diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.test.tsx
index bdd275497a..44b52294bf 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.test.tsx
@@ -124,6 +124,26 @@ describe('PaneTab hover close button', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: 'Close' })).toBeNull()
   })
 
+  it('reserves a close-button runway only on closeable horizontal tabs', () => {
+    const onClose = vi.fn()
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <PaneTab onClose={onClose}>
+        <PaneTabLabel>BROWSER</PaneTabLabel>
+      </PaneTab>
+    )
+
+    const horizontalTab = screen.getByText('BROWSER').parentElement?.parentElement
+    expect(horizontalTab?.className).toContain('pr-9')
+
+    rerender(
+      <PaneTab onClose={onClose} vertical>
+        <PaneTabLabel>BROWSER</PaneTabLabel>
+      </PaneTab>
+    )
+    const verticalTab = screen.getByText('BROWSER').parentElement?.parentElement
+    expect(verticalTab?.className).not.toContain('pr-9')
+  })
+
   it('a closeable horizontal tab always shows its ✕ — the chip and the pointer gestures are one affordance', () => {
     const onClose = vi.fn()
     render(
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.tsx
index dbf9fab10e..8b0703a9e2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/pane-tab.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export const PaneTab = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, PaneTabProps>(function P
       className={cn(
         TAB,
         vertical ? TAB_VERTICAL : TAB_HORIZONTAL,
+        !vertical && onClose && 'pr-9',
         edge,
         active
           ? cn(TAB_ACTIVE, !vertical && TAB_ACTIVE_UNDERLINE)
@@ -163,10 +164,9 @@ export const PaneTab = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, PaneTabProps>(function P
         </span>
       )}
       {onClose && !vertical && (
-        // Hover ✕, painted OVER the label's right edge as an overlay (no
-        // layout shift, tab width never jumps on hover). The runway is a tiny
-        // transparent→`--tab-face` gradient, so the button melts into the
-        // tab's effective surface instead of hard-clipping the text under it.
+        // Hover ✕ stays absolutely positioned so hover never shifts the tab.
+        // The tab reserves a fixed right runway for this overlay, keeping the
+        // label clear of the gradient/button even for short labels like BROWSER.
         // Rendered after the dirty dot: on hover the ✕ takes the dot's spot,
         // VS Code-style.
         <span className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0 right-0 flex items-stretch opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover/tab:pointer-events-auto group-hover/tab:opacity-100">