diff --git a/app/src/components/ConfluencePanel.tsx b/app/src/components/ConfluencePanel.tsx
index dcad813..b5c8d52 100644
--- a/app/src/components/ConfluencePanel.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/ConfluencePanel.tsx
@@ -48,13 +48,20 @@ export function ConfluencePanel() {
   const activeSymbol = useActiveSymbol((s) => s.activeSymbol);
   const setActiveSymbol = useActiveSymbol((s) => s.setActive);
   const [symbol, setSymbol] = useState(activeSymbol);
+  const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState(activeSymbol);
   const [selectedRackId, setSelectedRackId] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   const pickSymbol = useCallback((sym: string) => {
     setSymbol(sym);
+    setSearchQuery(sym);
     setActiveSymbol(sym);
   }, [setActiveSymbol]);
 
+  // Sync searchQuery when activeSymbol changes externally (e.g., from another panel)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setSearchQuery(activeSymbol);
+  }, [activeSymbol]);
+
   // Racks
   const [racks, setRacks] = useState<{ system: Array<{ id: string; name: string }>; user: Array<{ id: string; name: string }> }>({ system: [], user: [] });
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -123,13 +130,15 @@ export function ConfluencePanel() {
           <div>
             <label className="block text-xs text-fg-muted mb-1">Symbol</label>
             <div className="relative w-48">
-              <SymbolAutocomplete
-                onPick={pickSymbol}
-                onSubmitRaw={(raw) => pickSymbol(raw.toUpperCase())}
-                placeholder="Search symbol…"
-                ariaLabel="Select symbol for signal confluence"
-                inputClassName="w-full bg-surface-sunken border border-line rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-fg placeholder:text-fg-muted focus:outline-none focus:border-accent focus:ring-1 focus:ring-accent"
-              />
+            <SymbolAutocomplete
+              value={searchQuery}
+              onChange={setSearchQuery}
+              onPick={pickSymbol}
+              onSubmitRaw={(raw) => pickSymbol(raw.toUpperCase())}
+              placeholder="Search symbol…"
+              ariaLabel="Select symbol for signal confluence"
+              inputClassName="w-full bg-surface-sunken border border-line rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-fg placeholder:text-fg-muted focus:outline-none focus:border-accent focus:ring-1 focus:ring-accent"
+            />
             </div>
           </div>
           {symbol && (
diff --git a/app/src/components/SymbolAutocomplete.tsx b/app/src/components/SymbolAutocomplete.tsx
index 77e14f3..5f14c9e 100644
--- a/app/src/components/SymbolAutocomplete.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/SymbolAutocomplete.tsx
@@ -82,11 +82,16 @@ export function SymbolAutocomplete({
   }, [onBusyChange]);
 
   const onChange = useCallback((v: string) => {
-    setInternalQuery(v);
-    externalOnChange?.(v);
+    if (controlledValue !== undefined) {
+      // Controlled mode: let parent handle the value change
+      externalOnChange?.(v);
+    } else {
+      setInternalQuery(v);
+      externalOnChange?.(v);
+    }
     if (timerRef.current) clearTimeout(timerRef.current);
     timerRef.current = setTimeout(() => runSearch(v), 150);
-  }, [runSearch, externalOnChange]);
+  }, [runSearch, externalOnChange, controlledValue]);
 
   // Click-outside closes the dropdown.
   useEffect(() => {