diff --git a/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.test.ts b/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.test.ts
index cbddbe71..b9c401bf 100644
--- a/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.test.ts
@@ -2230,6 +2230,41 @@ describe('chatStore history mapping', () => {
     vi.useRealTimers()
   })
 
+  it('clears transient worktree startup text when normal thinking resumes', () => {
+    useChatStore.setState({
+      sessions: {
+        [TEST_SESSION_ID]: makeSession({
+          chatState: 'idle',
+        }),
+      },
+    })
+
+    useChatStore.getState().handleServerMessage(TEST_SESSION_ID, {
+      type: 'status',
+      state: 'thinking',
+      verb: 'Creating worktree',
+    })
+    expect(useChatStore.getState().sessions[TEST_SESSION_ID]?.statusVerb).toBe('Creating worktree')
+
+    useChatStore.getState().handleServerMessage(TEST_SESSION_ID, {
+      type: 'status',
+      state: 'thinking',
+      verb: 'Thinking',
+    })
+    expect(useChatStore.getState().sessions[TEST_SESSION_ID]?.statusVerb).toBe('')
+
+    useChatStore.getState().handleServerMessage(TEST_SESSION_ID, {
+      type: 'status',
+      state: 'thinking',
+      verb: 'Creating worktree',
+    })
+    useChatStore.getState().handleServerMessage(TEST_SESSION_ID, {
+      type: 'status',
+      state: 'thinking',
+    })
+    expect(useChatStore.getState().sessions[TEST_SESSION_ID]?.statusVerb).toBe('')
+  })
+
   it('sends a desktop notification when the agent finishes a markdown reply', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.ts b/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.ts
index a5a30765..600f8fed 100644
--- a/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/stores/chatStore.ts
@@ -799,9 +799,13 @@ export const useChatStore = create<ChatStore>((set, get) => ({
           const shouldFlush = hasPendingStreamText && msg.state === 'idle'
           return {
             chatState: preserveStreamingTurn ? 'streaming' : msg.state,
-            ...(msg.verb && msg.verb !== 'Thinking' ? { statusVerb: msg.verb } : {}),
+            statusVerb: msg.state === 'idle'
+              ? ''
+              : msg.verb && msg.verb !== 'Thinking'
+                ? msg.verb
+                : '',
             ...(msg.tokens ? { tokenUsage: { ...session.tokenUsage, output_tokens: msg.tokens } } : {}),
-            ...(msg.state === 'idle' ? { activeThinkingId: null, statusVerb: '' } : {}),
+            ...(msg.state === 'idle' ? { activeThinkingId: null } : {}),
             ...(shouldFlush ? {
               messages: appendAssistantTextMessage(session.messages, pendingText, Date.now()),
               streamingText: '',