diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.test.tsx
index 5897187a5bc..8c5bc3035b6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.test.tsx
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ describe('WslgWindowControls', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByLabelText('Window controls')).toBeNull()
   })
 
-  it('prevents pointer activation from stealing renderer focus', () => {
+  it('stops pointerdown propagation without cancelling the click', () => {
     desktopWindow.hermesDesktop = { windowControls } as unknown as Window['hermesDesktop']
     renderControls()
     const event = new MouseEvent('pointerdown', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true })
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ describe('WslgWindowControls', () => {
     fireEvent(button, event)
     fireEvent.click(button)
 
-    expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true)
+    // preventDefault on pointerdown kills the synthesized click under WSLg's
+    // RAIL compositor, so the button must NOT cancel the default — only stop
+    // propagation so the drag region doesn't swallow the press.
+    expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(false)
     expect(windowControls.toggleMaximize).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
   })
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.tsx
index a623533bd1e..676c172c44a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/shell/wslg-window-controls.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@ interface WslgWindowControlsProps {
 const buttonClass =
   'grid h-full w-[46px] place-items-center border-0 bg-transparent p-0 text-muted-foreground transition-colors duration-75 select-none [-webkit-app-region:no-drag] focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:-outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-ring hover:bg-white/10 hover:text-foreground active:bg-white/15'
 
-const preserveRendererFocus = (event: PointerEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => event.preventDefault()
+// Match the native titlebar tools: stopPropagation (NOT preventDefault) on
+// pointerdown. preventDefault on pointerdown suppresses the synthesized click
+// under WSLg's XWayland/RAIL compositor, so the buttons render but never fire.
+// stopPropagation keeps the drag region from swallowing the press while leaving
+// the click intact; keyboard-focus reassertion after maximize is handled on the
+// main side in performWindowControl (win.focus()).
+const stopTitlebarDrag = (event: PointerEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => event.stopPropagation()
 
 export function WslgWindowControls({ isFullscreen, isMaximized }: WslgWindowControlsProps) {
   const location = useLocation()
@@ -43,7 +49,7 @@ export function WslgWindowControls({ isFullscreen, isMaximized }: WslgWindowCont
         aria-label="Minimize window"
         className={buttonClass}
         onClick={controls.minimize}
-        onPointerDown={preserveRendererFocus}
+        onPointerDown={stopTitlebarDrag}
         type="button"
       >
         <Codicon name="chrome-minimize" size={10} />
@@ -52,7 +58,7 @@ export function WslgWindowControls({ isFullscreen, isMaximized }: WslgWindowCont
         aria-label={isMaximized ? 'Restore window' : 'Maximize window'}
         className={buttonClass}
         onClick={controls.toggleMaximize}
-        onPointerDown={preserveRendererFocus}
+        onPointerDown={stopTitlebarDrag}
         type="button"
       >
         <Codicon name={isMaximized ? 'chrome-restore' : 'chrome-maximize'} size={10} />
@@ -64,7 +70,7 @@ export function WslgWindowControls({ isFullscreen, isMaximized }: WslgWindowCont
           'hover:bg-[#c42b1c] hover:text-white active:bg-[#b3271a] active:text-white dark:hover:bg-[#c42b1c]'
         )}
         onClick={controls.close}
-        onPointerDown={preserveRendererFocus}
+        onPointerDown={stopTitlebarDrag}
         type="button"
       >
         <Codicon name="chrome-close" size={10} />