diff --git a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityMarkerRow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityMarkerRow.tsx
index 6989112ed..76ec7123a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityMarkerRow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityMarkerRow.tsx
@@ -186,8 +186,7 @@ function MarkerMeta({ loading, meta }: { loading: boolean; meta: string }) {
 
 function markerToneClass(tone: ActivityMarkerTone) {
   if (tone === "danger") return "text-destructive";
-  if (tone === "success" || tone === "warning" || tone === "muted") {
-    return "text-muted-foreground";
-  }
-  return "text-muted-foreground";
+  // Softer than plain muted-foreground: marker rows are plumbing, and at
+  // full muted strength they still competed with the conversation text.
+  return "text-muted-foreground/70";
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityTranscript.tsx b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityTranscript.tsx
index 028cb2b08..e63d29257 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityTranscript.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/chats/ui/ChatActivityTranscript.tsx
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ function CompletedWorkMarker({ items }: { items: TranscriptItem[] }) {
           onClick={() => setIsOpen((current) => !current)}
           type="button"
         >
-          <span className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 text-muted-foreground">
+          <span className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 text-muted-foreground/70">
             <span className="truncate text-sm font-medium">{label}</span>
             <ChevronDown
               className={cn(