diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index d6d01045b4..0d5fe44064 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -1650,6 +1650,16 @@ impl ChatComposer {
 
     fn sync_popups(&mut self) {
         let file_token = Self::current_at_token(&self.textarea);
+        let browsing_history = self
+            .history
+            .should_handle_navigation(self.textarea.text(), self.textarea.cursor());
+        // When browsing input history (shell-style Up/Down recall), skip all popup
+        // synchronization so nothing steals focus from continued history navigation.
+        if browsing_history {
+            self.active_popup = ActivePopup::None;
+            return;
+        }
+
         let skill_token = self.current_skill_token();
 
         let allow_command_popup = file_token.is_none() && skill_token.is_none();
@@ -4109,6 +4119,59 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(result, InputResult::None);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn history_navigation_takes_priority_over_popups() {
+        use codex_protocol::protocol::SkillScope;
+        use crossterm::event::KeyCode;
+        use crossterm::event::KeyEvent;
+        use crossterm::event::KeyModifiers;
+        use tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel;
+
+        let (tx, _rx) = unbounded_channel::<AppEvent>();
+        let sender = AppEventSender::new(tx);
+        let mut composer = ChatComposer::new(
+            true,
+            sender,
+            false,
+            "Ask Codex to do anything".to_string(),
+            false,
+        );
+
+        composer.set_skill_mentions(Some(vec![SkillMetadata {
+            name: "codex-cli-release-notes".to_string(),
+            description: "example".to_string(),
+            short_description: None,
+            path: PathBuf::from("skills/codex-cli-release-notes/SKILL.md"),
+            scope: SkillScope::Repo,
+        }]));
+
+        // Seed local history; the newest entry triggers the skills popup.
+        composer.history.record_local_submission("older");
+        composer
+            .history
+            .record_local_submission("$codex-cli-release-notes");
+
+        // First Up recalls "$...", but we should not open the skills popup while browsing history.
+        let (result, _redraw) =
+            composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Up, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(result, InputResult::None);
+        assert_eq!(composer.textarea.text(), "$codex-cli-release-notes");
+        assert!(
+            matches!(composer.active_popup, ActivePopup::None),
+            "expected no skills popup while browsing history"
+        );
+
+        // Second Up should navigate history again (no popup should interfere).
+        let (result, _redraw) =
+            composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Up, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(result, InputResult::None);
+        assert_eq!(composer.textarea.text(), "older");
+        assert!(
+            matches!(composer.active_popup, ActivePopup::None),
+            "expected popup to be dismissed after history navigation"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn slash_popup_activated_for_bare_slash_and_valid_prefixes() {
         // use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/snapshots/codex_tui2__transcript_copy_ui__tests__copy_pill_clears_background.snap b/codex-rs/tui2/src/snapshots/codex_tui2__transcript_copy_ui__tests__copy_pill_clears_background.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2c3be0cf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/snapshots/codex_tui2__transcript_copy_ui__tests__copy_pill_clears_background.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+source: tui2/src/transcript_copy_ui.rs
+expression: rendered
+---
+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
+xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
+xxxxxxxxxx ⧉ copy ctrl + shift + c xxxxx
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/transcript_copy_ui.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/transcript_copy_ui.rs
index 6ec76a1de9..9bc9e8d664 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/transcript_copy_ui.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/transcript_copy_ui.rs
@@ -287,6 +287,13 @@ impl TranscriptCopyUi {
         let icon_style = base_style.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD).fg(Color::LightCyan);
         let bold_style = base_style.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD);
 
+        // Clear background so underlying text doesn't bleed through the pill.
+        for position in pill_area.positions() {
+            let cell = &mut buf[position];
+            cell.set_symbol(" ");
+            cell.set_style(base_style);
+        }
+
         let mut spans: Vec<Span<'static>> = vec![
             Span::styled(" ", base_style),
             Span::styled("⧉", icon_style),
@@ -305,6 +312,7 @@ impl TranscriptCopyUi {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use insta::assert_snapshot;
     use ratatui::buffer::Buffer;
 
     fn buf_to_string(buf: &Buffer, area: Rect) -> String {
@@ -359,4 +367,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(rect.y, 1);
         assert!(ui.hit_test(rect.x, rect.y));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn copy_pill_clears_background() {
+        let area = Rect::new(0, 0, 40, 3);
+        let mut buf = Buffer::empty(area);
+        for y in 0..area.height {
+            for x in 0..area.width {
+                buf[(x, y)].set_symbol("x");
+            }
+        }
+
+        let mut ui = TranscriptCopyUi::new_with_shortcut(CopySelectionShortcut::CtrlShiftC);
+        ui.render_copy_pill(area, &mut buf, (1, 2), (1, 6), 0, 3);
+
+        let rendered = buf_to_string(&buf, area);
+        assert_snapshot!("copy_pill_clears_background", rendered);
+    }
 }