diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 45599eb..63be9e6 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -201,12 +201,18 @@ in
             import QtQuick
             import Qt5Compat.GraphicalEffects
 
-            // ext-session-lock screen, replacing hyprlock. Lives in the shell
-            // process: set `locked: true` and the compositor hands every
-            // screen to a LockSurface below until PAM says otherwise.
-            WlSessionLock {
-                id: lock
+            // ext-session-lock screen, replacing hyprlock. Set `locked: true`
+            // and the compositor hands every screen to a LockSurface below
+            // until PAM says otherwise.
+            //
+            // PAM and state live in a Scope OUTSIDE WlSessionLock: its default
+            // property is the surface *component*, so a PamContext declared
+            // inside it is never instantiated — `pam` didn't resolve and
+            // submit() threw, which is why enter/the arrow did nothing.
+            Scope {
+                id: root
 
+                property alias locked: lock.locked
                 property string password: ""
                 property bool failed: false
 
@@ -223,15 +229,18 @@ in
                     // user's own password via the unix_chkpwd setuid wrapper.
                     config: "login"
                     onPamMessage: {
-                        if (this.responseRequired) this.respond(lock.password);
+                        if (this.responseRequired) this.respond(root.password);
                     }
                     onCompleted: result => {
-                        lock.password = "";
+                        root.password = "";
                         if (result === PamResult.Success) lock.locked = false;
-                        else lock.failed = true;
+                        else root.failed = true;
                     }
                 }
 
+                WlSessionLock {
+                    id: lock
+
                 WlSessionLockSurface {
                     id: surface
                     color: "black"
@@ -289,7 +298,7 @@ in
                             color: Theme.cardBg
                             border.width: Theme.borderWidth
                             border.color: pam.active ? Theme.base0D
-                                : lock.failed ? Theme.base08
+                                : root.failed ? Theme.base08
                                 : Theme.base03
                             Behavior on border.color { ColorAnimation { duration: Theme.animFade } }
 
@@ -307,7 +316,7 @@ in
 
                             Text {
                                 anchors.centerIn: parent
-                                visible: pwInput.text === "" && lock.failed
+                                visible: pwInput.text === "" && root.failed
                                 text: "wrong password"
                                 color: Theme.base08
                                 font.family: Theme.fontFamily
@@ -322,7 +331,7 @@ in
                                 echoMode: TextInput.Password
                                 focus: true
                                 function go() {
-                                    lock.submit(text);
+                                    root.submit(text);
                                     text = "";
                                 }
                                 // Explicit key handlers: accepted() doesn't
@@ -363,6 +372,7 @@ in
 
                     Component.onCompleted: pwInput.forceActiveFocus()
                 }
+                }
             }
           '';
         };
@@ -422,6 +432,8 @@ in
                 IpcHandler {
                     target: "lock"
                     function lock(): void { root.lock(); }
+                    // Escape hatch from a VT: qs ipc call lock unlock
+                    function unlock(): void { lockScreen.locked = false; }
                 }
 
                 // Screenshot pin: the Shift+Super+S keybind brackets hyprshot