diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/regression/tabs.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/regression/tabs.spec.ts
index f413c7fb5d15..df428935c84f 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/regression/tabs.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/regression/tabs.spec.ts
@@ -1235,7 +1235,7 @@ test("⌘W closes the session tab again once the window loses focus after the si
   await expect(sessions.alphaTab).toHaveCount(0)
 })
 
-test("⌘W in the side panel closes its New tab, then the panel, and only then the session tab", async ({ page }) => {
+test("⌘W in the side panel closes its last New tab with the panel, and only then the session tab", async ({ page }) => {
   await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1440, height: 900 })
   const alpha = { id: "ses_side_new_alpha", title: "Side new alpha" }
   const beta = { id: "ses_side_new_beta", title: "Side new beta" }
@@ -1254,14 +1254,14 @@ test("⌘W in the side panel closes its New tab, then the panel, and only then t
   // A launcher row in the New tab view holds focus as ⌘W removes it.
   await panel.getByRole("button", { name: /^Open file/ }).focus()
 
+  // The New tab was the panel's last tab, so closing it closes the panel too, and focus goes back.
   await page.keyboard.press("ControlOrMeta+w")
   await expect(newTab).toHaveCount(0)
-  await expect(toggle).toHaveAttribute("aria-expanded", "true")
-
-  // Nothing is left to close in the panel, so ⌘W closes the panel rather than the session, and focus goes back.
-  await page.keyboard.press("ControlOrMeta+w")
   await expect(toggle).toHaveAttribute("aria-expanded", "false")
   await expect(composer).toBeFocused()
+
+  // One press too many closes nothing rather than the session.
+  await page.keyboard.press("ControlOrMeta+w")
   await expect(alphaTab).toHaveCount(1)
   await expectPath(page, sessionHref(alpha.id))
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/runtime/plugin/panels.tsx b/packages/app/src/runtime/plugin/panels.tsx
index a33a98b1f49a..c4ca26abbafb 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/runtime/plugin/panels.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/runtime/plugin/panels.tsx
@@ -340,12 +340,27 @@ export function createRegion(input: {
 
   const empty = createMemo(() => strip().length === 0)
 
+  // Focus leaves before the close starts, back to where it was; otherwise the panel hands it to its toggle.
+  const giveBackFocus = () => {
+    const inside = !!document.getElementById("review-panel")?.contains(document.activeElement)
+    const back = returnFocus
+    returnFocus = undefined
+
+    if (inside && back?.isConnected) back.focus({ preventScroll: true })
+  }
+
+  // Emptying the region closes it, so focus goes back as the user's own close would give it.
+  const emptied = () => {
+    giveBackFocus()
+    input.onEmptied?.()
+  }
+
   // Closing the last New tab of a strip with no tabs closes the region, as closing its last tab does.
   const dismissNewTab = (id: string) =>
     batch(() => {
       setState("adding", (list) => list.filter((value) => value.id !== id))
 
-      if (empty() && !state.adding.some(live)) input.onEmptied?.()
+      if (empty() && !state.adding.some(live)) emptied()
     })
 
   return {
@@ -409,12 +424,7 @@ export function createRegion(input: {
       const focused = document.activeElement
 
       if (side.opened()) {
-        const inside = !!document.getElementById("review-panel")?.contains(focused)
-        const back = returnFocus
-        returnFocus = undefined
-
-        // Focus leaves before the close starts, back to where it was; otherwise the panel hands it to its toggle.
-        if (inside && back?.isConnected) back.focus({ preventScroll: true })
+        giveBackFocus()
         side.toggle()
 
         return
@@ -444,7 +454,7 @@ export function createRegion(input: {
       batch(() => {
         input.tabs().close(key)
 
-        if (last) input.onEmptied?.()
+        if (last) emptied()
       })
 
       if (entry)
diff --git a/packages/app/src/session/commands/use-session-commands.tsx b/packages/app/src/session/commands/use-session-commands.tsx
index 3d2ca6ccf909..2d953398c3f3 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/session/commands/use-session-commands.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/session/commands/use-session-commands.tsx
@@ -241,8 +241,10 @@ export const useSessionCommands = (actions: SessionCommandContext) => {
     if (actions.region.closeNewTab(focusedPane())) {
       const panel = document.getElementById("review-panel")
 
-      // A launcher row that held focus is gone; focus stays in the panel so closing it next returns focus.
-      if (panel && !panel.contains(document.activeElement)) panel.focus({ preventScroll: true, focusVisible: false })
+      // A launcher row that held focus is gone; focus stays in the panel so closing it next returns focus. Closing the
+      // strip's last New tab closes the panel too, which already gave focus back.
+      if (panel && actions.session.layout.view().side.opened() && !panel.contains(document.activeElement))
+        panel.focus({ preventScroll: true, focusVisible: false })
 
       return
     }