diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneSurface.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneSurface.tsx
index 1773aa48d20..dc346ce95b4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneSurface.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneSurface.tsx
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export function TerminalPaneSurface({
     dismissTerminalError,
     expectedLayoutLeafIdsAttr,
     expandedPaneId,
+    effectiveChatViewMode,
     handleCancelClose,
     handleConfirmClose,
     handleContextMenuToggleNativeChat,
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ export function TerminalPaneSurface({
         className="absolute inset-0 min-h-0 min-w-0"
         data-native-file-drop-target="terminal"
         data-terminal-tab-id={tabId}
+        data-terminal-chat-view={effectiveChatViewMode && activePaneIsChatLeaf ? 'true' : undefined}
         data-terminal-layout-leaf-ids={expectedLayoutLeafIdsAttr}
         data-pane-title-surface={titleUsesLightSurface ? 'light' : 'dark'}
         style={terminalContainerStyle}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/native-chat-covered-pane.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/native-chat-covered-pane.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f7d6534a70a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/native-chat-covered-pane.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type { PaneManager } from '@/lib/pane-manager/pane-manager'
+
+const NATIVE_CHAT_COVER_SELECTOR = '.native-chat-pane-shell'
+
+/**
+ * Leaf container selector that excludes panes whose xterm sits under the native
+ * chat portal. Chat mode is a tab flag, but only the chat leaf's xterm is
+ * covered — a split terminal leaf in the same tab must still take focus.
+ */
+export const UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR = `[data-leaf-id]:not(:has(${NATIVE_CHAT_COVER_SELECTOR}))`
+
+export function paneIsCoveredByNativeChat(
+  pane: { container: Pick<Element, 'querySelector'> } | null | undefined
+): boolean {
+  return pane?.container.querySelector(NATIVE_CHAT_COVER_SELECTOR) != null
+}
+
+/** Mirrors focusActivePane's target so the guard tracks exactly the pane that would take focus. */
+export function activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat(manager: PaneManager): boolean {
+  return paneIsCoveredByNativeChat(manager.getActivePane() ?? manager.getPanes()[0])
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.test.ts
index 233ac92bd3b..635adf7c36b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.test.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ function resumeArgs(manager: FakeManager, shouldUseLightTabResume: boolean) {
   return {
     manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
     isActive: true,
+    isChatViewMode: false,
     wasVisible: false,
     shouldUseLightTabResume,
     captureViewportPositions: vi.fn(() => new Map()),
@@ -202,6 +203,32 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     expect(manager.fitAllPanes).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it.each([
+    ['light', true],
+    ['heavy', false]
+  ])('does not focus the covered terminal on a %s chat reveal', async (_path, lightResume) => {
+    const manager = createManager()
+    const args = resumeArgs(manager, lightResume)
+    args.isChatViewMode = true
+    const { focusActivePane } = vi.mocked(await import('./pane-helpers'))
+
+    resumeTerminalVisibility(args)
+
+    expect(focusActivePane).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['light', true],
+    ['heavy', false]
+  ])('keeps focusing an active terminal on a %s reveal', async (_path, lightResume) => {
+    const manager = createManager()
+    const { focusActivePane } = vi.mocked(await import('./pane-helpers'))
+
+    resumeTerminalVisibility(resumeArgs(manager, lightResume))
+
+    expect(focusActivePane).toHaveBeenCalledWith(manager)
+  })
+
   it('checks each pane for a stale WebGL backing on a light tab reveal', () => {
     const first = { terminal: { name: 'pane-a' } }
     const second = { terminal: { name: 'pane-b' } }
@@ -233,6 +260,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -240,6 +268,20 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     expect(manager.fitAllPanes).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('does not focus the covered terminal during chat window-wake recovery', async () => {
+    const manager = createManager()
+    const { focusActivePane } = vi.mocked(await import('./pane-helpers'))
+
+    recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
+      manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
+      isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: true,
+      clearGlyphAtlases: false
+    })
+
+    expect(focusActivePane).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   it('repairs WebGL canvas backing-store dpr on window wake', () => {
     // Clamshell undock: dpr changes while the pane stayed "visible" with a
     // stale backing store; tab-reveal is not in the path.
@@ -252,6 +294,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -275,6 +318,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -314,6 +358,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -330,6 +375,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -341,6 +387,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: false,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: true
     })
 
@@ -356,6 +403,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: false,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: true
     })
 
@@ -376,6 +424,7 @@ describe('resumeTerminalVisibility reveal repaint', () => {
     recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
       manager: manager as never as PaneManager,
       isActive: false,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.ts
index 6c7935e6fa9..d208fc9ab74 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-visibility-resume.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export type TerminalHiddenReason = 'surface' | 'tab'
 type ResumeTerminalVisibilityArgs = {
   manager: PaneManager
   isActive: boolean
+  isChatViewMode: boolean
   wasVisible: boolean
   shouldUseLightTabResume: boolean
   captureViewportPositions: (useRememberedSnapshots: boolean) => Map<number, ScrollState>
@@ -54,12 +55,14 @@ type HideTerminalVisibilityResult = {
 type RecoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeArgs = {
   manager: PaneManager
   isActive: boolean
+  isChatViewMode: boolean
   clearGlyphAtlases: boolean
 }
 
 export function resumeTerminalVisibility({
   manager,
   isActive,
+  isChatViewMode,
   wasVisible,
   shouldUseLightTabResume,
   captureViewportPositions,
@@ -100,13 +103,13 @@ export function resumeTerminalVisibility({
         // cell size — refit so cols/rows match before the overlay settles.
         manager.fitAllRevealedPanes()
       }
-      if (isActive) {
+      if (isActive && !isChatViewMode) {
         focusActivePane(manager)
       }
     } else {
       // fitAllRevealedPanes flushes after WebGL reattaches, avoiding a redundant
       // full refresh in the suspended DOM renderer while preserving first paint.
-      repairedDpr = resumeTerminalVisibilityHeavy(manager, isActive)
+      repairedDpr = resumeTerminalVisibilityHeavy(manager, isActive && !isChatViewMode)
     }
     enforceTerminalViewportIntents(manager)
     if (!shouldUseLightTabResume) {
@@ -174,6 +177,7 @@ export function hideTerminalVisibility({
 export function recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
   manager,
   isActive,
+  isChatViewMode,
   clearGlyphAtlases
 }: RecoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeArgs): void {
   // Why: macOS screensaver/display wake can leave xterm visible but with a
@@ -201,7 +205,7 @@ export function recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
   manager.resumeRendering()
   // Why: wake re-attaches WebGL — same transient cell-metric wobble guard as the heavy resume.
   manager.fitAllRevealedPanes()
-  if (isActive) {
+  if (isActive && !isChatViewMode) {
     focusActivePane(manager)
   }
   enforceTerminalViewportIntents(manager)
@@ -226,7 +230,7 @@ function requestLightTabBacklogRecovery(manager: PaneManager): void {
   }
 }
 
-function resumeTerminalVisibilityHeavy(manager: PaneManager, isActive: boolean): boolean {
+function resumeTerminalVisibilityHeavy(manager: PaneManager, shouldFocus: boolean): boolean {
   // Why: hidden panes can accumulate large PTY bursts while Chromium is
   // occluded. Drain a bounded slice before fitting; the scheduler keeps
   // ordering and continues the rest asynchronously so return-to-app does
@@ -254,7 +258,7 @@ function resumeTerminalVisibilityHeavy(manager: PaneManager, isActive: boolean):
   // from the DOM renderer's; a raw fit here reflows on a transient one-column-off
   // grid and garbles diff-painting inline TUIs (grok minimize→restore).
   manager.fitAllRevealedPanes()
-  if (isActive) {
+  if (shouldFocus) {
     focusActivePane(manager)
   }
   return repairedDpr
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects-visibility-resume.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects-visibility-resume.test.ts
index 2b47298889e..cfb4fc1f95d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects-visibility-resume.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects-visibility-resume.test.ts
@@ -307,6 +307,63 @@ describe('useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects', () => {
     vi.advanceTimersByTime(500)
   })
 
+  it.each([
+    ['skips focus while the chat leaf is active', true],
+    ['keeps focusing an active split terminal leaf', false]
+  ])('chat view mode %s', (_label, covered) => {
+    vi.stubGlobal(
+      'requestAnimationFrame',
+      vi.fn((callback: FrameRequestCallback) => {
+        callback(0)
+        return 1
+      })
+    )
+    const pane = {
+      id: 1,
+      terminal: { name: 'terminal-a' },
+      container: { querySelector: vi.fn(() => (covered ? {} : null)) }
+    }
+    const manager = {
+      getPanes: vi.fn(() => [pane]),
+      resumeRendering: vi.fn(),
+      resetWebglTextureAtlases: vi.fn(),
+      scheduleRevealRepaint: vi.fn(),
+      scheduleRevealPresent: vi.fn(),
+      refreshAllPanes: vi.fn(),
+      suspendRendering: vi.fn(),
+      fitAllPanes: vi.fn(),
+      fitAllRevealedPanes: vi.fn(),
+      getActivePane: vi.fn(() => pane),
+      setActivePane: vi.fn()
+    }
+    registerManagerForReset(manager)
+
+    beginHookRender()
+    useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects({
+      tabId: 'tab-1',
+      worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+      managerRef: { current: manager as never },
+      containerRef: { current: null },
+      paneTransportsRef: { current: new Map() },
+      isActiveRef: { current: false },
+      isVisibleRef: { current: false },
+      paneCount: 1,
+      isSyncFitEnabled: true,
+      isWorktreeActive: true,
+      toggleExpandPane: vi.fn(),
+      isActive: true,
+      isVisible: true,
+      isChatViewMode: true
+    })
+
+    expect(pane.container.querySelector).toHaveBeenCalledWith('.native-chat-pane-shell')
+    if (covered) {
+      expect(mocks.focusActivePane).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } else {
+      expect(mocks.focusActivePane).toHaveBeenCalledWith(manager)
+    }
+  })
+
   it('keeps visible active-state updates on the light resume path', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     vi.stubGlobal(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects.ts
index 9e9a63a94f2..ec693cfe579 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-effects.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   releaseRendererPtyVisibilityClaim,
   setRendererPtyVisibilityClaim
 } from './pty-renderer-delivery-claims'
+import { activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat } from './native-chat-covered-pane'
 
 type UseTerminalPaneGlobalEffectsArgs = {
   tabId: string
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ type UseTerminalPaneGlobalEffectsArgs = {
   cwd?: string
   isActive: boolean
   isVisible: boolean
+  isChatViewMode?: boolean
   isWorktreeActive?: boolean
   isSyncFitEnabled: boolean
   paneCount: number
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects({
   cwd,
   isActive,
   isVisible,
+  isChatViewMode = false,
   isWorktreeActive = isVisible,
   isSyncFitEnabled,
   paneCount,
@@ -121,6 +124,7 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects({
   })
   useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
     isVisible: rendererVisible,
+    isChatViewMode,
     managerRef,
     isActiveRef,
     isVisibleRef,
@@ -156,6 +160,9 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects({
       resumeTerminalVisibility({
         manager,
         isActive,
+        // Why: chat mode is tab-wide, but only the chat leaf's xterm is covered;
+        // a split terminal leaf that is active must still regain focus on reveal.
+        isChatViewMode: isChatViewMode && activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat(manager),
         wasVisible,
         shouldUseLightTabResume,
         captureViewportPositions,
@@ -183,7 +190,7 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalEffects({
     wasVisibleRef.current = false
     wasWorktreeActiveRef.current = isWorktreeActive
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
-  }, [isActive, isWorktreeActive, rendererVisible])
+  }, [isActive, isChatViewMode, isWorktreeActive, rendererVisible])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const ptyId = isActive && isVisible && isWorktreeActive ? activeLeafPtyId : null
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-listeners.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-listeners.ts
index ac8cc9b1c30..57ce985002a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-listeners.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-pane-global-listeners.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalListeners(controller: TerminalPaneCloseCont
     handleRequestClosePane,
     handleSearchSelectedText,
     handleStartRename,
+    effectiveChatViewMode,
     isActive,
     isActiveRef,
     isRendererVisible,
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ export function useTerminalPaneGlobalListeners(controller: TerminalPaneCloseCont
     cwd,
     isActive,
     isVisible,
+    isChatViewMode: effectiveChatViewMode,
     isWorktreeActive,
     isSyncFitEnabled: isRendererVisible || shouldMeasureHiddenStartup,
     paneCount,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.test.ts
index c903ec1a2f9..7a5a7a090da 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.test.ts
@@ -61,11 +61,16 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     delete (window as unknown as { api?: unknown }).api
   })
 
-  function renderWakeRecoveryHook(isVisible = true) {
+  function renderWakeRecoveryHook(
+    isVisible = true,
+    isChatViewMode = false,
+    wakeManager: PaneManager = manager
+  ) {
     return renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible,
-        managerRef: { current: manager },
+        isChatViewMode,
+        managerRef: { current: wakeManager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true }
       })
@@ -83,6 +88,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     expect(recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, {
       manager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
 
@@ -93,6 +99,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     expect(recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
       manager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
       clearGlyphAtlases: true
     })
   })
@@ -109,6 +116,27 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     expect(recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
       manager,
       isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: false,
+      clearGlyphAtlases: false
+    })
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['covered chat leaf', true],
+    ['split terminal leaf', false]
+  ])('routes chat coverage into wake recovery only for the %s', (_label, covered) => {
+    const chatManager = {
+      getActivePane: () => ({ container: { querySelector: () => (covered ? {} : null) } }),
+      getPanes: () => []
+    } as unknown as PaneManager
+    renderWakeRecoveryHook(true, true, chatManager)
+
+    window.dispatchEvent(new Event('focus'))
+
+    expect(recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWakeMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
+      manager: chatManager,
+      isActive: true,
+      isChatViewMode: covered,
       clearGlyphAtlases: false
     })
   })
@@ -136,6 +164,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef: { current: manager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true },
@@ -163,6 +192,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef: { current: manager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true },
@@ -209,6 +239,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     const { unmount } = renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef: { current: resizeManager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true }
@@ -238,6 +269,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef,
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true }
@@ -265,6 +297,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef: { current: { getPanes: () => [pane] } as unknown as PaneManager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true }
@@ -295,6 +328,7 @@ describe('useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery', () => {
     renderHook(() =>
       useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         isVisible: true,
+        isChatViewMode: false,
         managerRef: { current: { getPanes: () => [pane] } as unknown as PaneManager },
         isActiveRef: { current: true },
         isVisibleRef: { current: true }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.ts
index 444d0f1f9dd..49f71ed6f30 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/use-terminal-window-wake-recovery.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ import { repairPaneWebglCanvasDpr } from '@/lib/pane-manager/terminal-canvas-dpr
 import { presentPaneViewport } from '@/lib/pane-manager/pane-webgl-renderer'
 import { recordTerminalFreezeBreadcrumb } from './terminal-freeze-breadcrumbs'
 import type { IDisposable } from '@xterm/xterm'
+import { activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat } from './native-chat-covered-pane'
 
 type UseTerminalWindowWakeRecoveryArgs = {
   isVisible: boolean
+  isChatViewMode: boolean
   managerRef: React.RefObject<PaneManager | null>
   isActiveRef: React.RefObject<boolean>
   isVisibleRef: React.RefObject<boolean>
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ const DPR_RECOVERY_RETRY_FRAMES = 16
 
 export function useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
   isVisible,
+  isChatViewMode,
   managerRef,
   isActiveRef,
   isVisibleRef,
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ export function useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
       recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
         manager,
         isActive: isActiveRef.current,
+        isChatViewMode: isChatViewMode && activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat(manager),
         clearGlyphAtlases
       })
       if (typeof requestAnimationFrame !== 'function') {
@@ -103,6 +107,7 @@ export function useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
         recoverVisibleTerminalWindowWake({
           manager: settledManager,
           isActive: isActiveRef.current,
+          isChatViewMode: isChatViewMode && activePaneIsCoveredByNativeChat(settledManager),
           clearGlyphAtlases: clearGlyphAtlasesOnSettle
         })
         reassertPanePtySizes()
@@ -199,5 +204,5 @@ export function useTerminalWindowWakeRecovery({
       }
       unsubscribeSystemResumed?.()
     }
-  }, [isActiveRef, isVisible, isVisibleRef, managerRef, panePtyBindingsRef])
+  }, [isActiveRef, isChatViewMode, isVisible, isVisibleRef, managerRef, panePtyBindingsRef])
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.test.ts
index 9df0ef4132d..20cf491088e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ vi.mock('@/components/terminal-pane/terminal-ime-input-context-refresh', () => (
   refreshTerminalImeInputContext: mocks.refreshTerminalImeInputContext
 }))
 
+// Why: tab-wide queries skip leaves whose xterm sits under the native chat portal.
+const TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR =
+  '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] [data-leaf-id]:not(:has(.native-chat-pane-shell)) .xterm-helper-textarea'
+const GLOBAL_HELPER_SELECTOR =
+  '[data-leaf-id]:not(:has(.native-chat-pane-shell)) .xterm-helper-textarea'
+
 describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
   afterEach(() => {
     mocks.refreshTerminalImeInputContext.mockClear()
@@ -28,7 +34,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
     const textarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
     vi.stubGlobal('document', {
       querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea' ? textarea : null
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
       )
     })
 
@@ -42,7 +48,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
     const textarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
     vi.stubGlobal('document', {
       querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea' ? textarea : null
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
       )
     })
 
@@ -68,7 +74,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
       activeElement: body as unknown,
       body,
       querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea' ? textarea : null
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
       )
     }
     vi.stubGlobal('document', documentState)
@@ -89,9 +95,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
         if (selector === '[data-tab-rename-input="true"]') {
           return {}
         }
-        return selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
-          ? textarea
-          : null
+        return selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
       })
     })
 
@@ -100,6 +104,77 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
     expect(textarea.focus).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('does not focus xterm while chat covers the terminal tab', () => {
+    flushAnimationFrames()
+    const textarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
+    vi.stubGlobal('document', {
+      querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) => {
+        if (selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"]') {
+          return {
+            getAttribute: (name: string) => (name === 'data-terminal-chat-view' ? 'true' : null)
+          }
+        }
+        return selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
+      })
+    })
+
+    focusTerminalTabSurface('tab-1')
+
+    expect(textarea.focus).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('skips the chat leaf helper when a split chat tab has an active terminal leaf', () => {
+    flushAnimationFrames()
+    const coveredTextarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
+    const terminalTextarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
+    vi.stubGlobal('document', {
+      querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) => {
+        if (selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"]') {
+          return { getAttribute: () => null }
+        }
+        if (selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR) {
+          return terminalTextarea
+        }
+        return selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
+          ? coveredTextarea
+          : null
+      })
+    })
+
+    focusTerminalTabSurface('tab-1')
+
+    expect(terminalTextarea.focus).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(coveredTextarea.focus).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('does not use a covered chat helper as the global mount-race fallback', () => {
+    flushAnimationFrames()
+    const coveredTextarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
+    vi.stubGlobal('document', {
+      querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
+        selector === '.xterm-helper-textarea' ? coveredTextarea : null
+      )
+    })
+
+    focusTerminalTabSurface('tab-1')
+
+    expect(coveredTextarea.focus).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the global mount-race fallback for an uncovered terminal helper', () => {
+    flushAnimationFrames()
+    const textarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
+    vi.stubGlobal('document', {
+      querySelector: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
+        selector === GLOBAL_HELPER_SELECTOR ? textarea : null
+      )
+    })
+
+    focusTerminalTabSurface('tab-1')
+
+    expect(textarea.focus).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
   it('falls back to the single tab helper when an old leaf id was reminted', () => {
     flushAnimationFrames()
     const textarea = { focus: vi.fn() }
@@ -108,7 +183,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
         selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"]' ? { getAttribute: () => 'new-leaf' } : null
       ),
       querySelectorAll: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR
           ? { length: 1, item: () => textarea }
           : { length: 0, item: () => null }
       )
@@ -129,7 +204,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
           : null
       ),
       querySelectorAll: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR
           ? { length: 1, item: () => textarea }
           : { length: 0, item: () => null }
       )
@@ -150,7 +225,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
           : null
       ),
       querySelectorAll: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR
           ? { length: 1, item: () => textarea }
           : { length: 0, item: () => null }
       )
@@ -172,7 +247,7 @@ describe('focusTerminalTabSurface', () => {
           : null
       ),
       querySelectorAll: vi.fn((selector: string) =>
-        selector === '[data-terminal-tab-id="tab-1"] .xterm-helper-textarea'
+        selector === TAB_HELPER_SELECTOR
           ? { length: 2, item: (index: number) => (index === 0 ? first : second) }
           : { length: 0, item: () => null }
       )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.ts
index 97ceb97ae61..ef23ff051d7 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/focus-terminal-tab-surface.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { refreshTerminalImeInputContext } from '@/components/terminal-pane/terminal-ime-input-context-refresh'
+import { UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR } from '@/components/terminal-pane/native-chat-covered-pane'
 
 /**
  * Move keyboard focus into the xterm instance for a freshly-mounted terminal
@@ -70,9 +71,15 @@ export function focusTerminalTabSurface(
         return
       }
       const escapedTabId = cssAttributeString(tabId)
+      const tabElement = document.querySelector(`[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"]`)
+      if (tabElement?.getAttribute('data-terminal-chat-view') === 'true') {
+        return
+      }
+      // Why: a split chat tab keeps a covered xterm under the chat leaf; the
+      // tab-wide query must skip it or the deferred focus lands on it.
       const scopedSelector = leafId
-        ? `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] [data-leaf-id="${cssAttributeString(leafId)}"] .xterm-helper-textarea`
-        : `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] .xterm-helper-textarea`
+        ? `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] [data-leaf-id="${cssAttributeString(leafId)}"]${UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR} .xterm-helper-textarea`
+        : `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] ${UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR} .xterm-helper-textarea`
       const scoped = document.querySelector(scopedSelector) as HTMLElement | null
       if (scoped) {
         focusTerminalHelper(scoped, options)
@@ -87,7 +94,7 @@ export function focusTerminalTabSurface(
         // Why: old single-pane remounts could remint the leaf id. Only recover
         // after the tab layout no longer expects the requested leaf.
         const tabScopedHelpers = document.querySelectorAll(
-          `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] .xterm-helper-textarea`
+          `[data-terminal-tab-id="${escapedTabId}"] ${UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR} .xterm-helper-textarea`
         )
         if (tabScopedHelpers.length === 1) {
           const fallback = tabScopedHelpers.item(0) as HTMLElement | null
@@ -98,7 +105,9 @@ export function focusTerminalTabSurface(
         }
         return
       }
-      const fallback = document.querySelector('.xterm-helper-textarea') as HTMLElement | null
+      const fallback = document.querySelector(
+        `${UNCOVERED_TERMINAL_LEAF_SELECTOR} .xterm-helper-textarea`
+      ) as HTMLElement | null
       if (fallback) {
         focusTerminalHelper(fallback, options)
       }