diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/terminal-init.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/terminal-init.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cfde2d0193
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/terminal-init.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { test, expect } from "./fixtures"
+import { promptSelector, terminalSelector, terminalToggleKey } from "./utils"
+
+test("smoke terminal mounts and can create a second tab", async ({ page, gotoSession }) => {
+  await gotoSession()
+
+  const terminals = page.locator(terminalSelector)
+  const opened = await terminals.first().isVisible()
+
+  if (!opened) {
+    await page.keyboard.press(terminalToggleKey)
+  }
+
+  await expect(terminals.first()).toBeVisible()
+  await expect(terminals.first().locator("textarea")).toHaveCount(1)
+  await expect(terminals).toHaveCount(1)
+
+  // Ghostty captures a lot of keybinds when focused; move focus back
+  // to the app shell before triggering `terminal.new`.
+  await page.locator(promptSelector).click()
+  await page.keyboard.press("Control+Alt+T")
+
+  await expect(terminals).toHaveCount(2)
+  await expect(terminals.nth(1).locator("textarea")).toHaveCount(1)
+})
diff --git a/specs/08-app-e2e-smoke-suite.md b/specs/08-app-e2e-smoke-suite.md
index 60b2f964a4..c034399a38 100644
--- a/specs/08-app-e2e-smoke-suite.md
+++ b/specs/08-app-e2e-smoke-suite.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Add 6 smoke tests to `packages/app/e2e/`:
 - [x] 3. Prompt @mention inserts a file pill token (`packages/app/e2e/prompt-mention.spec.ts`)
 - [x] 4. Model selection UI works end-to-end (`packages/app/e2e/model-picker.spec.ts`)
 - [x] 5. File viewer renders real file content (`packages/app/e2e/file-viewer.spec.ts`)
-- [ ] 8. Terminal init + create new terminal
+- [x] 8. Terminal init + create new terminal (`packages/app/e2e/terminal-init.spec.ts`)
 
 ---