diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar-agent-list.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar-agent-list.tsx
index 98dd48c8a..2b0d955ae 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/sidebar-agent-list.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/sidebar-agent-list.tsx
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ function SidebarAgentRow({
   const showArchive = canArchive &&
     shortcutNumber === null &&
     (isHovered || isArchiveHovered || isArchiveConfirmVisible);
+  const reserveArchiveSlot = canArchive && shortcutNumber === null && !activeBranchLabel;
 
   return (
     <Pressable
@@ -336,6 +337,8 @@ function SidebarAgentRow({
                 {activeBranchLabel}
               </Text>
             </View>
+          ) : reserveArchiveSlot ? (
+            <View style={[styles.branchBadge, styles.branchBadgePlaceholder]} />
           ) : null}
         </View>
       </View>
@@ -732,6 +735,10 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     lineHeight: 12,
   },
+  branchBadgePlaceholder: {
+    opacity: 0,
+    borderColor: "transparent",
+  },
   archiveConfirmBadge: {
     minWidth: 76,
     maxWidth: 9999,