diff --git a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
--- a/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
+++ b/web/chat/chat-thread-list.css
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@
   padding-top: 6px;
 }
 div.activeThread,
-div.thread:hover,
 div.threadListSidebar:hover {
   background: var(--selected-thread-bg);
 }
+
+div.thread:hover {
+  background: var(--thread-hover-bg);
+}
 div.title {
   flex: 1;
   font-size: var(--m-font-16);
diff --git a/web/theme.css b/web/theme.css
--- a/web/theme.css
+++ b/web/theme.css
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
   --keyserver-selection: var(--violet-dark-60);
   --thread-selection: var(--violet-light-80);
   --selected-thread-bg: var(--shades-black-90);
+  --thread-hover-bg: var(--shades-black-80);
   --chat-timestamp-color: var(--shades-black-60);
   --tool-tip-bg: var(--shades-black-80);
   --tool-tip-color: var(--shades-white-60);