diff --git a/tests/browser/global-search.spec.mjs b/tests/browser/global-search.spec.mjs
index 4a27dddec..a0e3bc9a4 100644
--- a/tests/browser/global-search.spec.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/global-search.spec.mjs
@@ -191,3 +191,66 @@ test.describe("public search destination", () => {
     ).toBe(true);
   });
 });
+
+test("keyboard selection follows its action while recent conversations arrive above it", async ({
+  page,
+  app,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto(app.origin);
+  const rail = page.getByRole("button", {
+    name: "Switch to Primary",
+    exact: true,
+  });
+  await expect(rail).toBeVisible();
+  // Hold the membership read across a reload so the channel list arrives after
+  // the palette has opened, as it can after a restored conversation. Other
+  // reads continue, so the held read stays well inside its own deadline.
+  const held = [];
+  let holding = true;
+  await page.route("**/api/relay/*/query", async (route) => {
+    const filters = route.request().postDataJSON();
+    if (holding && filters.some(({ kinds }) => kinds?.includes(39002)))
+      await new Promise((resolve) => held.push(resolve));
+    await route.continue();
+  });
+  try {
+    await page.reload();
+    await expect(rail).toBeVisible();
+    await button(page, "Search Buzz").click();
+    const dialog = page.getByRole("dialog", {
+      name: "Search Buzz",
+      exact: true,
+    });
+    const input = dialog.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Search Buzz" });
+    const recent = dialog
+      .getByRole("group", { name: "Recent activity" })
+      .getByRole("option");
+    const projects = dialog
+      .getByRole("group", { name: "Actions" })
+      .getByRole("option", { name: "Projects", exact: true });
+    await expect(projects).toBeVisible();
+    // The connected palette is mounted, but its channel list is still held.
+    await expect(
+      dialog.getByText("Connecting to this community…", { exact: true }),
+    ).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(recent).toHaveCount(0);
+    const id = await projects.getAttribute("id");
+    while ((await input.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant")) !== id)
+      await input.press("ArrowDown");
+    const before = await projects.boundingBox();
+    holding = false;
+    for (const resolve of held.splice(0)) resolve();
+    await expect(recent.first()).toBeVisible();
+    // The arrivals moved the action; the selection stays with it.
+    expect((await projects.boundingBox()).y).toBeGreaterThan(before.y);
+    await expect(input).toHaveAttribute("aria-activedescendant", id);
+    await input.press("Enter");
+    await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("heading", { name: "Projects", exact: true }),
+    ).toBeVisible();
+  } finally {
+    holding = false;
+    for (const resolve of held.splice(0)) resolve();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/tests/browser/navigation-repairs.spec.mjs b/tests/browser/navigation-repairs.spec.mjs
index c61dd89b1..39c68f527 100644
--- a/tests/browser/navigation-repairs.spec.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/navigation-repairs.spec.mjs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ test("Retry navigation reconnects the failed target session", async ({
     return route.continue();
   });
   await page.goto(app.origin);
-  await openPage(page, "Messages");
+  await openPage(page, "Messages", { connected: false });
   await expect(
     page.getByRole("heading", { name: "This destination couldn’t open" }),
   ).toBeVisible();
diff --git a/tests/browser/navigation.mjs b/tests/browser/navigation.mjs
index 14ca9322f..752d65cde 100644
--- a/tests/browser/navigation.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/navigation.mjs
@@ -7,31 +7,39 @@ export async function pageChoices(page) {
     .getByRole("group", { name: "Actions", exact: true });
 }
 
-export async function openPage(page, name) {
+export async function openPage(page, name, { connected = true } = {}) {
   // The community rail appears after local startup has replaced the launch view.
   await expect(
     page.getByRole("button", { name: "Switch to Primary", exact: true }),
   ).toBeVisible();
   const choices = await pageChoices(page);
   const dialog = page.getByRole("dialog", { name: "Search Buzz", exact: true });
+  const input = dialog.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Search Buzz" });
   const choice = choices.getByRole("option", { name, exact: true });
   // Registered page actions are visible only after the plugin catalog is ready.
   await expect(choice).toBeVisible();
-  // The list enters with a delayed transform. Its moving hit targets can miss
-  // a click in WebKit even after the option first becomes visible.
-  await expect
-    .poll(
-      () =>
-        dialog
-          .locator(".search-palette-scroll")
-          .evaluate((element) =>
-            element
-              .getAnimations()
-              .every((animation) => animation.playState === "finished"),
-          ),
-      { message: "search choices finish opening" },
-    )
-    .toBe(true);
-  await choice.click();
+  // Until the community connects, the palette is a placeholder. The connected
+  // palette replaces it, which resets selection and option ids, so select only
+  // in the final palette. Pass `connected: false` when the test holds or fails
+  // the relay session: the placeholder then stays.
+  await expect(
+    dialog.getByText("Connecting to this community…", { exact: true }),
+  ).toHaveCount(connected ? 0 : 1);
+  // Conversation groups above Actions arrive with the channel list and move
+  // every row below them, so a pointer click can land between rows. Keyboard
+  // selection follows the choice itself, not its position.
+  const id = await choice.getAttribute("id");
+  const limit = await dialog.getByRole("option").count();
+  for (
+    let step = 0;
+    (await input.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant")) !== id;
+    step++
+  ) {
+    // Rows that arrive later are inserted above the selection, so moving down
+    // still reaches the choice. The bound only turns a regression into a failure.
+    expect(step, `keyboard reaches ${name}`).toBeLessThan(limit + 16);
+    await input.press("ArrowDown");
+  }
+  await input.press("Enter");
   await expect(dialog).not.toBeVisible();
 }
diff --git a/tests/browser/plugins.spec.mjs b/tests/browser/plugins.spec.mjs
index b143e67b9..1b494498f 100644
--- a/tests/browser/plugins.spec.mjs
+++ b/tests/browser/plugins.spec.mjs
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ test("companion remains usable while Channels connection is pending", async ({
   });
   try {
     await page.goto(app.origin);
-    await openPage(page, "Messages");
+    await openPage(page, "Messages", { connected: false });
     await expect(
       page.getByText("Connecting to your relay…", { exact: true }),
     ).toBeVisible();