diff --git a/apps/web/tests/smoke-real.e2e.ts b/apps/web/tests/smoke-real.e2e.ts
index abe33ab5d1..42bdee397c 100644
--- a/apps/web/tests/smoke-real.e2e.ts
+++ b/apps/web/tests/smoke-real.e2e.ts
@@ -511,6 +511,16 @@ describe.skipIf(!process.env.DEEPSEEK_API_KEY || notReady.length > 0)('web smoke
 
   it('2+3 empty-state first send completes a real model round', async () => {
     onTestFailed(() => saveFailureShot(page, 'w5-first-round'))
+    // This scenario spawns its own server against a fresh $DSH_HOME, so the
+    // first-run welcome notice is unacknowledged and its overlay owns pointer
+    // events (the shared scaffold acknowledges it before boot instead). The
+    // notice is anchored structurally, not by its copy: this spec sits in the
+    // client TypeScript program, which does not reference the package that
+    // owns the strings.
+    const welcome = page.locator('[class*="onboardingOverlay"]')
+    await welcome.waitFor({ timeout: 15_000 })
+    await welcome.getByRole('button').click()
+    await welcome.waitFor({ state: 'detached', timeout: 15_000 })
     // Fresh world: connect a Workspace so the composer starts live.
     await connectFreshWorkspace(page, sessionsDir)
     const input = page.locator('textarea').first()
diff --git a/apps/web/tests/web-search-round.e2e.ts b/apps/web/tests/web-search-round.e2e.ts
index 804c7a70ca..e887fb8e35 100644
--- a/apps/web/tests/web-search-round.e2e.ts
+++ b/apps/web/tests/web-search-round.e2e.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ describe('web e2e: shipped default web search', () => {
     tripwire = watchConsole(page)
     await page.goto(scaffold.baseUrl, { waitUntil: 'load' })
     await page.waitForSelector('[class*="frame"]', { timeout: 30_000 })
-    await connectFreshWorkspace(page)
+    await connectFreshWorkspace(page, scaffold.workspaceCwd)
   }, 120_000)
 
   afterAll(async () => {