diff --git a/src/renderer/src/WorkbarShell.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/WorkbarShell.test.tsx
index 8dca1e99..9764c420 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/WorkbarShell.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/WorkbarShell.test.tsx
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ describe('WorkbarShell', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  it('keeps the close control background transparent when a tab reveals it', () => {
+    expect(stylesheet).toMatch(
+      /\.workbar-shell__tab-close\s*\{[^}]*background:\s*transparent;/u
+    )
+  })
+
   it('provides four default single-instance tabs and keeps add outside the tablist', () => {
     render(<ControlledShell />)
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/styles.css b/src/renderer/src/styles.css
index 37fac698..c9f62bcb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/renderer/src/styles.css
@@ -4010,7 +4010,7 @@ button > svg {
   width: 24px;
   min-width: 24px;
   height: 24px;
-  background: var(--surface-raised);
+  background: transparent;
   opacity: 0;
   pointer-events: none;
   transform: translateY(-50%) scale(0.86);