diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/app.js b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
index 281d75a..bdb036e 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/app.js
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
@@ -3999,16 +3999,14 @@ function bindStaticEventListeners() {
     });
   }
 
-  // Hover preview — component handles click internally; listen for preview-click
+  // Hover preview — component dispatches preview-close when any click dismisses it.
+  // pointer-events:none on the popover means the underlying element (e.g. a
+  // sidebar tile) receives the click and handles navigation itself; this handler
+  // only needs to clean up the timer / session-name state.
   var hoverPreview = $('hover-preview');
   if (hoverPreview) {
-    hoverPreview.addEventListener('preview-click', function(e) {
+    hoverPreview.addEventListener('preview-close', function() {
       hidePreview();
-      var name = e.detail.name;
-      if (name) {
-        var session = _currentSessions && _currentSessions.find(function(s) { return s.name === name; });
-        openSession(name, { remoteId: (session != null && session.remoteId != null) ? session.remoteId : '' });
-      }
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/components/hover-preview.js b/muxplex/frontend/components/hover-preview.js
index 8383b87..e8da0c4 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/components/hover-preview.js
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/components/hover-preview.js
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ export class HoverPreview extends LitElement {
       border-radius: 8px;
       overflow: auto;
       padding: 12px;
-      cursor: pointer;
+      cursor: default;
+      pointer-events: none;   /* clicks pass through to sidebar tiles below */
     }
     .preview-popover pre {
       margin: 0;
@@ -74,11 +75,13 @@ export class HoverPreview extends LitElement {
   }
 
   _onDocumentClick(e) {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    e.stopPropagation();
-    this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('preview-click', {
+    // Close the preview. Do NOT call stopPropagation() — that would swallow
+    // clicks intended for sidebar tiles and other elements behind the preview.
+    // pointer-events:none on .preview-popover lets clicks reach their real
+    // target; this handler just ensures the overlay is dismissed in sync.
+    this.open = false;
+    this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('preview-close', {
       bubbles: true, composed: true,
-      detail: { name: this.sessionName },
     }));
   }