diff --git a/hermes_state_portability.py b/hermes_state_portability.py
index be1939be00..1893742414 100644
--- a/hermes_state_portability.py
+++ b/hermes_state_portability.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ _IMPORT_SESSION_INSERT_SQL = """INSERT INTO sessions (
                            cwd, git_branch, git_repo_root,
                            billing_provider, billing_base_url, billing_mode,
                            estimated_cost_usd, actual_cost_usd, cost_status, cost_source,
-                           pricing_version, title, api_call_count, archived, pinned
+                           pricing_version, title, api_call_count, archived, pinned, hidden
                        )
                        VALUES (
                            :id, :source, :user_id, :model, :model_config,
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ _IMPORT_SESSION_INSERT_SQL = """INSERT INTO sessions (
                            :billing_provider, :billing_base_url, :billing_mode,
                            :estimated_cost_usd, :actual_cost_usd, :cost_status,
                            :cost_source, :pricing_version, :title,
-                           :api_call_count, :archived, :pinned
+                           :api_call_count, :archived, :pinned, :hidden
                        )"""
 # Columns copied verbatim from the payload; typed columns are converted below.
 _IMPORT_PASSTHROUGH_COLS = (
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ _IMPORT_INT_COLS = (
 _IMPORT_FLOAT_COLS = ("ended_at", "estimated_cost_usd", "actual_cost_usd")
 # Durable user decisions, not live runtime state: a restore that drops ``pinned`` hands the "keep"
 # session to the next startup prune and the stale-archive sweep, the two things the pin opts out of.
-_IMPORT_FLAG_COLS = ("archived", "pinned")
+# ``hidden`` is what makes an adopted Bot Mode chat canonical: without it the chat shows in every
+# listing, loses its rename guard and becomes a stale-archive candidate.
+_IMPORT_FLAG_COLS = ("archived", "pinned", "hidden")
 
 
 def _rich_select(select_cols: str, where: str, tail: str = "", prompt_select: Optional[str] = "") -> str:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_state/test_session_import_keep_flags.py b/tests/hermes_state/test_session_import_keep_flags.py
index 3469abd22b..927f271d81 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_state/test_session_import_keep_flags.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_state/test_session_import_keep_flags.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 """A restored or adopted session keeps the user's durable flags.
 
 ``import_sessions`` (the dashboard import of a ``hermes sessions export`` backup, and stranded-session
-adoption) restored ``archived`` but not ``pinned``. Pinned is the "keep" flag the startup prune and the
-stale-archive sweep both exempt, so an old pinned session came back unpinned and the next startup
-deleted it.
+adoption) restored ``archived`` but not ``pinned`` or ``hidden``. Pinned is the "keep" flag the startup
+prune and the stale-archive sweep both exempt, so an old pinned session came back unpinned and the next
+startup deleted it; an adopted Bot Mode chat came back visible and no longer canonical.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -39,3 +39,24 @@ def test_restored_pinned_session_survives_the_startup_prune(tmp_path):
     finally:
         source.close()
         target.close()
+
+
+def test_adopted_bot_chat_stays_the_hidden_canonical_chat(tmp_path):
+    """Stranded-session adoption imports the donor's Bot Mode chat into the profile store; Bot Mode
+    chats are hidden, and hidden is what keeps the canonical one out of listings and the stale sweep."""
+    donor = SessionDB(db_path=tmp_path / "default.db")
+    profile = SessionDB(db_path=tmp_path / "profile.db")
+    try:
+        donor.create_session(SESSION_ID, source="tui")
+        donor.set_session_title(SESSION_ID, SessionDB.CANONICAL_BOT_CHAT_TITLE)
+        donor.set_session_hidden(SESSION_ID, True)
+        donor.append_message(SESSION_ID, "user", "hi bot")
+
+        assert profile.adopt_session_lineage_from(donor, SESSION_ID)["adopted"]
+
+        assert profile.get_session(SESSION_ID)["hidden"]
+        assert SESSION_ID not in {s["id"] for s in profile.list_sessions_rich(limit=50)}
+        assert profile.archive_stale_sessions(idle_days=0) == 0
+    finally:
+        donor.close()
+        profile.close()