diff --git a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
index befaf027..f33f0516 100644
--- a/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
+++ b/mac/Sources/CodeBurnMenubar/CodeBurnApp.swift
@@ -90,9 +90,15 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSPopoverDelegate, NSM
     }
 
     func applicationWillFinishLaunching(_ notification: Notification) {
-        // Set accessory policy before the app's focus chain forms. On macOS Tahoe
-        // (26.x), setting it after didFinishLaunching causes ghost status items
-        // because the policy gets baked into the initial focus chain.
+        // Belt-and-suspenders for dev runs only: packaged builds ship
+        // LSUIElement=true (package-app.sh / build-local.sh), so LaunchServices
+        // starts the process at .accessory before main() runs and this call is
+        // a measured no-op there (returns false, no state change — #868
+        // analysis). What actually matters is that the policy NEVER
+        // transitions while a live NSStatusItem exists: the .regular →
+        // .accessory dance from #147 is what plausibly caused the ghost item
+        // that 85b5728 fixed. Keep the policy pinned; see the activate() call
+        // in applicationDidFinishLaunching for the other half of the story.
         NSApp.setActivationPolicy(.accessory)
     }
 
@@ -120,6 +126,13 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSPopoverDelegate, NSM
         // interaction (popover open, wake) refreshes immediately.
 
         restorePersistedCurrency()
+        // #868 experiment: restore only the activation half of the #147 fix.
+        // Packaged builds ship LSUIElement=true, so the policy is .accessory
+        // before main() runs and never transitions (the transition is what
+        // plausibly caused the ghost item). Accessory apps can still activate,
+        // which registers the app with the window server before the status
+        // item is created - the effect #147 actually needed for #146.
+        NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
         setupStatusItem()
         setupPopover()
         observeStore()