diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/demo.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/demo.go
index 9c88fea6..da07f750 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/demo.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/demo.go
@@ -84,6 +84,22 @@ func PreviewFrame(kind string, w, h int) string {
 			}
 		}
 
+	case "approval-steer":
+		m.connected = true
+		m.currentModel = "llama-cpp:default"
+		m.sessions = sampleSessions()
+		m.selectedID = "04a546aa"
+		m.sessionEntered = true
+		m.steerBuffer = "also print the current distro and kernel version"
+		if s := m.session("04a546aa"); s != nil {
+			s.CurrentStage = "write_script"
+			s.Pending = &Approval{
+				RequestID: "req-3", SessionID: "04a546aa", Tier: "T3", Risk: "MEDIUM",
+				ToolName: "file_write",
+				Preview:  "--- a/healthcheck.sh\n+++ b/healthcheck.sh\n@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@\n+#!/usr/bin/env bash\n+echo ok\n",
+			}
+		}
+
 	case "approval-shell":
 		m.connected = true
 		m.currentModel = "llama-cpp:default"
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/overlays.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/overlays.go
index 32ebd026..d482a028 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/overlays.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/overlays.go
@@ -63,7 +63,11 @@ func (m Model) approvalBandHeight() int {
 			rat = n + 1 // rationale lines + trailing blank
 		}
 	}
-	h := 2 + 1 + 1 + rat + rows + 1 + 1
+	steer := 0
+	if m.steering || m.steerBuffer != "" {
+		steer = 1
+	}
+	h := 2 + 1 + 1 + rat + rows + 1 + steer + 1
 	if maxH := m.height * 55 / 100; h > maxH {
 		h = maxH
 	}
@@ -110,7 +114,11 @@ func (m Model) renderApprovalBand(h int) string {
 	if len(a.Rationale) > 0 {
 		ratBlock = len(a.Rationale) + 1 // rationale lines + trailing blank
 	}
-	diffH := innerH - 4 - ratBlock // header, blank, blank, action row, + rationale block
+	steerBlock := 0
+	if m.steering || m.steerBuffer != "" {
+		steerBlock = 1
+	}
+	diffH := innerH - 4 - ratBlock - steerBlock // header, blank, blank, action row, + rationale/steer
 	if diffH < 1 {
 		diffH = 1
 	}
@@ -134,26 +142,45 @@ func (m Model) renderApprovalBand(h int) string {
 	for len(body) < diffStart+diffH {
 		body = append(body, "")
 	}
-	body = append(body, "", m.approvalActions())
+	body = append(body, "")
+	if steerBlock == 1 {
+		body = append(body, m.steerLine())
+	}
+	body = append(body, m.approvalActions())
 	return t.box("permission required", body, m.width, h, true)
 }
 
-// approvalActions renders the action row of the approval band, or the live steer
-// note when the operator is composing one.
+// steerLine renders the steering note inside the band: editable (with a caret)
+// while the operator is typing it, or as a persistent reminder once set — so it
+// stays visible after editing and it's clear it rides along with approve/reject.
+func (m Model) steerLine() string {
+	t := m.theme
+	label := t.span("steer  ", t.P.Faint)
+	caret := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.Accent).Background(t.P.Bg).Render("▏")
+	if m.steering {
+		if m.steerBuffer == "" {
+			return label + caret + t.span(" type a note…", t.P.Faint)
+		}
+		return label + t.span(m.steerBuffer, t.P.FgStrong) + caret
+	}
+	return label + t.span(m.steerBuffer, t.P.Accent2) +
+		t.span("   (sent with your decision · s to edit)", t.P.Faint)
+}
+
+// approvalActions renders the action row of the approval band. While the operator
+// is composing a steer note the keys are different (typing is captured), so the
+// hints switch to the editing controls.
 func (m Model) approvalActions() string {
 	t := m.theme
-	if m.steering {
-		note, fg := m.steerBuffer, t.P.FgStrong
-		if note == "" {
-			note, fg = "(steer note — enter to send, esc to cancel)", t.P.Faint
-		}
-		return t.span("steer ", t.P.Faint) + t.span(note, fg) +
-			lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.Accent).Background(t.P.Bg).Render("▏")
-	}
 	hint := func(k, l string) string {
 		return lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.Accent).Background(t.P.Bg).Bold(true).Render(k) +
 			t.span(" "+l, t.P.Faint)
 	}
+	if m.steering {
+		return strings.Join([]string{
+			hint("enter", "approve + send note"), hint("esc", "keep note, decide below"),
+		}, t.span("   ", t.P.Faint))
+	}
 	parts := []string{hint("a", "approve"), hint("A", "auto"), hint("s", "steer"), hint("r", "reject")}
 	if s := m.session(m.selectedID); s != nil && s.Pending != nil && isUnifiedDiff(s.Pending.Preview) {
 		parts = append(parts, hint("^x", "fullscreen"))