diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.test.ts
index 4b34154e63c..d7c66836d8b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.test.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ import { createDirectorWorktreeShell } from './director-worktree-shell'
 // makes activation relaunch an agent — sits well after displayName.
 const CREATED_WITH_AGENT_ARG_INDEX = 10
 const SETUP_DECISION_ARG_INDEX = 3
+// The trailing `options` positional (gates host-side activate) sits last in the
+// createWorktree signature, after compareBaseRef.
+const CREATE_OPTIONS_ARG_INDEX = 25
 
 const PROJECT: Project = {
   id: 'proj_1',
@@ -49,9 +52,10 @@ describe('createDirectorWorktreeShell', () => {
     // ...and CRUCIALLY no createdWithAgent — otherwise activation would relaunch an
     // LLM in the director pane, breaking the token-free invariant.
     expect(args[CREATED_WITH_AGENT_ARG_INDEX]).toBeUndefined()
-    // ...and the trailing options suppress host activation so an SSH create
-    // reveals the director without switching the user's active tab to it.
-    expect(args.at(-1)).toEqual({ suppressActivation: true })
+    // ...and NO trailing suppressActivation option: opening a new Orcastrator is a
+    // deliberate user action, so an SSH/remote create must activate (focus) it.
+    const trailingOptions = args[CREATE_OPTIONS_ARG_INDEX]
+    expect(trailingOptions?.suppressActivation).toBeUndefined()
   })
 
   it('returns null and toasts when the project has no repo', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.ts
index 6016a01bf3f..d0db7c8091f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/director-worktree-shell.ts
@@ -54,30 +54,11 @@ export async function createDirectorWorktreeShell(
       'skip',
       undefined,
       undefined,
-      `${ORCASTRATOR_DISPLAY_PREFIX}${options.label}`,
-      // Why: positional args up to compareBaseRef are unused for a director
-      // shell; the trailing options carries suppressActivation so a remote
-      // (SSH) create reveals the worktree without switching the user's active
-      // tab — matching the renderer-side activation suppression at the call site.
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      { suppressActivation: true }
+      // Why: a new Orcastrator is opened by a deliberate user action, so the host
+      // create must activate — we pass no trailing suppressActivation option, so an
+      // SSH/remote create focuses the new director, matching the renderer-side
+      // activation at the call site.
+      `${ORCASTRATOR_DISPLAY_PREFIX}${options.label}`
     )
     return { worktreeId: result.worktree.id, setup: result.setup }
   } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.test.ts
index f2b55b66481..320678d0bf3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.test.ts
@@ -71,15 +71,16 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 })
 
 describe('launchOrchestratorForProject', () => {
-  it('reveals the director worktree but suppresses the active-tab switch', async () => {
+  it('activates the new Orcastrator (a deliberate user action takes focus)', async () => {
     const ok = await launchOrchestratorForProject(PROJECT)
     expect(ok).toBe(true)
 
     expect(harness.activate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     const [worktreeId, opts] = harness.activate.mock.calls[0]
     expect(worktreeId).toBe('wt_director')
-    // The programmatic launch must NOT yank the user's active tab.
-    expect(opts.suppressActivation).toBe(true)
+    // Opening a new Orcastrator is manual and intentional — it must take focus,
+    // unlike a programmatic worker spawn (which still suppresses activation).
+    expect(opts.suppressActivation).toBeFalsy()
     // ...while still revealing it in the sidebar tree + Mission Control DAG.
     expect(opts.sidebarRevealBehavior).toBe('auto')
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.ts
index 0c501658569..a53142eea9f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orchestrator-launch.ts
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ export async function launchOrchestratorForProject(
     allowEmptyPromptLaunch: true
   })
 
-  // Why: a director is launched programmatically — reveal it in the sidebar +
-  // Mission Control DAG, but suppress the active-tab switch so the user is not
-  // yanked off their current worktree when the Orcastrator boots.
+  // Why: opening a new Orcastrator is a deliberate, manual user action (clicking
+  // "+" in the ORCASTRATORS section), so it SHOULD take focus and become the
+  // active tab — exactly like the "+" for a regular worktree. (A programmatic
+  // worker spawn is the opposite case and still suppresses activation.)
   const activation = activateAndRevealWorktree(worktreeId, {
     sidebarRevealBehavior: 'auto',
     setup,
-    suppressActivation: true,
     ...buildDirectWorkItemStartupOpts(agent, startupPlan, 'sidebar')
   })
   if (!activation) {