diff --git a/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.test.ts b/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.test.ts
index f0d2968b0..d9c917765 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.test.ts
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ describe("workspace-layout-store actions", () => {
     expect(findPaneContainingTab(layout.root, "pull_request")?.id).toBe(explorerPaneId);
   });
 
-  it("places an auto-added pull request in the pane containing Changes", () => {
+  it("keeps an auto-added pull request in the explorer pane when Changes is elsewhere", () => {
     const workspaceKey = createWorkspaceKey();
     const store = workspaceLayoutStore.getState();
     store.openTabFocused(workspaceKey, { kind: "working_diff" });
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ describe("workspace-layout-store actions", () => {
 
     const layout = workspaceLayoutStore.getState().layoutByWorkspace[workspaceKey];
     expect(findPaneContainingTab(layout.root, "working_diff")?.id).toBe("main");
-    expect(findPaneContainingTab(layout.root, "pull_request")?.id).toBe("main");
+    expect(findPaneContainingTab(layout.root, "pull_request")?.id).toBe(explorerPaneId);
   });
 
   it("opens assistant files in an ensured explorer pane and reveals it on the next open", () => {
diff --git a/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.ts b/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.ts
index eb82465af..fdadc5ac1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/stores/workspace-layout-store.ts
@@ -521,17 +521,10 @@ export function createWorkspaceLayoutStore(
             }
 
             const layout = getWorkspaceLayout(state.layoutByWorkspace, normalizedWorkspaceKey);
-            const workingDiffTab = collectAllTabs(layout.root).find(
-              (tab) => tab.target.kind === "working_diff",
-            );
-            const workingDiffPane = workingDiffTab
-              ? findPaneContainingTab(layout.root, workingDiffTab.tabId)
-              : null;
             const explorerPaneId = state.explorerPaneIdByWorkspace[normalizedWorkspaceKey] ?? null;
             const explorerPane = findPaneById(layout.root, explorerPaneId);
-            const placementPane = workingDiffPane ?? explorerPane;
-            const placementLayout = placementPane
-              ? (focusPaneInLayout({ layout, paneId: placementPane.id }) ?? layout)
+            const placementLayout = explorerPane
+              ? (focusPaneInLayout({ layout, paneId: explorerPane.id }) ?? layout)
               : layout;
             const result = openTabInLayoutFocused({
               layout: placementLayout,