diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index f1bc8b0..7f913be 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -1288,12 +1288,13 @@ in
                     property real openH: bar.activeDropdown ? tH : 0
                     property bool snap: false
                     readonly property real stubW: 32
-                    // True only while the panel's right edge actually touches
-                    // the frame column — the flush shape and the column-border
-                    // gap key off this, so a detaching (shrinking) panel
-                    // releases the column instead of dragging its border.
+                    // Melt toward the frame column whenever a flush dropdown
+                    // is the active target — the geometric melt runs during
+                    // the approach and un-melts during departure. (A previous
+                    // contact-detection compare against animated float
+                    // geometry proved unreliable on scaled displays.)
                     readonly property bool mergedRight: visible && flushRight
-                        && x + width >= bar.width - Theme.frameWidth - 0.5
+                        && bar.activeDropdown !== null
 
                     // Grow-from / shrink-to the widget that owns the dropdown:
                     // the panel opens as a small stub on the button and