diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/FlowGraphV2.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/FlowGraphV2.svelte
index 16788a4054..052df58d63 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/FlowGraphV2.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/FlowGraphV2.svelte
@@ -472,8 +472,8 @@
 		selectionManager.handleKeyDown(event, nodes)
 	}
 
-	function handleKeyUp(_event: KeyboardEvent) {
-		// Keep for potential future use
+	function handleKeyUp(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+		selectionManager.handleKeyUp(event)
 	}
 
 	async function updateStores() {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/SelectionBoundingBox.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/SelectionBoundingBox.svelte
index ef0e708913..dfacad05e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/SelectionBoundingBox.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/SelectionBoundingBox.svelte
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 {#if bounds() && selectedNodes.length > 1}
 	{@const currentBounds = bounds()!}
 	<div
-		class="absolute border-2 border-dashed border-accent bg-accent/5 rounded cursor-pointer"
+		class={'absolute rounded cursor-pointer bg-surface-selected/30  border-2 border-dashed border-accent '}
 		style="
 			left: {currentBounds.x}px;
 			top: {currentBounds.y}px;
@@ -68,10 +68,5 @@
 			z-index: 10;
 		"
 	>
-		<div
-			class="absolute -top-6 left-0 text-xs text-accent font-medium bg-surface px-2 py-1 rounded shadow pointer-events-none"
-		>
-			{selectedNodes.length} nodes selected
-		</div>
 	</div>
 {/if}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/selectionUtils.svelte.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/selectionUtils.svelte.ts
index ce22d47e29..3b408f1385 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/selectionUtils.svelte.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/graph/selectionUtils.svelte.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ export interface SelectionState {
 export class SelectionManager {
 	public selectedIds = $state<string[]>([])
 	#selectionMode = $state<'normal' | 'rect-select'>('normal')
+	#modeSource = $state<'button' | 'keyboard' | 'temporary'>('button')
+	#previousMode = $state<'normal' | 'rect-select'>('normal')
+	#cmdKeyPressed = $state<boolean>(false)
 
 	constructor() {}
 
@@ -26,11 +29,36 @@ export class SelectionManager {
 	}
 
 	set mode(mode: 'normal' | 'rect-select') {
+		this.#previousMode = this.#selectionMode
 		this.#selectionMode = mode
-		if (mode === 'normal') {
-			// When exiting rect mode, preserve the first item if there are selections
-			const firstSelected = this.selectedIds[0]
-			this.selectId(firstSelected ?? 'settings')
+		// Default to button source when mode is set directly (for backward compatibility)
+		if (this.#modeSource !== 'temporary') {
+			this.#modeSource = 'button'
+		}
+		// Note: No automatic selection clearing when changing modes - preserve current selection
+	}
+
+	// Toggle mode temporarily (for cmd key hold behavior)
+	toggleModeTemporary() {
+		this.#previousMode = this.#selectionMode
+		this.#modeSource = 'temporary'
+		this.#selectionMode = this.#selectionMode === 'normal' ? 'rect-select' : 'normal'
+	}
+
+	// Toggle mode persistently (for cmd key tap behavior)
+	toggleModePersistent() {
+		this.#previousMode = this.#selectionMode
+		this.#modeSource = 'keyboard'
+		this.#selectionMode = this.#selectionMode === 'normal' ? 'rect-select' : 'normal'
+		// Note: Preserve current selection when toggling modes
+	}
+
+	// Revert temporary mode change
+	revertTemporaryMode() {
+		if (this.#modeSource === 'temporary') {
+			this.#selectionMode = this.#previousMode
+			this.#modeSource = 'button' // Reset to default button source
+			// Note: Preserve current selection when reverting temporary mode changes
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -173,9 +201,14 @@ export class SelectionManager {
 	// Handle keyboard shortcuts
 	handleKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent, nodes?: Node[]) {
 		if (event.key === 'Escape') {
-			if (this.#selectionMode === 'rect-select') {
-				// Exit rect mode (this will preserve first item via mode setter)
-				this.mode = 'normal'
+			// Escape key clears selection regardless of mode
+			this.clearSelection()
+		} else if (event.key === 'Meta' || event.key === 'Cmd') {
+			// Cmd/Meta key pressed - temporarily toggle mode
+			if (!this.#cmdKeyPressed) {
+				this.#cmdKeyPressed = true
+				event.preventDefault()
+				this.toggleModeTemporary()
 			}
 		} else if ((event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey) && event.key === 'a') {
 			event.preventDefault()
@@ -186,4 +219,13 @@ export class SelectionManager {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	// Handle keyboard releases
+	handleKeyUp(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+		if (event.key === 'Meta' || event.key === 'Cmd') {
+			// Cmd/Meta key released - revert temporary mode change
+			this.#cmdKeyPressed = false
+			this.revertTemporaryMode()
+		}
+	}
 }