diff --git a/ui/src/app/app.ts b/ui/src/app/app.ts
index 8e6d4b2..a688ed1 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/app.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/app.ts
@@ -92,12 +92,8 @@ export class App {
     if (action.startsWith('connect:')) {
       const connection = await this.findConnection(action.slice('connect:'.length));
       if (connection) {
-        void this.panels.connectPanel(
-          this.panels.activeSide(),
-          connection,
-          connection.name,
-          connection.localDir,
-        );
+        // remote goes right, local stays left — the commander convention
+        void this.panels.connectPanel('right', connection, connection.name, connection.localDir);
       }
       return;
     }
diff --git a/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts b/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
index 698c2d6..f7c9bef 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
@@ -335,8 +335,9 @@ export class PanelsService {
         this.newWorkspace();
       }
       // connectPanel resolves the panel synchronously (before awaiting), so
-      // firing these back-to-back binds each connection to its own tab
-      void this.connectPanel('left', connection, connection.name, connection.localDir);
+      // firing these back-to-back binds each connection to its own tab.
+      // Remote goes right, local stays left — the commander convention.
+      void this.connectPanel('right', connection, connection.name, connection.localDir);
     }
   }