diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
index c6e277cce08..3227bac2413 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,45 @@ export function resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(viewportWidth: number)
   return sideGutter >= TIMELINE_MINIMAP_PERSISTENT_GUTTER;
 }
 
+export const TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_LEFT = 12;
+export const TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_MAX_WIDTH = 40;
+export const TIMELINE_MINIMAP_EXPANDED_HIT_STRIP_WIDTH = "22rem";
+
+/**
+ * The minimap overlays the viewport's left edge while the content column is
+ * centered, so the side gutter between them shrinks under browser zoom or a
+ * narrow pane. A fixed-width hover strip would then sit on top of the message
+ * text and swallow its pointer events. Cap the strip's width so it never
+ * extends past the gutter into the content column; 0 disables the strip.
+ */
+export function resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(viewportWidth: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(viewportWidth) || viewportWidth <= 0) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const contentWidth = Math.min(viewportWidth, TIMELINE_CONTENT_MAX_WIDTH);
+  const sideGutter = Math.max(0, (viewportWidth - contentWidth) / 2);
+  return Math.max(
+    0,
+    Math.min(
+      TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_MAX_WIDTH,
+      Math.floor(sideGutter) - TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_LEFT,
+    ),
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Once the preview is open, keep the full preview and the space leading to it
+ * interactive. The collapsed strip remains gutter-capped so it cannot block
+ * selecting message text.
+ */
+export function resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(
+  collapsedWidth: number,
+  expanded: boolean,
+): number | string {
+  return expanded ? TIMELINE_MINIMAP_EXPANDED_HIT_STRIP_WIDTH : collapsedWidth;
+}
+
 function computeElapsedMs(startIso: string, endIso: string): number | null {
   const start = Date.parse(startIso);
   const end = Date.parse(endIso);
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
index 0957e025311..a58724f3308 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
@@ -224,7 +224,9 @@ describe("MessagesTimeline", () => {
       resolveTimelineIsAtEnd,
       resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter,
       resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle,
+      resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth,
       resolveTimelineMinimapIndexFromPointer,
+      resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth,
       resolveTimelineMinimapTopPercent,
     } = await import("./MessagesTimeline.logic");
 
@@ -254,6 +256,28 @@ describe("MessagesTimeline", () => {
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(832)).toBe(false);
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(863)).toBe(false);
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(864)).toBe(true);
+
+    // No usable gutter (zoomed in / narrow pane): the strip must go inert
+    // instead of overlaying the centered content column.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(768)).toBe(0);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(792)).toBe(0);
+    // Partial gutter: strip shrinks to what fits between the viewport edge
+    // and the content column.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(820)).toBe(14);
+    // Full gutter: unchanged 40px-wide strip.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(872)).toBe(40);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(1400)).toBe(40);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(0)).toBe(0);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(Number.NaN)).toBe(0);
+
+    // The collapsed target stays narrow, but an open preview keeps its full
+    // 20rem width plus the 2rem offset from the minimap rail interactive.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(0, false)).toBe(0);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(14, false)).toBe(14);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(40, false)).toBe(40);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(0, true)).toBe("22rem");
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(14, true)).toBe("22rem");
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(40, true)).toBe("22rem");
   });
 
   it("anchors a sent attachment message using its measured height", async () => {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
index 1a4dc6b6895..0680799a498 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ import {
   resolveTimelineIsAtEnd,
   resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter,
   resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle,
+  resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth,
   resolveTimelineMinimapIndexFromPointer,
+  resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth,
   resolveTimelineMinimapTopPercent,
   type StableMessagesTimelineRowsState,
   type MessagesTimelineRow,
@@ -322,6 +324,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
     null,
   );
   const [minimapHasPersistentGutter, setMinimapHasPersistentGutter] = useState(false);
+  const [minimapHitStripWidth, setMinimapHitStripWidth] = useState(0);
   const handleAnchorReady = useCallback(
     (info: { anchorIndex: number | undefined }) => {
       if (anchorMessageId !== null && info.anchorIndex !== undefined) {
@@ -393,6 +396,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
       setMinimapHasPersistentGutter((current) =>
         current === nextHasPersistentGutter ? current : nextHasPersistentGutter,
       );
+      setMinimapHitStripWidth(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(viewportWidth));
     };
 
     const frame = requestAnimationFrame(measure);
@@ -506,6 +510,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
             items={minimapItems}
             bottomInset={contentInsetEndAdjustment}
             hasPersistentGutter={minimapHasPersistentGutter}
+            hitStripWidth={minimapHitStripWidth}
             stripMap={minimapStripMap}
             onSelect={(item) => {
               onManualNavigation();
@@ -600,15 +605,21 @@ function resolveTimelineRowHeight(state: TimelinePositionState, rowIndex: number
   return typeof height === "number" && Number.isFinite(height) ? height : null;
 }
 
+function timelineMinimapEventTargetsPreview(target: EventTarget): boolean {
+  return target instanceof Element && target.closest("[data-minimap-preview]") !== null;
+}
+
 function TimelineMinimap({
   bottomInset,
   hasPersistentGutter,
+  hitStripWidth,
   items,
   stripMap,
   onSelect,
 }: {
   bottomInset: number;
   hasPersistentGutter: boolean;
+  hitStripWidth: number;
   items: ReadonlyArray<TimelineMinimapItem>;
   stripMap: Map<string, HTMLSpanElement>;
   onSelect: (item: TimelineMinimapItem) => void;
@@ -671,7 +682,7 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
-        "group/minimap pointer-events-auto absolute top-0 left-0 z-40 hidden w-18 [@media(pointer:fine)]:block",
+        "group/minimap pointer-events-none absolute top-0 left-0 z-40 hidden w-18 [@media(pointer:fine)]:block",
         hasPersistentGutter
           ? "opacity-100"
           : "opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-150 hover:opacity-100 focus-within:opacity-100",
@@ -683,9 +694,17 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
       <div className="relative h-full w-full select-none">
         <button
           aria-label={`Jump to message: ${activeItem?.userText ?? "User message"}`}
-          className="pointer-events-auto absolute top-1/2 left-3 w-10 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-pointer bg-transparent focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/70"
+          className={cn(
+            "absolute top-1/2 left-3 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-pointer bg-transparent focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/70",
+            // The strip is width-capped to the side gutter so it never overlays
+            // the centered content column; with no usable gutter it goes inert.
+            hitStripWidth > 0 ? "pointer-events-auto" : "pointer-events-none",
+          )}
           onBlur={() => setActiveIndex(null)}
           onClick={(event) => {
+            if (timelineMinimapEventTargetsPreview(event.target)) {
+              return;
+            }
             const nextIndex = resolveActiveIndexFromPointer(event);
             const nextItem = nextIndex === null ? null : (items[nextIndex] ?? null);
             if (nextItem) {
@@ -717,9 +736,15 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
           onMouseLeave={() => setActiveIndex(null)}
           onMouseMove={updateActiveIndexFromPointer}
           onMouseDown={(event) => {
+            if (timelineMinimapEventTargetsPreview(event.target)) {
+              return;
+            }
             event.preventDefault();
           }}
-          style={{ height: resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle(items.length) }}
+          style={{
+            height: resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle(items.length),
+            width: resolveTimelineMinimapInteractiveWidth(hitStripWidth, activeItem !== null),
+          }}
           type="button"
         >
           <div className="absolute top-0 left-3 h-full w-px bg-border/15" />
@@ -756,27 +781,31 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
           })}
           {activeItem ? (
             <span
-              className="pointer-events-none absolute left-8 w-80 rounded-xl border border-border/70 bg-popover/95 p-3 text-left text-popover-foreground shadow-xl shadow-black/25 backdrop-blur"
+              className="pointer-events-auto absolute left-8 w-80 cursor-text select-text"
+              data-minimap-preview
+              onMouseMove={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
               style={{
                 top: `${activeTopPercent}%`,
                 transform: `translateY(${activeTooltipTranslate})`,
               }}
             >
-              <span className="block max-w-full overflow-hidden text-ellipsis whitespace-nowrap text-sm font-medium leading-5">
-                {activeItem.userText ?? "User message"}
-              </span>
-              {activeItem.assistantText ? (
-                <span
-                  className="mt-1 max-h-[3.75rem] overflow-hidden text-muted-foreground text-sm leading-5"
-                  style={{
-                    display: "-webkit-box",
-                    WebkitBoxOrient: "vertical",
-                    WebkitLineClamp: 3,
-                  }}
-                >
-                  {activeItem.assistantText}
+              <span className="block rounded-xl border border-border/70 bg-popover/95 p-3 text-left text-popover-foreground shadow-xl shadow-black/25 backdrop-blur">
+                <span className="block max-w-full overflow-hidden text-ellipsis whitespace-nowrap text-sm font-medium leading-5">
+                  {activeItem.userText ?? "User message"}
                 </span>
-              ) : null}
+                {activeItem.assistantText ? (
+                  <span
+                    className="mt-1 max-h-[3.75rem] overflow-hidden text-muted-foreground text-sm leading-5"
+                    style={{
+                      display: "-webkit-box",
+                      WebkitBoxOrient: "vertical",
+                      WebkitLineClamp: 3,
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    {activeItem.assistantText}
+                  </span>
+                ) : null}
+              </span>
             </span>
           ) : null}
         </button>