diff --git a/src/App.svelte b/src/App.svelte
index 4836b9b..7d5306c 100644
--- a/src/App.svelte
+++ b/src/App.svelte
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@
     if (activeLeafId === id) activeLeafId = null;
   }
 
+  // Bumped to force a full Pane unmount+remount when the tree's structure
+  // changes in a way the DOM-hide workaround can't simulate (specifically,
+  // when ALL panes have been closed and we need to render a fresh leaf).
+  let renderKey = $state(0);
+
   // ---- tree mutation handlers (closures over tree $state) -----------------
   function handleSplit(leafId: NodeId, orientation: Orientation) {
     const parent = findLeaf(tree, leafId);
@@ -73,21 +78,45 @@
       void killPane(paneId).catch((e) => console.warn("killPane failed:", e));
       orch.paneIdByLeaf.delete(leafId);
     }
-    // Hide the closed pane's flex container and the adjacent gutter so the
-    // sibling pane visually fills the freed space.
+
+    // DOM-hide the .side wrapping this leaf and the adjacent gutter so the
+    // sibling pane visually fills. If both sides of the parent split are
+    // now hidden, bubble up and hide that whole split too (recursive
+    // collapse — needed for nested closes).
     const leafEl = document.querySelector(`[data-leaf-id="${leafId}"]`);
-    const sideEl = leafEl?.closest(".side") as HTMLElement | null;
-    const splitEl = sideEl?.parentElement;
-    if (sideEl && splitEl) {
+    let sideEl = leafEl?.closest(".side") as HTMLElement | null;
+    while (sideEl) {
       sideEl.style.display = "none";
+      const splitEl = sideEl.parentElement;
+      if (!splitEl) break;
+      // Hide the gutter in this split (only one).
       Array.from(splitEl.children).forEach((c) => {
         const child = c as HTMLElement;
         if (child.classList.contains("gutter")) child.style.display = "none";
       });
+      // If a sibling side is still visible, flex will auto-fill; we're done.
+      const visibleSiblings = Array.from(splitEl.children).filter((c) => {
+        const child = c as HTMLElement;
+        return (
+          child.classList.contains("side") &&
+          child.style.display !== "none"
+        );
+      });
+      if (visibleSiblings.length > 0) break;
+      // Otherwise, this whole split is empty — climb up and hide its parent side.
+      sideEl = splitEl.closest(".side") as HTMLElement | null;
     }
-    // Update tree state (used by broadcast routing, palette, persistence).
+
+    // Update tree state for persistence / palette / broadcast routing.
     const next = closeLeaf(tree, leafId);
-    tree = next ?? newLeaf({ distro: defaultDistro });
+    if (next === null) {
+      // Tree fully collapsed. The DOM-hide workaround can't simulate
+      // mounting a brand-new leaf, so force a clean remount via key bump.
+      tree = newLeaf({ distro: defaultDistro });
+      renderKey += 1;
+    } else {
+      tree = next;
+    }
     clearActiveIf(leafId);
   }
 
@@ -332,7 +361,9 @@
 
   <div class="pane-wrap">
     {#if ready}
-      <Pane node={tree} {activeLeafId} />
+      {#key renderKey}
+        <Pane node={tree} {activeLeafId} />
+      {/key}
     {/if}
   </div>