diff --git a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardCanvas.tsx b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardCanvas.tsx
index 18ac301f..b552d14a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardCanvas.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardCanvas.tsx
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ interface DashboardCanvasProps {
   onNewAgent: () => void;
   onToolbarCancel: () => void;
   onToolbarSend: (...args: any[]) => void;
-  onStarter: (action: 'hover' | 'leave' | 'commit', prompt?: string) => void;
+  onStarter: (prompt: string) => void;
   toolbarPrefill?: string;
   onAddView: (outputId: string) => void;
   onHistoryResume: (sessionId: string) => void;
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardEmptyState.tsx b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardEmptyState.tsx
index 7c27ff6e..35314af1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardEmptyState.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/canvas/DashboardEmptyState.tsx
@@ -62,9 +62,8 @@ const STARTER_CATEGORIES: StarterCategory[] = [
 const DashboardEmptyState: React.FC<{
   c: ClaudeTokens;
   onLaunch?: (prompt: string, mode: string, model: string) => void;
-  // hover = preview-open the composer (translucent), leave = close it,
-  // commit = lock it open so the user can move to send.
-  onStarter?: (action: 'hover' | 'leave' | 'commit', prompt?: string) => void;
+  // Open the composer with the prompt typed in (translucent, unsent) on click.
+  onStarter?: (prompt: string) => void;
 }> = ({ c, onLaunch, onStarter }) => {
   // The host hides Dashboard with visibility:hidden (not display:none), which keeps
   // CSS animations ticking; gate on active so the shimmer only burns while watched.
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ const DashboardEmptyState: React.FC<{
 
   const isAppBuilder = currentCategory?.target === 'app-builder';
 
-  // Click commits the query into the composer (locks it open); the user then sends.
+  // Click opens the composer with the prompt typed in (unsent); the user then sends.
   const launch = (prompt: string) => {
     if (launching) return;
     if (isAppBuilder) {
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ const DashboardEmptyState: React.FC<{
       return;
     }
     if (onStarter) {
-      onStarter('commit', prompt);
+      onStarter(prompt);
       return;
     }
     if (!onLaunch) return;
@@ -202,16 +201,12 @@ const DashboardEmptyState: React.FC<{
                 >
                   <ArrowLeft size={15} /> back
                 </Box>
-                <Box
-                  onMouseLeave={() => { if (!isAppBuilder) onStarter?.('leave'); }}
-                  sx={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 0.9, width: '100%', maxWidth: 480 }}
-                >
+                <Box sx={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 0.9, width: '100%', maxWidth: 480 }}>
                   {currentPrompts.map((prompt) => (
                     <Box
                       component="button"
                       key={prompt}
                       onClick={() => launch(prompt)}
-                      onMouseEnter={() => { if (!isAppBuilder) onStarter?.('hover', prompt); }}
                       disabled={launching}
                       sx={{
                         textAlign: 'left',
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/hooks/state/useDashboardController.ts b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/hooks/state/useDashboardController.ts
index f0080a00..eb430e50 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/hooks/state/useDashboardController.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/pages/Dashboard/hooks/state/useDashboardController.ts
@@ -159,28 +159,15 @@ export function useDashboardController(dashboardId: string, isActive: boolean) {
     setSearchPaletteOpen,
   });
 
-  // Starter-prompt preview: HOVER opens the composer with the prompt typed in
-  // (translucent, unsent); leaving closes it again; CLICK locks it open so the
-  // user can move to the send button without it vanishing. Then they hit send.
+  // Starter-prompt click: opens the composer with the prompt typed in (translucent,
+  // unsent), so the user reviews and hits send. Cleared when the composer closes.
   const [toolbarPrefill, setToolbarPrefill] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
-  const starterLockedRef = useRef(false);
-  const handleStarter = useCallback((action: 'hover' | 'leave' | 'commit', prompt?: string) => {
-    if (action === 'hover' && prompt) {
-      setToolbarPrefill(prompt);
-      setToolbarOpen(true);
-    } else if (action === 'commit' && prompt) {
-      starterLockedRef.current = true;
-      setToolbarPrefill(prompt);
-      setToolbarOpen(true);
-    } else if (action === 'leave' && !starterLockedRef.current) {
-      setToolbarOpen(false);
-    }
+  const handleStarter = useCallback((prompt: string) => {
+    setToolbarPrefill(prompt);
+    setToolbarOpen(true);
   }, [setToolbarOpen]);
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!toolbarOpen) {
-      starterLockedRef.current = false;
-      if (toolbarPrefill) setToolbarPrefill(undefined);
-    }
+    if (!toolbarOpen && toolbarPrefill) setToolbarPrefill(undefined);
   }, [toolbarOpen, toolbarPrefill]);
 
   useDashboardClipboard({