diff --git a/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/chat-box.svelte b/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/chat-box.svelte
index bb0c6050..1a46a9bc 100644
--- a/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/chat-box.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/chat-box.svelte
@@ -1653,11 +1653,19 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	/** @param {string} messageId */
+	/**
+	 * Clicking a user message marks it as the one being inspected, and points the
+	 * log panes at it. The highlight is unconditional — it is feedback that the
+	 * click landed, and the message stays picked out whether or not the logs are
+	 * on screen. Directing the panes only makes sense while they are open.
+	 * @param {string} messageId
+	 */
 	function directToLog(messageId) {
-		if (!messageId || isLite || !isLoadPersistLog) return;
+		if (!messageId || isLite) return;
 
 		highlightedMsgId = messageId;
+		if (!isLoadPersistLog) return;
+
 		highlightStateLog(messageId);
 		autoScrollToTargetLog(messageId);
 	}
@@ -1682,6 +1690,9 @@
 
 	/** @param {string} messageId */
 	function autoScrollToTargetLog(messageId) {
+		// Tell a freshly opened log pane to stop pinning itself to the tail, or it
+		// would pull straight back down from the entry we are about to show.
+		window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('persist-log:cancel-pin'));
 		const contentLogWrapper = '.content-log-scrollbar';
 		const stateLogWrapper = '.conv-state-log-scrollbar';
 		const elements = [];
diff --git a/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/persist-log/persist-log.svelte b/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/persist-log/persist-log.svelte
index 943a2883..931a22ef 100644
--- a/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/persist-log/persist-log.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/chat/[agentId]/[conversationId]/persist-log/persist-log.svelte
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
     const contentLogTab = 1;
     const conversationStateLogTab = 2;
     const conversationId = page.params.conversationId;
+    /** Fired by chat-box when it scrolls a pane to a specific log entry. */
+    const CANCEL_PIN_EVENT = 'persist-log:cancel-pin';
     const utcNow = moment.utc().toDate();
 
     const scrollbarElements = [
@@ -178,6 +180,17 @@
      * @param {number} timeoutMs
      */
     function pinToBottomWhileSettling(timeoutMs = 3000) {
+        /** @type {(() => void)[]} */
+        const stops = [];
+        /*
+         * Opening the panes to look at one message races the settling pin: the pin
+         * would drag the pane back to the tail moments after the jump. A scroll
+         * aimed at a specific entry cancels the pin, the same way a wheel does.
+         */
+        const cancelPin = () => stops.forEach(stop => stop());
+        window.addEventListener(CANCEL_PIN_EVENT, cancelPin);
+        stops.push(() => window.removeEventListener(CANCEL_PIN_EVENT, cancelPin));
+
         scrollbars.forEach(scrollbar => {
             if (!scrollbar) return;
 
@@ -202,6 +215,7 @@
             viewport.addEventListener('pointerdown', stop);
             viewport.addEventListener('keydown', stop);
             timer = setTimeout(stop, timeoutMs);
+            stops.push(stop);
         });
     }