diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatContentParts/media/chatQuestionCarousel.css b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatContentParts/media/chatQuestionCarousel.css
index cd0d2c2bea6daf..ea7a08fe2b125a 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatContentParts/media/chatQuestionCarousel.css
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatContentParts/media/chatQuestionCarousel.css
@@ -9,20 +9,18 @@
 	display: none;
 }
 
-/* input specific styling */
+/* input specific styling - box look comes from the shared container rule below */
 .interactive-session .interactive-input-part > .chat-question-carousel-widget-container .chat-question-carousel-container,
 .interactive-session .interactive-input-part .interactive-input-and-edit-session > .chat-question-carousel-widget-container .chat-question-carousel-container {
 	margin: 0;
-	border: 1px solid var(--vscode-input-border, transparent);
-	background-color: var(--vscode-panel-background);
-	border-radius: var(--vscode-cornerRadius-large);
 }
 
-/* general questions styling */
+/* general questions styling - matches the tool confirmation (permissions) box family */
 .interactive-session .chat-question-carousel-container {
 	margin: 8px 0;
-	border: 1px solid var(--vscode-chat-requestBorder);
+	border: 1px solid var(--vscode-input-border, var(--vscode-chat-requestBorder));
 	border-radius: var(--vscode-cornerRadius-large);
+	background-color: var(--vscode-panel-background);
 	display: flex;
 	flex-direction: column;
 	overflow: hidden;
@@ -31,6 +29,17 @@
 	position: relative;
 }
 
+.interactive-session .chat-question-carousel-container:focus-visible,
+.interactive-session .chat-question-carousel-container:focus-within {
+	border-color: var(--vscode-focusBorder);
+}
+
+/* in the agents window / editor the surface is the editor background */
+.agent-sessions-workbench .interactive-session .chat-question-carousel-container,
+.editor-instance .interactive-session .chat-question-carousel-container {
+	background-color: var(--vscode-editor-background);
+}
+
 /* input part wrapper */
 .interactive-session .interactive-input-part > .chat-question-carousel-widget-container,
 .interactive-session .interactive-input-part .interactive-input-and-edit-session > .chat-question-carousel-widget-container {