diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
index c2a23c90..ab4974b0 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
@@ -1233,11 +1233,15 @@ window.marked = marked;
   function applyCapabilitiesChanged(ev) {
     const root = $('capabilities-section');
     if (!root) return;
+    // Skip re-render while operator has a checkbox focused in this
+    // section — the tab-activation re-fetch is the recovery path.
+    if (root.contains(document.activeElement)) return;
     renderCapabilities(root, ev);
   }
   function applyToolGroupsChanged(ev) {
     const root = $('tool-groups-section');
     if (!root) return;
+    if (root.contains(document.activeElement)) return;
     renderToolGroups(root, ev);
   }
 
@@ -3457,6 +3461,8 @@ window.marked = marked;
     'rebuild-queue-section',
     'reminders-section',
     'schedules-section',
+    'capabilities-section',
+    'tool-groups-section',
   ];
   // <details> sections that should survive a refresh need a stable
   // `data-restore-key` attribute. snapshotOpenDetails walks managed