diff --git a/wwwroot/app.js b/wwwroot/app.js
index 08a4f8c..f979e44 100644
--- a/wwwroot/app.js
+++ b/wwwroot/app.js
@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ function renderPhasePill() {
   };
   const id = viewMap[state.phase];
   if (id) $(id).classList.remove("hidden");
-  $("phase-select").value = state.phase || "Suggest";
+  const phaseSelect = $("phase-select");
+  if (!phaseSelect.dataset.userEditing) {
+    phaseSelect.value = state.phase || "Suggest";
+  }
 }
 
 function renderCounts() {
@@ -214,12 +217,19 @@ function setupHandlers() {
       });
       toast("Phase updated");
       state.phase = phase;
+      $("phase-select").dataset.userEditing = "";
       await refreshPhaseData();
     } catch (err) {
       toast(err.message, true);
     }
   });
 
+  const phaseSelect = $("phase-select");
+  ["focus", "input", "click"].forEach(evt => {
+    phaseSelect.addEventListener(evt, () => { phaseSelect.dataset.userEditing = "1"; });
+  });
+  phaseSelect.addEventListener("blur", () => { phaseSelect.dataset.userEditing = ""; });
+
   $("reset").addEventListener("click", () => adminAction("/api/admin/reset", "Reset complete"));
   $("factory-reset").addEventListener("click", () => adminAction("/api/admin/factory-reset", "Factory reset complete"));
 }