1 files changed, 7 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index 1cbdf24c..9abc04bf 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -270,10 +270,6 @@ fn nativeMain(init: std.process.Init) !void {
         }
     }
     opts.tty_only = explicit_tty or session_only;
-    // The real bare-tty startup wants the editor half present from the first
-    // frame, so it names that layout; a core booted for a test names none and
-    // gets the raw shell by itself.
-    if (opts.tty_only) opts.boot = .tty;
     opts.mounts = mounts[0..mounts_len];
     if (detach != null and attach != null)
         badArgs(init.io, "--detach and --attach are opposites: one runs the session, the other joins one", .{});
@@ -370,6 +366,13 @@ fn nativeMain(init: std.process.Init) !void {
             }
         }
     }
+    // The real bare-tty startup wants the editor half present from the first
+    // frame, so it names that layout; a core booted for a test names none and
+    // gets the raw shell by itself. This has to come AFTER the positional is
+    // resolved: naming a layout short-circuits `Boot.of`, so choosing it any
+    // earlier threw away a file argument, and the error pane for one that does
+    // not exist, without a word.
+    if (opts.tty_only and opts.file == null and opts.missing == null) opts.boot = .tty;
     const found = pardes.config.User.load(init.io, arena, init.environ_map);
     opts.startup_config = found.bytes;
     opts.startup_config_path = found.path;