diff --git a/web/src/lib/keyboard.test.ts b/web/src/lib/keyboard.test.ts
index a4811327ba87905ead4335e18cd67d40e4e2bedb..f738143b9345c23bda11ba187dd983f6a4ed04f2 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/keyboard.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/keyboard.test.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,28 @@
     expect(opts.go).toHaveBeenCalledWith('health' satisfies RouteName)
   })
 
+  it('g then h while palette is open → no go() (palette guards prevent navigation mid-query)', () => {
+    const opts = makeOpts()
+    opts.isPaletteOpen = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true)
+    const ctrl = makeCtrl(opts)
+
+    ctrl.onKeyDown(makeKey('g'))
+    ctrl.onKeyDown(makeKey('h'))
+
+    expect(opts.go).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('g while target is <input> → no gPending set, follow-up h does nothing', () => {
+    const opts = makeOpts()
+    const ctrl = makeCtrl(opts)
+
+    const input = document.createElement('input')
+    ctrl.onKeyDown(makeKey('g', { target: input }))
+    ctrl.onKeyDown(makeKey('h', { target: input }))
+
+    expect(opts.go).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   it('teardown clears pending timer', () => {
     const opts = makeOpts()
     const ctrl = makeCtrl(opts)
diff --git a/web/src/lib/keyboard.ts b/web/src/lib/keyboard.ts
index 6e17c5499a65c0ef41bdd7e2e325f15fa0c45056..60e2a12274e5b99b5f5f4c7a62f9b78132ef5728 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/keyboard.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/keyboard.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@       }
       return
     }
 
+    // After ⌘K and Esc, all remaining shortcuts (g-leader, j/k, Enter)
+    // are reserved for the global navigation surface. They must not fire
+    // while the palette has focus or while the user is typing into any
+    // editable element — typing "gh" into a search input would otherwise
+    // navigate home mid-query.
+    if (opts.isPaletteOpen() || isEditableTarget(e.target)) {
+      return
+    }
+
     // g-prefix navigation: consume 'g' then route letter
     if (gPending) {
       let route: RouteName | null = null
@@ -76,14 +85,13 @@       gTimer = setTimeout(clearG, G_TIMEOUT_MS)
       return
     }
 
-    // j / k — cursor movement (only when palette closed and target not editable)
-    if (!opts.isPaletteOpen() && !isEditableTarget(e.target)) {
-      if (e.key === 'j') { opts.cursor.move(1); return }
-      if (e.key === 'k') { opts.cursor.move(-1); return }
-    }
+    // j / k — cursor movement
+    if (e.key === 'j') { opts.cursor.move(1); return }
+    if (e.key === 'k') { opts.cursor.move(-1); return }
 
-    // Enter — activate cursor item when palette closed and target is body
-    if (e.key === 'Enter' && !opts.isPaletteOpen() && e.target === document.body) {
+    // Enter — activate cursor item only when target is the document body
+    // (not, e.g., a tab button that handles its own Enter).
+    if (e.key === 'Enter' && e.target === document.body) {
       opts.cursor.activate()
       return
     }