diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.test.tsx
index a29c76f1d..cf2747620 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.test.tsx
@@ -800,10 +800,10 @@ describe('FloatingTerminalPanel close behavior', () => {
     expect(getPanelStyleBounds(element)).toEqual(savedBounds)
   })
 
-  it('layers below root notification cards', async () => {
+  it('layers above root notification cards but below the modal layer', async () => {
     const element = await renderPanel(true)
 
-    expect(getPanelClassName(element)).toContain('z-30')
+    expect(getPanelClassName(element)).toContain('z-[45]')
   })
 
   it('refreshes terminal native input focus when the floating panel opens', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.tsx
index c5b509264..b391bf4a4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalPanel.tsx
@@ -1453,8 +1453,9 @@ export function FloatingTerminalPanel({
   }, [])
 
   return (
-    // Why: root notification cards use z-40; keep the floating workspace below
-    // them so alerts are never hidden behind an open terminal panel.
+    // Why: sit above the z-40 notification cards so the floating workspace is
+    // never buried behind them, but stay under the z-50 modal layer so its own
+    // orchestration/save dialogs (and every app modal) still open above it.
     // Drop shadow on the outer shell, border on an inner shell — mixing both on
     // one rounded node made corners look stubby. Floating tabs skip their top
     // border so the titlebar curve stays clean.
@@ -1463,7 +1464,7 @@ export function FloatingTerminalPanel({
       data-floating-terminal-panel
       aria-hidden={!open}
       tabIndex={-1}
-      className={`fixed z-30 flex min-h-[280px] min-w-[420px] rounded-lg bg-transparent text-card-foreground shadow-[0_4px_12px_rgba(0,0,0,0.16),0_24px_64px_rgba(0,0,0,0.32)] outline-none dark:shadow-[0_8px_20px_rgba(0,0,0,0.35),0_28px_72px_rgba(0,0,0,0.58)] ${open ? 'opacity-100' : 'invisible pointer-events-none opacity-0'}`}
+      className={`fixed z-[45] flex min-h-[280px] min-w-[420px] rounded-lg bg-transparent text-card-foreground shadow-[0_4px_12px_rgba(0,0,0,0.16),0_24px_64px_rgba(0,0,0,0.32)] outline-none dark:shadow-[0_8px_20px_rgba(0,0,0,0.35),0_28px_72px_rgba(0,0,0,0.58)] ${open ? 'opacity-100' : 'invisible pointer-events-none opacity-0'}`}
       style={{
         visibility: open ? 'visible' : 'hidden',
         left: bounds.left,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalToggleButton.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalToggleButton.tsx
index 285ff0377..87d3c1cc4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalToggleButton.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/floating-terminal/FloatingTerminalToggleButton.tsx
@@ -195,7 +195,9 @@ export function FloatingTerminalToggleButton({
   return (
     <FloatingTerminalIconContextMenu
       currentLocation="floating-button"
-      className="fixed z-40"
+      // Why: keep the toggle/minimize control above the z-[45] panel so it stays
+      // clickable where the two overlap.
+      className="fixed z-[46]"
       style={{ left: position.left, top: position.top }}
     >
       <Tooltip>