diff --git a/apps/web/components/command-panel-footer.tsx b/apps/web/components/command-panel-footer.tsx
index ca7b002340..da32d0a9f4 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/command-panel-footer.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/command-panel-footer.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
+import type { Dispatch, SetStateAction } from "react";
 import { formatDistanceToNow } from "date-fns";
 import { IconArchive, IconArrowRight, IconHammer, IconLoader2 } from "@tabler/icons-react";
 import {
@@ -22,8 +23,8 @@ import type { Task } from "@/lib/types/http";
 import { FileIcon } from "@/components/ui/file-icon";
 
 const ARCHIVED_STATES = new Set(["COMPLETED", "CANCELLED", "FAILED"]);
-const MODE_COMMANDS: CommandPanelMode = "commands";
-const MODE_SEARCH_FILES: CommandPanelMode = "search-files";
+export const MODE_COMMANDS: CommandPanelMode = "commands";
+export const MODE_SEARCH_FILES: CommandPanelMode = "search-files";
 
 const STEP_COLOR_MAP: Record<string, string> = {
   "bg-slate-500": "#64748b",
@@ -41,6 +42,18 @@ function getFileName(filePath: string) {
   return filePath.split("/").pop() ?? filePath;
 }
 
+function getCommandValue(cmd: CommandItemType) {
+  return cmd.id + " " + cmd.label + " " + (cmd.keywords?.join(" ") ?? "");
+}
+
+export function getTaskResultValue(task: Task) {
+  return `__task:${task.id} ${task.title}`;
+}
+
+export function getFileResultValue(filePath: string) {
+  return `__file:${filePath}`;
+}
+
 function CommandItemRow({
   cmd,
   onSelect,
@@ -49,11 +62,7 @@ function CommandItemRow({
   onSelect: (cmd: CommandItemType) => void;
 }) {
   return (
-    <CommandItem
-      key={cmd.id}
-      value={cmd.id + " " + cmd.label + " " + (cmd.keywords?.join(" ") ?? "")}
-      onSelect={() => onSelect(cmd)}
-    >
+    <CommandItem key={cmd.id} value={getCommandValue(cmd)} onSelect={() => onSelect(cmd)}>
       {cmd.icon && <span className="text-muted-foreground">{cmd.icon}</span>}
       <span>{cmd.label}</span>
       {cmd.shortcut && <CommandShortcut>{formatShortcut(cmd.shortcut)}</CommandShortcut>}
@@ -90,7 +99,7 @@ function TaskResultItem({ task, stepMap, repoMap, onSelect }: TaskResultItemProp
   return (
     <CommandItem
       key={task.id}
-      value={`__task:${task.id} ${task.title}`}
+      value={getTaskResultValue(task)}
       onSelect={() => onSelect(task)}
       className={isArchived ? "opacity-60" : ""}
       forceMount
@@ -213,7 +222,7 @@ function FileSearchContent({ files, isSearching, search, onSelect }: FileSearchC
         return (
           <CommandItem
             key={filePath}
-            value={`__file:${filePath}`}
+            value={getFileResultValue(filePath)}
             onSelect={() => onSelect(filePath)}
             forceMount
           >
@@ -288,7 +297,7 @@ export type CommandPanelViewProps = {
   mode: CommandPanelMode;
   inputCommand: CommandItemType | null;
   selectedValue: string;
-  setSelectedValue: (value: string) => void;
+  setSelectedValue: Dispatch<SetStateAction<string>>;
   search: string;
   setSearch: (value: string) => void;
   handleKeyDown: (e: React.KeyboardEvent) => void;
diff --git a/apps/web/components/command-panel.tsx b/apps/web/components/command-panel.tsx
index 0cfe0952d3..668aae3621 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/command-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/command-panel.tsx
@@ -15,14 +15,20 @@ import type { Task } from "@/lib/types/http";
 import { getWebSocketClient } from "@/lib/ws/connection";
 import { searchWorkspaceFiles } from "@/lib/ws/workspace-files";
 import { useDockviewStore } from "@/lib/state/dockview-store";
-import { CommandPanelView } from "@/components/command-panel-footer";
+import {
+  CommandPanelView,
+  MODE_COMMANDS,
+  MODE_SEARCH_FILES,
+  getFileResultValue,
+  getTaskResultValue,
+} from "@/components/command-panel-footer";
 
 function getFileName(filePath: string) {
   return filePath.split("/").pop() ?? filePath;
 }
 
 function useCommandPanelState() {
-  const [mode, setMode] = useState<CommandPanelMode>("commands");
+  const [mode, setMode] = useState<CommandPanelMode>(MODE_COMMANDS);
   const [search, setSearch] = useState("");
   const [inputCommand, setInputCommand] = useState<CommandItemType | null>(null);
   const [taskResults, setTaskResults] = useState<Task[]>([]);
@@ -63,22 +69,14 @@ type FileSearchEffectOptions = {
   activeSessionId: string | null;
   setFileResults: (files: string[]) => void;
   setIsSearchingFiles: (searching: boolean) => void;
-  setSelectedValue: (value: string) => void;
   fileDebounceRef: React.RefObject<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>;
 };
 
 function useFileSearchEffect(opts: FileSearchEffectOptions) {
-  const {
-    mode,
-    search,
-    activeSessionId,
-    setFileResults,
-    setIsSearchingFiles,
-    setSelectedValue,
-    fileDebounceRef,
-  } = opts;
+  const { mode, search, activeSessionId, setFileResults, setIsSearchingFiles, fileDebounceRef } =
+    opts;
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (mode !== "search-files" || !search.trim() || !activeSessionId) {
+    if (mode !== MODE_SEARCH_FILES || !search.trim() || !activeSessionId) {
       setFileResults([]);
       setIsSearchingFiles(false);
       return;
@@ -97,7 +95,6 @@ function useFileSearchEffect(opts: FileSearchEffectOptions) {
         if (!cancelled) {
           const files = res.files ?? [];
           setFileResults(files);
-          if (files.length > 0) setSelectedValue(`__file:${files[0]}`);
         }
       } catch {
         if (!cancelled) setFileResults([]);
@@ -109,15 +106,7 @@ function useFileSearchEffect(opts: FileSearchEffectOptions) {
       cancelled = true;
       if (fileDebounceRef.current) clearTimeout(fileDebounceRef.current);
     };
-  }, [
-    activeSessionId,
-    fileDebounceRef,
-    mode,
-    search,
-    setFileResults,
-    setIsSearchingFiles,
-    setSelectedValue,
-  ]);
+  }, [activeSessionId, fileDebounceRef, mode, search, setFileResults, setIsSearchingFiles]);
 }
 
 const ARCHIVED_STATES = new Set(["COMPLETED", "CANCELLED", "FAILED"]);
@@ -154,7 +143,7 @@ function useInlineTaskSearchEffect(opts: InlineTaskSearchOptions) {
   const { visibleStepIds, stepPositionMap } = useStepMaps(steps);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (mode !== "commands") return;
+    if (mode !== MODE_COMMANDS) return;
     if (debounceRef.current) clearTimeout(debounceRef.current);
     abortRef.current?.abort();
 
@@ -275,7 +264,7 @@ function useCommandPanelEffects(
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!open) {
       const t = setTimeout(() => {
-        setMode("commands");
+        setMode(MODE_COMMANDS);
         setSearch("");
         setInputCommand(null);
         setTaskResults([]);
@@ -302,11 +291,37 @@ function useCommandPanelEffects(
     activeSessionId,
     setFileResults,
     setIsSearchingFiles,
-    setSelectedValue,
     fileDebounceRef,
   });
 }
 
+function useFirstResultSelection(open: boolean, state: ReturnType<typeof useCommandPanelState>) {
+  const { mode, search, taskResults, fileResults, setSelectedValue } = state;
+
+  // `search` intentionally re-applies the first result while debounced results are loading.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+
+    if (mode === MODE_COMMANDS) {
+      const firstTask = taskResults[0];
+      if (firstTask) {
+        setSelectedValue(getTaskResultValue(firstTask));
+        return;
+      }
+      setSelectedValue((current) => (current.startsWith("__task:") ? "" : current));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (mode === MODE_SEARCH_FILES) {
+      const firstFile = fileResults[0];
+      setSelectedValue(firstFile ? getFileResultValue(firstFile) : "");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setSelectedValue("");
+  }, [fileResults, mode, open, search, setSelectedValue, taskResults]);
+}
+
 function useCommandPanelHandlers(
   state: ReturnType<typeof useCommandPanelState>,
   setOpen: (open: boolean) => void,
@@ -382,9 +397,9 @@ function useCommandPanelHandlers(
         inputCommand.onInputSubmit(search.trim());
         return;
       }
-      if (mode !== "commands" && e.key === "Backspace" && !search) {
+      if (mode !== MODE_COMMANDS && e.key === "Backspace" && !search) {
         e.preventDefault();
-        setMode("commands");
+        setMode(MODE_COMMANDS);
         setSearch("");
         setInputCommand(null);
       }
@@ -393,7 +408,7 @@ function useCommandPanelHandlers(
   );
 
   const goBack = useCallback(() => {
-    setMode("commands");
+    setMode(MODE_COMMANDS);
     setSearch("");
     setInputCommand(null);
   }, [setMode, setSearch, setInputCommand]);
@@ -434,6 +449,7 @@ export function CommandPanel() {
   } = state;
 
   useCommandPanelEffects(open, state, workspaceId, activeSessionId, kanbanSteps);
+  useFirstResultSelection(open, state);
 
   const openRef = useRef(open);
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -443,10 +459,10 @@ export function CommandPanel() {
   const toggleCommands = useCallback(() => setOpen(!openRef.current), [setOpen]);
 
   const openFileSearch = useCallback(() => {
-    if (openRef.current && state.mode === "search-files") {
+    if (openRef.current && state.mode === MODE_SEARCH_FILES) {
       setOpen(false);
     } else {
-      state.setMode("search-files");
+      state.setMode(MODE_SEARCH_FILES);
       state.setSearch("");
       setOpen(true);
     }
diff --git a/apps/web/components/task/task-select-helpers.test.ts b/apps/web/components/task/task-select-helpers.test.ts
index 78c5a460b1..ec836e6b63 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/task/task-select-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/components/task/task-select-helpers.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/links", () => ({
   replaceTaskUrl: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
-import { launchSession } from "@/lib/services/session-launch-service";
+import { launchSession, type LaunchSessionResponse } from "@/lib/services/session-launch-service";
 import { releaseLayoutToDefault } from "@/lib/state/dockview-store";
 import type { StoreApi } from "zustand";
 import type { AppState } from "@/lib/state/store";
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ describe("prepareAndSwitchTask — outgoing-env panel cleanup", () => {
   it("releases the outgoing env's panels before awaiting launchSession", async () => {
     // Make launchSession return a deferred we control so we can observe
     // synchronous side effects that happen before the await resolves.
-    let resolveLaunch: (v: { session_id: string }) => void = () => {};
+    let resolveLaunch: (v: LaunchSessionResponse) => void = () => {};
     vi.mocked(launchSession).mockImplementation(
       () =>
         new Promise((res) => {
@@ -80,7 +80,12 @@ describe("prepareAndSwitchTask — outgoing-env panel cleanup", () => {
     expect(releaseLayoutToDefault).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(switchToSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
-    resolveLaunch({ session_id: "new-session" });
+    resolveLaunch({
+      success: true,
+      task_id: NEW_TASK_ID,
+      session_id: "new-session",
+      state: "ready",
+    });
     const result = await promise;
 
     // Happy-path coverage: switchToSession must run with the new session id and
diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/tests/command-panel.spec.ts b/apps/web/e2e/tests/command-panel.spec.ts
index a4577c4026..65f5454426 100644
--- a/apps/web/e2e/tests/command-panel.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/tests/command-panel.spec.ts
@@ -119,6 +119,43 @@ test.describe("Command Panel", () => {
     await expect(taskOption.getByText(startStep.name)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
   });
 
+  test("inline task search selects the first matching task after loading", async ({
+    testPage,
+    apiClient,
+    seedData,
+  }) => {
+    await apiClient.createTask(seedData.workspaceId, "Palette Selection Alpha", {
+      workflow_id: seedData.workflowId,
+      workflow_step_id: seedData.startStepId,
+    });
+    await apiClient.createTask(seedData.workspaceId, "Palette Selection Beta", {
+      workflow_id: seedData.workflowId,
+      workflow_step_id: seedData.startStepId,
+    });
+
+    const kanban = new KanbanPage(testPage);
+    await kanban.goto();
+    await expect(kanban.taskCardByTitle("Palette Selection Alpha")).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+    await expect(kanban.taskCardByTitle("Palette Selection Beta")).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+
+    await openCommandPanel(testPage);
+    const dialog = commandDialog(testPage);
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+
+    const input = dialog.getByRole("combobox");
+    await input.fill("Palette Selection");
+
+    const taskOptions = dialog.getByRole("option").filter({ hasText: /Palette Selection/ });
+    await expect(taskOptions.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    await expect(taskOptions.first()).toHaveAttribute("data-selected", "true", {
+      timeout: 5_000,
+    });
+  });
+
   test("Escape closes the command panel", async ({ testPage }) => {
     const kanban = new KanbanPage(testPage);
     await kanban.goto();