diff --git a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatsScreen.tsx b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatsScreen.tsx
index 5fb4be5441..125d2dce85 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatsScreen.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatsScreen.tsx
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ export function ChatsScreen({
     return null;
   }, [messages]);
   // The drawer's open state is a single persisted preference — switching
-  // chats must NOT reset it (the panel used to re-animate open on every
-  // switch). null = never toggled: auto-open when the chat has a PR.
+  // chats must NOT reset it or re-derive it (auto-open-on-PR re-animated
+  // the drawer on every switch). Purely remembered; default closed.
   const [workPanelPreference, setWorkPanelPreference] = React.useState<
     boolean | null
   >(() => {
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ export function ChatsScreen({
       // Best-effort persistence.
     }
   }, []);
-  const isWorkPanelOpen = workPanelPreference ?? agentPullRequestHref !== null;
+  const isWorkPanelOpen = workPanelPreference ?? false;
   const startManagedAgentMutation = useStartManagedAgentMutation();
   const [isEnsuringDefaultAgent, setIsEnsuringDefaultAgent] =
     React.useState(false);
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/chats-first-message.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/chats-first-message.spec.ts
index 116d84bf2b..d197f3144a 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/chats-first-message.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/chats-first-message.spec.ts
@@ -184,7 +184,11 @@ test("first message in a new chat is sent and rendered", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(
     page.locator("[data-link-preview='github-pull-request-agent']"),
   ).toHaveCount(1, { timeout: 10_000 });
+  // The drawer is purely a remembered preference (default closed) — open
+  // it explicitly; the choice persists across chats and restarts.
   const workPanel = page.getByTestId("chat-work-panel");
+  await expect(workPanel).not.toBeVisible();
+  await page.getByTestId("toggle-work-panel").click();
   await expect(workPanel).toBeVisible();
   await expect(workPanel).toContainText("kennylopez-chatmode");
   await expect(