diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
index c6e277cce08..ac8448e660a 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.logic.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,32 @@ export function resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(viewportWidth: number)
   return sideGutter >= TIMELINE_MINIMAP_PERSISTENT_GUTTER;
 }
 
+export const TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_LEFT = 12;
+export const TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_MAX_WIDTH = 40;
+
+/**
+ * The minimap overlays the viewport's left edge while the content column is
+ * centered, so the side gutter between them shrinks under browser zoom or a
+ * narrow pane. A fixed-width hover strip would then sit on top of the message
+ * text and swallow its pointer events. Cap the strip's width so it never
+ * extends past the gutter into the content column; 0 disables the strip.
+ */
+export function resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(viewportWidth: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(viewportWidth) || viewportWidth <= 0) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  const contentWidth = Math.min(viewportWidth, TIMELINE_CONTENT_MAX_WIDTH);
+  const sideGutter = Math.max(0, (viewportWidth - contentWidth) / 2);
+  return Math.max(
+    0,
+    Math.min(
+      TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_MAX_WIDTH,
+      Math.floor(sideGutter) - TIMELINE_MINIMAP_HIT_STRIP_LEFT,
+    ),
+  );
+}
+
 function computeElapsedMs(startIso: string, endIso: string): number | null {
   const start = Date.parse(startIso);
   const end = Date.parse(endIso);
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
index 0957e025311..7303249cf04 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.test.tsx
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ describe("MessagesTimeline", () => {
       resolveTimelineIsAtEnd,
       resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter,
       resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle,
+      resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth,
       resolveTimelineMinimapIndexFromPointer,
       resolveTimelineMinimapTopPercent,
     } = await import("./MessagesTimeline.logic");
@@ -254,6 +255,19 @@ describe("MessagesTimeline", () => {
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(832)).toBe(false);
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(863)).toBe(false);
     expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter(864)).toBe(true);
+
+    // No usable gutter (zoomed in / narrow pane): the strip must go inert
+    // instead of overlaying the centered content column.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(768)).toBe(0);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(792)).toBe(0);
+    // Partial gutter: strip shrinks to what fits between the viewport edge
+    // and the content column.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(820)).toBe(14);
+    // Full gutter: unchanged 40px-wide strip.
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(872)).toBe(40);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(1400)).toBe(40);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(0)).toBe(0);
+    expect(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(Number.NaN)).toBe(0);
   });
 
   it("anchors a sent attachment message using its measured height", async () => {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
index 1a4dc6b6895..3860e656f2f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/MessagesTimeline.tsx
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ import {
   resolveTimelineIsAtEnd,
   resolveTimelineMinimapHasPersistentGutter,
   resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle,
+  resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth,
   resolveTimelineMinimapIndexFromPointer,
   resolveTimelineMinimapTopPercent,
   type StableMessagesTimelineRowsState,
@@ -322,6 +323,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
     null,
   );
   const [minimapHasPersistentGutter, setMinimapHasPersistentGutter] = useState(false);
+  const [minimapHitStripWidth, setMinimapHitStripWidth] = useState(0);
   const handleAnchorReady = useCallback(
     (info: { anchorIndex: number | undefined }) => {
       if (anchorMessageId !== null && info.anchorIndex !== undefined) {
@@ -393,6 +395,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
       setMinimapHasPersistentGutter((current) =>
         current === nextHasPersistentGutter ? current : nextHasPersistentGutter,
       );
+      setMinimapHitStripWidth(resolveTimelineMinimapHitStripWidth(viewportWidth));
     };
 
     const frame = requestAnimationFrame(measure);
@@ -506,6 +509,7 @@ export const MessagesTimeline = memo(function MessagesTimeline({
             items={minimapItems}
             bottomInset={contentInsetEndAdjustment}
             hasPersistentGutter={minimapHasPersistentGutter}
+            hitStripWidth={minimapHitStripWidth}
             stripMap={minimapStripMap}
             onSelect={(item) => {
               onManualNavigation();
@@ -603,12 +607,14 @@ function resolveTimelineRowHeight(state: TimelinePositionState, rowIndex: number
 function TimelineMinimap({
   bottomInset,
   hasPersistentGutter,
+  hitStripWidth,
   items,
   stripMap,
   onSelect,
 }: {
   bottomInset: number;
   hasPersistentGutter: boolean;
+  hitStripWidth: number;
   items: ReadonlyArray<TimelineMinimapItem>;
   stripMap: Map<string, HTMLSpanElement>;
   onSelect: (item: TimelineMinimapItem) => void;
@@ -671,7 +677,7 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
-        "group/minimap pointer-events-auto absolute top-0 left-0 z-40 hidden w-18 [@media(pointer:fine)]:block",
+        "group/minimap pointer-events-none absolute top-0 left-0 z-40 hidden w-18 [@media(pointer:fine)]:block",
         hasPersistentGutter
           ? "opacity-100"
           : "opacity-0 transition-opacity duration-150 hover:opacity-100 focus-within:opacity-100",
@@ -683,7 +689,12 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
       <div className="relative h-full w-full select-none">
         <button
           aria-label={`Jump to message: ${activeItem?.userText ?? "User message"}`}
-          className="pointer-events-auto absolute top-1/2 left-3 w-10 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-pointer bg-transparent focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/70"
+          className={cn(
+            "absolute top-1/2 left-3 -translate-y-1/2 cursor-pointer bg-transparent focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/70",
+            // The strip is width-capped to the side gutter so it never overlays
+            // the centered content column; with no usable gutter it goes inert.
+            hitStripWidth > 0 ? "pointer-events-auto" : "pointer-events-none",
+          )}
           onBlur={() => setActiveIndex(null)}
           onClick={(event) => {
             const nextIndex = resolveActiveIndexFromPointer(event);
@@ -719,7 +730,10 @@ function TimelineMinimap({
           onMouseDown={(event) => {
             event.preventDefault();
           }}
-          style={{ height: resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle(items.length) }}
+          style={{
+            height: resolveTimelineMinimapHeightStyle(items.length),
+            width: hitStripWidth,
+          }}
           type="button"
         >
           <div className="absolute top-0 left-3 h-full w-px bg-border/15" />