diff --git a/public/css/panel.css b/public/css/panel.css
index 3d9e488..2de7f81 100644
--- a/public/css/panel.css
+++ b/public/css/panel.css
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #panel-overlay.visible {
   display: block;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 /* Panel container */
diff --git a/public/js/arf.js b/public/js/arf.js
index e7cd87b..3b05819 100644
--- a/public/js/arf.js
+++ b/public/js/arf.js
@@ -613,13 +613,10 @@ document.addEventListener("keydown", function(e) {
   if (e.key === "Escape") closePanel();
 });
 
-// Wire close button and overlay once DOM is ready
+// Wire close button once DOM is ready
 document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
   var closeBtn = document.getElementById("panel-close");
   if (closeBtn) closeBtn.addEventListener("click", closePanel);
-
-  var overlay = document.getElementById("panel-overlay");
-  if (overlay) overlay.addEventListener("click", closePanel);
 });
 
 // Canvas click: close panel when clicking the SVG background (not a node)