diff --git a/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx b/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
index 97abd2d9..837e1e18 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/LayoutShell.tsx
@@ -181,16 +181,15 @@ function LayoutContent() {
   const [filterQuery, setFilterQuery] = useState('');
 
   // --- Section open states ------------------------------------------
-  const [appsOpen, setAppsOpen] = useState(() => readCollapsed(SK_APPS, true));
-  const [agentsOpen, setAgentsOpen] = useState(() => readCollapsed(SK_AGENTS, false));
-  const [routesOpen, setRoutesOpen] = useState(() => readCollapsed(SK_ROUTES, false));
-  const [adminOpen, setAdminOpen] = useState(() => readCollapsed(SK_ADMIN, false));
+  const isAdminPage = location.pathname.startsWith('/admin');
+  const [appsOpen, setAppsOpen] = useState(() => isAdminPage ? false : readCollapsed(SK_APPS, true));
+  const [agentsOpen, setAgentsOpen] = useState(() => isAdminPage ? false : readCollapsed(SK_AGENTS, false));
+  const [routesOpen, setRoutesOpen] = useState(() => isAdminPage ? false : readCollapsed(SK_ROUTES, false));
+  const [adminOpen, setAdminOpen] = useState(() => isAdminPage ? true : readCollapsed(SK_ADMIN, false));
 
   // Ref to remember operational section states when switching to admin
   const opsStateRef = useRef({ apps: appsOpen, agents: agentsOpen, routes: routesOpen });
 
-  const isAdminPage = location.pathname.startsWith('/admin');
-
   // Accordion effect: when entering admin, collapse operational sections; when leaving, restore
   const prevAdminRef = useRef(isAdminPage);
   useEffect(() => {