diff --git a/browse/test/sidebar-tabs.test.ts b/browse/test/sidebar-tabs.test.ts
index 31e57c4b6e..91d50dcef2 100644
--- a/browse/test/sidebar-tabs.test.ts
+++ b/browse/test/sidebar-tabs.test.ts
@@ -254,3 +254,15 @@ describe('manifest: ws permission + xterm-safe CSP', () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+describe('manifest: live tab awareness needs "tabs" permission', () => {
+  // Without "tabs", chrome.tabs.query() returns tab objects with undefined
+  // url/title for any site outside host_permissions (e.g., everything except
+  // 127.0.0.1). snapshotTabs() then writes empty strings into tabs.json and
+  // active-tab.json silently skips the write — the sidebar agent loses track
+  // of what page the user is on. activeTab is too narrow (only after a user
+  // gesture on the extension action) for background polling.
+  test('permissions includes "tabs"', () => {
+    expect(MANIFEST.permissions).toContain('tabs');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/extension/manifest.json b/extension/manifest.json
index 502c5bb791..9625626464 100644
--- a/extension/manifest.json
+++ b/extension/manifest.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "name": "gstack browse",
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "description": "Live activity feed and @ref overlays for gstack browse",
-  "permissions": ["sidePanel", "storage", "activeTab", "scripting"],
+  "permissions": ["sidePanel", "storage", "activeTab", "scripting", "tabs"],
   "host_permissions": ["http://127.0.0.1:*/", "ws://127.0.0.1:*/"],
   "action": {
     "default_icon": {