diff --git a/src/web/public/git-status-ui.js b/src/web/public/git-status-ui.js
index adcd8f0b..185e94b9 100644
--- a/src/web/public/git-status-ui.js
+++ b/src/web/public/git-status-ui.js
@@ -344,13 +344,19 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     }
   },
 
-  /** One repository of several: a collapsible section, open when it has something outstanding. */
+  /**
+   * One repository of several: a collapsible section, collapsed by default (the summary line already
+   * shows what is outstanding). Which ones the user opened stay open across the 15 s re-render.
+   */
   _gitRepoSection(r) {
     const el = (tag, cls, text) => this._gitEl(tag, cls, text);
     const d = r.status;
     const section = el('details', 'git-status-repo');
     const outstanding = d.counts.uncommitted > 0 || d.unpushedCount > 0;
-    section.open = outstanding;
+    const openRepos = (this._gitTreeOpen = this._gitTreeOpen || new Set());
+    const repoKey = `repo|${d.repoRoot || r.path}`;
+    section.open = openRepos.has(repoKey);
+    section.addEventListener('toggle', () => (section.open ? openRepos.add(repoKey) : openRepos.delete(repoKey)));
     const summary = el('summary', 'git-status-repo-summary');
     summary.append(el('span', 'git-status-repo-name', r.name));
     if (r.path !== r.name) summary.append(el('span', 'git-status-repo-path', r.path));
diff --git a/test/git-status.browser.test.ts b/test/git-status.browser.test.ts
index 0abe6a3a..f62621c4 100644
--- a/test/git-status.browser.test.ts
+++ b/test/git-status.browser.test.ts
@@ -330,7 +330,13 @@ describe('Git status indicator in a real browser', () => {
     expect(await page.getAttribute('#gitStatusBtn', 'title')).toMatch(/Git \(2 repositories\)/);
     const names = await page.$$eval('.git-status-repo-name', (els) => els.map((e) => e.textContent));
     expect(names).toEqual(['api', 'web']);
-    // The one with something outstanding is open; the clean one is collapsed.
+    // Every repository starts collapsed (the summary line shows what is outstanding); one the user
+    // opens stays open when a refresh re-renders the panel.
+    const allClosed = await page.$$eval('.git-status-repo', (els) => els.map((e) => (e as HTMLDetailsElement).open));
+    expect(allClosed).toEqual([false, false]);
+    await page.click('.git-status-repo:nth-of-type(1) > summary');
+    await refresh();
+    await page.waitForSelector('.git-status-repo[open]');
     const open = await page.$$eval('.git-status-repo', (els) => els.map((e) => (e as HTMLDetailsElement).open));
     expect(open).toEqual([true, false]);
     const apiBody = (await page.textContent('.git-status-repo:nth-of-type(1)')) ?? '';