientPoint(page, probe)
+  return page.evaluate(
+    ({ tabId, x, y }) => {
+      const manager = window.__paneManagers?.get(tabId)
+      const pane = manager?.getActivePane?.() ?? manager?.getPanes?.()[0] ?? null
+      const screen = pane?.terminal.element?.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.xterm-screen')
+      if (!pane || !screen) {
+        throw new Error('terminal link surface unavailable')
+      }
+      screen.dispatchEvent(
+        new MouseEvent('mousemove', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true, clientX: x, clientY: y })
+      )
+      const terminal = pane.terminal as unknown as {
+        _core?: { linkifier?: { currentLink?: { link?: { text?: string } } } }
+      }
+      return terminal._core?.linkifier?.currentLink?.link?.text ?? null
+    },
+    { tabId: probe.tabId, ...point }
+  )
+}
+
+async function clickLink(page: Page, probe: LinkProbe): Promise<void> {
+  const target = await linkClientPoint(page, probe)
+  await page.mouse.move(target.x, target.y)
+  await page.mouse.click(target.x, target.y)
+}
+
+test('opens a terminal file link and observes an external edit @golden', async ({ orcaPage }) => {
+  test.setTimeout(180_000)
+  await waitForSessionReady(orcaPage)
+  const worktreeId = await waitForActiveWorktree(orcaPage)
+  await ensureTerminalVisible(orcaPage)
+  await waitForActiveTerminalManager(orcaPage, 30_000)
+  const ptyId = await waitForActivePanePtyId(orcaPage)
+  await waitForPtyShellEcho(orcaPage, ptyId, 15_000)
+
+  const worktreePath = await orcaPage.evaluate((id) => {
+    return (
+      Object.values(window.__store?.getState().worktreesByRepo ?? {})
+        .flat()
+        .find((worktree) => worktree.id === id)?.path ?? ''
+    )
+  }, worktreeId)
+  const filePath = path.join(worktreePath, 'package.json')
+  const original = readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8')
+  const clickablePath = process.platform === 'win32' ? filePath.replaceAll('\\', '/') : filePath
+  const changedMarker = `golden-external-edit-${Date.now()}`
+
+  try {
+    await openFileExplorer(orcaPage)
+    const explorerRow = orcaPage
+      .locator('[data-file-explorer-row]')
+      .filter({ hasText: 'package.json' })
+      .first()
+    await expect(explorerRow).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 })
+
+    const pathsToPrint = process.platform === 'win32' ? [filePath, clickablePath] : [filePath]
+    for (const printedPath of pathsToPrint) {
+      const command = nodeTerminalCommand(['-e', `console.log(${JSON.stringify(printedPath)})`])
+      await sendToTerminal(orcaPage, ptyId, `${command}\r`)
+    }
+    await expect
+      .poll(() => getTerminalContent(orcaPage, LINK_SCAN_CHAR_LIMIT), { timeout: 15_000 })
+      .toContain(clickablePath)
+
+    let probe: LinkProbe | null = null
+    await expect
+      .poll(
+        async () => {
+          probe = await locateLink(orcaPage, clickablePath)
+          return probe ? hoverLink(orcaPage, probe) : null
+        },
+        { timeout: 10_000, message: 'absolute file path did not become clickable' }
+      )
+      .toContain('package.json')
+    if (!probe) {
+      throw new Error('terminal file link disappeared before activation')
+    }
+    await clickLink(orcaPage, probe)
+
+    const actionPopover = orcaPage.locator('[data-terminal-link-action-popover]')
+    await expect(actionPopover).toBeVisible()
+    // Why: the popover echoes the link text verbatim, which on Windows is the forward-slash form.
+    await expect(actionPopover.locator('[data-terminal-link-destination]')).toContainText(
+      clickablePath
+    )
+    await actionPopover.getByRole('button', { name: /Open file/i }).click()
+
+    const editorHeader = orcaPage.locator('.editor-header-path').first()
+    await expect(editorHeader).toContainText('package.json', { timeout: 20_000 })
+    await expect(explorerRow).toHaveAttribute('data-selected', 'true', { timeout: 10_000 })
+    await expect
+      .poll(
+        () =>
+          orcaPage.evaluate(
+            (expectedPath) => window.__monacoEditorE2E?.filePath === expectedPath,
+            filePath
+          ),
+        { timeout: 20_000, message: 'Monaco opened a different file identity' }
+      )
+      .toBe(true)
+
+    writeFileSync(filePath, `${original.trimEnd()}\n\n${changedMarker}\n`)
+    await expect
+      .poll(
+        async () => {
+          const snapshot = await orcaPage.evaluate(() => window.__monacoEditorE2E?.snapshot())
+          const reloadVisible = await orcaPage
+            .getByRole('button', { name: 'Reload from Disk' })
+            .isVisible()
+            .catch(() => false)
+          return Boolean(snapshot?.valueTail.includes(changedMarker) || reloadVisible)
+        },
+        { timeout: 20_000, message: 'editor stayed silently stale after the external edit' }
+      )
+      .toBe(true)
+  } finally {
+    writeFileSync(filePath, original)
+  }
+})
diff --git a/tests/e2e/golden-worktree-create-switch.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/golden-worktree-create-switch.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..15d9f516c92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/golden-worktree-create-switch.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import type { Page } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
+import { expect, test } from './helpers/orca-app'
+import { getActiveWorktreeId, waitForActiveWorktree, waitForSessionReady } from './helpers/store'
+import { createTerminalTabFromMenu } from './helpers/terminal-tab-menu'
+import {
+  execInTerminal,
+  waitForActivePanePtyId,
+  waitForActiveTerminalManager,
+  waitForTerminalOutput
+} from './helpers/terminal'
+import { splitMarkerEchoCommand } from './terminal-marker-echo-command'
+import { waitForPtyShellEcho } from './terminal-pty-readiness'
+
+async function createWorkspace(page: Page, name: string): Promise<void> {
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'New workspace', exact: true }).click()
+  const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog', { name: /Create (Workspace|Worktree)/i })
+  await expect(dialog).toBeVisible()
+  await dialog.getByPlaceholder(/Type a name/i).fill(name)
+  await dialog.getByRole('button', { name: /Create (Workspace|Worktree)/i }).click()
+  await expect(dialog).toBeHidden({ timeout: 20_000 })
+}
+
+async function removeCreatedWorktree(page: Page, worktreeId: string): Promise<void> {
+  await page.evaluate(async (id) => {
+    await window.__store?.getState().removeWorktree(id, true)
+  }, worktreeId)
+}
+
+test('creates a worktree, keeps its terminal isolated, and switches back @golden', async ({
+  orcaPage
+}) => {
+  test.setTimeout(180_000)
+  await waitForSessionReady(orcaPage)
+  const originalWorktreeId = await waitForActiveWorktree(orcaPage)
+  await waitForActiveTerminalManager(orcaPage, 30_000)
+  const parentPtyId = await waitForActivePanePtyId(orcaPage)
+  const workspaceName = `golden-switch-${Date.now()}`
+  let childWorktreeId: string | null = null
+
+  try {
+    await createWorkspace(orcaPage, workspaceName)
+    await expect(
+      orcaPage.locator('[role="option"][aria-current="page"]').filter({ hasText: workspaceName })
+    ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 })
+    childWorktreeId = await waitForActiveWorktree(orcaPage)
+    // Why: the cleanup force-removes childWorktreeId, so it must never resolve to the original.
+    expect(childWorktreeId).not.toBe(originalWorktreeId)
+    await expect(
+      orcaPage.locator(`[role="option"][data-worktree-id="${childWorktreeId}"]`)
+    ).toHaveAttribute('aria-current', 'page')
+
+    await createTerminalTabFromMenu(orcaPage)
+    await waitForActiveTerminalManager(orcaPage, 30_000)
+    const childPtyId = await waitForActivePanePtyId(orcaPage)
+    expect(childPtyId).not.toBe(parentPtyId)
+    await waitForPtyShellEcho(orcaPage, childPtyId, 15_000)
+    await execInTerminal(orcaPage, childPtyId, splitMarkerEchoCommand('worktree', '-b'))
+    await waitForTerminalOutput(orcaPage, 'worktree-b')
+
+    await orcaPage.locator(`[role="option"][data-worktree-id="${originalWorktreeId}"]`).click()
+    await expect(
+      orcaPage.locator(`[role="option"][data-worktree-id="${originalWorktreeId}"]`)
+    ).toHaveAttribute('aria-current', 'page', { timeout: 20_000 })
+    await waitForActiveTerminalManager(orcaPage, 30_000)
+    expect(await waitForActivePanePtyId(orcaPage, 30_000)).toBe(parentPtyId)
+  } finally {
+    if (childWorktreeId) {
+      if ((await getActiveWorktreeId(orcaPage).catch(() => null)) !== originalWorktreeId) {
+        await orcaPage
+          .locator(`[role="option"][data-worktree-id="${originalWorktreeId}"]`)
+          .click()
+          .catch(() => undefined)
+      }
+      await removeCreatedWorktree(orcaPage, childWorktreeId).catch(() => undefined)
+    }
+  }
+})
diff --git a/tests/e2e/helpers/terminal-tab-menu.ts b/tests/e2e/helpers/terminal-tab-menu.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..49e8524b7c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/helpers/terminal-tab-menu.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { expect } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
+import type { Locator, Page } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
+import { getActiveTabId } from './store'
+
+export const SORTABLE_TAB = '[data-testid="sortable-tab"]'
+
+// Why: split groups and hidden worktrees keep extra tab bars mounted, so the "+" has to come from
+// the active group's strip; the pre-layout titlebar fallback has no strip to scope to.
+async function activeTabBarRoot(page: Page): Promise<Locator> {
+  const groupId = await page.evaluate(() => {
+    const state = window.__store?.getState()
+    const worktreeId = state?.activeWorktreeId
+    if (!worktreeId) {
+      return null
+    }
+    return (
+      state?.activeGroupIdByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ??
+      state?.groupsByWorktree?.[worktreeId]?.[0]?.id ??
+      null
+    )
+  })
+  if (!groupId) {
+    return page.locator('body')
+  }
+  const strip = page.locator(`[data-tab-group-strip-id="${groupId}"]`)
+  return (await strip.count()) > 0 ? strip : page.locator('body')
+}
+
+export async function createTerminalTabFromMenu(page: Page): Promise<string> {
+  const tabBar = await activeTabBarRoot(page)
+  const tabsBefore = await tabBar.locator(SORTABLE_TAB).count()
+  const activeBefore = await getActiveTabId(page)
+
+  await tabBar.getByRole('button', { name: 'New tab' }).click()
+  await page
+    .getByRole('menuitem', { name: /New Terminal/i })
+    .first()
+    .click()
+
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => tabBar.locator(SORTABLE_TAB).count(), {
+      timeout: 10_000,
+      message: 'New Terminal did not render a new tab in the tab bar'
+    })
+    .toBe(tabsBefore + 1)
+
+  await expect
+    .poll(
+      async () => {
+        const current = await getActiveTabId(page)
+        return Boolean(current && current !== activeBefore)
+      },
+      { timeout: 10_000, message: 'New Terminal did not become the active tab' }
+    )
+    .toBe(true)
+
+  const tabId = await getActiveTabId(page)
+  if (!tabId) {
+    throw new Error('New Terminal tab id was unavailable after creation')
+  }
+  return tabId
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/terminal-marker-echo-command.ts b/tests/e2e/terminal-marker-echo-command.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..feba80c410f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/terminal-marker-echo-command.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// Why: the shell echoes the command line back into the buffer, so a marker written as one literal
+// would satisfy an output assertion even if the command never ran. Splitting it into two fragments
+// that only rejoin in the command's output makes the assertion proof of execution.
+export function splitMarkerEchoCommand(prefix: string, suffix: string): string {
+  return process.platform === 'win32'
+    ? `Write-Output ('${prefix}' + '${suffix}')`
+    : `echo "${prefix}""${suffix}"`
+}