diff --git a/src/lib/layout/Gutter.css b/src/lib/layout/Gutter.css
index fe4d777..d405d61 100644
--- a/src/lib/layout/Gutter.css
+++ b/src/lib/layout/Gutter.css
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-/* The hitbox is invisible; we render a 4px visible line in the middle
-   via a pseudo-element so the grab area is generous while the visual
-   stays thin. */
+/* The hitbox is invisible (14px wide); we render a 4px visible line in
+   the middle via a pseudo-element so the grab area is generous while the
+   visual stays thin. Color is bumped above the terminal background so the
+   line is actually visible — at #1a1a1a on #0c0c0c it was nearly invisible
+   and users couldn't find inner gutters. */
 .gutter {
   background: transparent;
   user-select: none;
@@ -9,7 +11,7 @@
 .gutter::before {
   content: "";
   position: absolute;
-  background: #1a1a1a;
+  background: #2f2f2f;
   transition: background 0.12s;
 }
 .gutter-h::before {
@@ -26,7 +28,9 @@
   height: 4px;
   transform: translateY(-50%);
 }
-.gutter:hover::before,
-.gutter.active::before {
-  background: #3a5a8c;
+.gutter:hover::before {
+  background: #6a8bc0;
+}
+.gutter.active::before {
+  background: #5a8cd8;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/layout/Gutter.tsx b/src/lib/layout/Gutter.tsx
index 241dc7b..e37866c 100644
--- a/src/lib/layout/Gutter.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/layout/Gutter.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { type Box, type GutterInfo, MIN_PANE_PX } from "./tree";
  * `onArmedChange` is called with the would-be box of the promoted pane.
  * On release while armed, `onPromote` fires.
  */
-const HITBOX_PX = 8;
+const HITBOX_PX = 14;
 /** Cursor must reach this fraction across the sibling pane (in the exit
  *  direction) to arm the promote gesture. 0.5 = middle of the sibling. */
 const PROMOTE_TRIGGER_FRAC = 0.5;
@@ -105,28 +105,8 @@ export default function Gutter({
 
       // Promote gesture: armed iff cursor is inside the sibling box AND
       // past PROMOTE_TRIGGER_FRAC along the exit direction.
-      // TEMP DEBUG: trace which gutter is being dragged + the eval result.
-      // Remove once the issue is diagnosed.
       if (info.promote) {
-        const armed = isArmed(info.promote, xFrac, yFrac);
-        console.log("[gutter-drag]", {
-          orient: info.orientation,
-          gutterAt: info.orientation === "h"
-            ? `x=${info.box.left.toFixed(2)}`
-            : `y=${info.box.top.toFixed(2)}`,
-          cursor: { x: xFrac.toFixed(3), y: yFrac.toFixed(3) },
-          siblingBox: info.promote.siblingBox,
-          exitDirection: info.promote.exitDirection,
-          armed,
-        });
-        setArmed(armed);
-      } else {
-        console.log("[gutter-drag] NO promote (root split)", {
-          orient: info.orientation,
-          gutterAt: info.orientation === "h"
-            ? `x=${info.box.left.toFixed(2)}`
-            : `y=${info.box.top.toFixed(2)}`,
-        });
+        setArmed(isArmed(info.promote, xFrac, yFrac));
       }
     },
     [containerRef, info, flushPending, setArmed],
@@ -172,7 +152,7 @@ export default function Gutter({
         height: `${info.box.height * 100}%`,
         width: `${HITBOX_PX}px`,
         cursor: "col-resize",
-        zIndex: 10,
+        zIndex: 100,
       }
     : {
         position: "absolute",
@@ -181,7 +161,7 @@ export default function Gutter({
         width: `${info.box.width * 100}%`,
         height: `${HITBOX_PX}px`,
         cursor: "row-resize",
-        zIndex: 10,
+        zIndex: 100,
       };
 
   return (