diff --git a/apps/web/tests/reference-composer.e2e.ts b/apps/web/tests/reference-composer.e2e.ts
index ce35f3602f..9e512e3f5f 100644
--- a/apps/web/tests/reference-composer.e2e.ts
+++ b/apps/web/tests/reference-composer.e2e.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,22 @@ function targetSessionFixture(): string {
   ].join('\n')
 }
 
+/**
+ * Replace the draft through per-key gestures. `fill()` issues select-all and
+ * insertText inside one task; directly after a chip deletion Lexical's internal
+ * selection has not yet absorbed the DOM selection, and the batched insertText
+ * lands on a null selection and is dropped. Real keystrokes leave room for
+ * `selectionchange` between keys, which is also what a user's typing does.
+ * @param page - the page under test.
+ * @param input - the composer surface locator.
+ * @param text - the replacement draft.
+ */
+async function writeDraft(page: Page, input: ReturnType<Page['locator']>, text: string): Promise<void> {
+  await input.click()
+  await page.keyboard.press('ControlOrMeta+A')
+  await page.keyboard.type(text)
+}
+
 describe.skipIf(MODE === 'record')('web e2e: file and session references through the real host', () => {
   let scaffold: WebScaffold
   let browser: Browser
@@ -248,7 +264,7 @@ describe.skipIf(MODE === 'record')('web e2e: file and session references through
 
     // Settle: Enter on the highlighted folder row resolves the folder itself
     // as an atomic chip — folder glyph, no trigger character, one unit.
-    await input.fill('@folderx')
+    await writeDraft(page, input, '@folderx')
     // First folder query on this page: allow the Host index a cold start.
     await menu.getByRole('option', { name: /Folder · folderx\// }).waitFor({ timeout: 60_000 })
     await page.keyboard.press('Enter')
@@ -259,14 +275,14 @@ describe.skipIf(MODE === 'record')('web e2e: file and session references through
 
     // Tab drills: the literal descent text stays editable and the open menu
     // lists the folder's children.
-    await input.fill('@folderx')
+    await writeDraft(page, input, '@folderx')
     await menu.getByRole('option', { name: /Folder · folderx\// }).waitFor()
     await page.keyboard.press('Tab')
     await expect.poll(() => input.textContent()).toBe('@folderx/')
     await menu.getByRole('option', { name: /File · child\.txt/ }).waitFor()
 
     // The row chevron drills the same way by pointer.
-    await input.fill('@folderx')
+    await writeDraft(page, input, '@folderx')
     const row = menu.getByRole('option', { name: /Folder · folderx\// })
     await row.waitFor()
     await row.getByRole('button', { name: 'Browse folder' }).click()