diff --git a/web/src/spawnForm.ts b/web/src/spawnForm.ts
index 1b130ce..8053f98 100644
--- a/web/src/spawnForm.ts
+++ b/web/src/spawnForm.ts
@@ -337,6 +337,15 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
     emit();
   }
 
+  /** Re-highlight the operator's already-picked tile after `renderCommandTiles`
+   * rebuilds the row from scratch (new tiles carry no `is-active` class) —
+   * without touching `command`, since that was already settled. */
+  function reapplyActiveTile(): void {
+    for (const tile of cmdTiles.querySelectorAll(".tile")) {
+      tile.classList.toggle("is-active", (tile as HTMLElement).dataset.id === selectedPresetId);
+    }
+  }
+
   function renderCommandTiles(): void {
     cmdTiles.replaceChildren();
     for (const p of presets) {
@@ -345,13 +354,23 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
       tile.className = "tile";
       tile.dataset.id = p.id;
       tile.innerHTML = `<span class="tile-label">${escapeHtml(p.label)}</span>`;
-      tile.addEventListener("click", () => selectPreset(p.id));
+      tile.addEventListener("click", () => {
+        commandTouched = true;
+        selectPreset(p.id);
+      });
       cmdTiles.appendChild(tile);
     }
   }
 
+  // Set once the operator picks a tile or types a custom command — guards
+  // `applyInitialCommand()` the same way `nameTouched` guards a late name
+  // batch: a late `/api/info` resolution must never overwrite a field the
+  // operator has already touched (#76).
+  let commandTouched = false;
+
   cmdRaw.addEventListener("input", () => {
     if (selectedPresetId === "custom" || presets.find((p) => p.id === selectedPresetId)?.command === "") {
+      commandTouched = true;
       command = cmdRaw.value.trim();
       emit();
     }
@@ -367,7 +386,11 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
       if (info.presets?.length) {
         presets = info.presets;
         renderCommandTiles();
-        applyInitialCommand();
+        if (commandTouched) {
+          reapplyActiveTile();
+        } else {
+          applyInitialCommand();
+        }
       }
     })
     .catch(() => {
diff --git a/web/src/spawnFormPreset.test.ts b/web/src/spawnFormPreset.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7fe7bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/spawnFormPreset.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { createSpawnForm, type SpawnFormHandle, type SpawnFormValues } from "./spawnForm.js";
+
+/** Stubs fetch so `/api/info` only resolves once `resolveInfo()` is called —
+ * everything else (names, projects, gitroot) answers immediately with an
+ * empty/default body. Lets a test pick a preset (or type a custom command)
+ * mid-flight, then observe what the late `/api/info` resolution does to it. */
+function stubDeferredInfo(): { resolveInfo: () => void } {
+  let releaseInfo: () => void = () => {};
+  const infoGate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    releaseInfo = resolve;
+  });
+  vi.stubGlobal(
+    "fetch",
+    vi.fn(async (input: RequestInfo | URL) => {
+      const url = String(input);
+      if (url.includes("/api/info")) {
+        await infoGate;
+        return new Response(
+          JSON.stringify({
+            hostname: "h",
+            version: "0",
+            home_dir: "/home/user",
+            presets: [
+              { id: "claude", label: "Claude", command: "claude" },
+              { id: "fish", label: "Fish", command: "fish" },
+              { id: "custom", label: "Custom…", command: "" },
+            ],
+          }),
+          { status: 200 },
+        );
+      }
+      if (url.includes("/api/names")) {
+        return new Response(JSON.stringify({ names: ["amber-fox"] }), { status: 200 });
+      }
+      return new Response(JSON.stringify([]), { status: 200 });
+    }),
+  );
+  return { resolveInfo: releaseInfo };
+}
+
+describe("spawnForm preset selection vs. late /api/info (#76)", () => {
+  let handle: SpawnFormHandle | null = null;
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    handle?.destroy();
+    handle = null;
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
+
+  async function drain(): Promise<void> {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 40; i++) await Promise.resolve();
+  }
+
+  it("keeps an operator-picked tile after /api/info resolves late", async () => {
+    const { resolveInfo } = stubDeferredInfo();
+    let values: SpawnFormValues | undefined;
+    handle = createSpawnForm({ onChange: (v) => (values = v), onSuccess() {} });
+    const form = handle.el;
+    document.body.appendChild(form);
+    await drain();
+
+    // Fallback presets are up; the operator picks "zsh" before /api/info lands.
+    const zshTile = [...form.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>(".tile")].find(
+      (t) => t.dataset.id === "zsh",
+    )!;
+    zshTile.click();
+    expect(zshTile.classList.contains("is-active")).toBe(true);
+
+    // /api/info lands late with a preset list that doesn't even include "zsh".
+    resolveInfo();
+    await drain();
+
+    // The operator's pick must not be discarded back to the new list's first
+    // entry — `onChange` only starts firing once the initial load settles
+    // (`ready`), which happens right here, so this is the first place the
+    // published command is observable.
+    expect(values?.command).toBe("zsh");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps an operator-typed custom command after /api/info resolves late", async () => {
+    const { resolveInfo } = stubDeferredInfo();
+    let values: SpawnFormValues | undefined;
+    handle = createSpawnForm({ onChange: (v) => (values = v), onSuccess() {} });
+    const form = handle.el;
+    document.body.appendChild(form);
+    await drain();
+
+    const customTile = [...form.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>(".tile")].find(
+      (t) => t.dataset.id === "custom",
+    )!;
+    customTile.click();
+    const cmdRaw = form.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(".cmd-raw")!;
+    cmdRaw.value = "htop";
+    cmdRaw.dispatchEvent(new Event("input"));
+
+    resolveInfo();
+    await drain();
+
+    expect(values?.command).toBe("htop");
+    expect(cmdRaw.value).toBe("htop");
+  });
+
+  it("still applies the real presets' first entry when the operator never touched the command", async () => {
+    const { resolveInfo } = stubDeferredInfo();
+    let values: SpawnFormValues | undefined;
+    handle = createSpawnForm({ onChange: (v) => (values = v), onSuccess() {} });
+    const form = handle.el;
+    document.body.appendChild(form);
+    await drain();
+
+    resolveInfo();
+    await drain();
+
+    // Untouched: the refined preset list is still free to settle the command.
+    expect(values?.command).toBe("claude");
+    const fishTile = [...form.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>(".tile")].find(
+      (t) => t.dataset.id === "fish",
+    );
+    expect(fishTile).toBeDefined();
+  });
+});