diff --git a/packages/app/src/pages/layout.tsx b/packages/app/src/pages/layout.tsx
index 30925191f..b7ac28ae1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/pages/layout.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/pages/layout.tsx
@@ -1891,6 +1891,7 @@ export default function Layout(props: ParentProps) {
 
   const SidebarPanel = (panelProps: { project: LocalProject | undefined; mobile?: boolean; merged?: boolean }) => {
     const merged = createMemo(() => panelProps.mobile || (panelProps.merged ?? layout.sidebar.opened()))
+    const hover = createMemo(() => !panelProps.mobile && panelProps.merged === false && !layout.sidebar.opened())
     const projectName = createMemo(() => {
       const project = panelProps.project
       if (!project) return ""
@@ -1919,8 +1920,8 @@ export default function Layout(props: ParentProps) {
           "flex flex-col min-h-0 min-w-0 rounded-tl-[12px] px-2": true,
           "border border-b-0 border-border-weak-base": !merged(),
           "border-l border-t border-border-weaker-base": merged(),
-          "bg-background-base": merged(),
-          "bg-background-stronger": !merged(),
+          "bg-background-base": merged() || hover(),
+          "bg-background-stronger": !merged() && !hover(),
           "flex-1 min-w-0": panelProps.mobile,
           "max-w-full overflow-hidden": panelProps.mobile,
         }}