diff --git a/src/core/engine/terminal_ops.rs b/src/core/engine/terminal_ops.rs
index fa3df7fc..57a0b30b 100644
--- a/src/core/engine/terminal_ops.rs
+++ b/src/core/engine/terminal_ops.rs
@@ -208,6 +208,25 @@ impl Engine {
         Some(zone)
     }
 
+    /// Handle a content click on a non-split terminal pane. Focuses the
+    /// terminal, resets scrollback, and starts a zero-length selection
+    /// at `(col, row)` (0-based cells within the pane). Backends call
+    /// this when there is no `TerminalSplitLayout` cached — in the split
+    /// case, [`Self::handle_terminal_split_click`] delegates here after
+    /// setting the active pane (#429).
+    pub fn handle_terminal_pane_click(&mut self, col: u16, row: u16) {
+        self.terminal_has_focus = true;
+        self.terminal_scroll_reset();
+        if let Some(term) = self.active_terminal_mut() {
+            term.selection = Some(crate::core::terminal::TermSelection {
+                start_row: row,
+                start_col: col,
+                end_row: row,
+                end_col: col,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Handle a click on the terminal content area using a
     /// `TerminalSplitHit` from the cached layout. Sets pane focus,
     /// starts selection, or signals a divider drag. Returns `true` if
@@ -219,28 +238,12 @@ impl Engine {
             TerminalSplitHit::Divider => true,
             TerminalSplitHit::LeftPane { col, row } => {
                 self.terminal_active = 0;
-                self.terminal_scroll_reset();
-                if let Some(term) = self.active_terminal_mut() {
-                    term.selection = Some(crate::core::terminal::TermSelection {
-                        start_row: row,
-                        start_col: col,
-                        end_row: row,
-                        end_col: col,
-                    });
-                }
+                self.handle_terminal_pane_click(col, row);
                 false
             }
             TerminalSplitHit::RightPane { col, row } => {
                 self.terminal_active = 1;
-                self.terminal_scroll_reset();
-                if let Some(term) = self.active_terminal_mut() {
-                    term.selection = Some(crate::core::terminal::TermSelection {
-                        start_row: row,
-                        start_col: col,
-                        end_row: row,
-                        end_col: col,
-                    });
-                }
+                self.handle_terminal_pane_click(col, row);
                 false
             }
             TerminalSplitHit::Scrollbar | TerminalSplitHit::Outside => false,
diff --git a/src/tui_main/mouse.rs b/src/tui_main/mouse.rs
index 80b924fb..12a9cf42 100644
--- a/src/tui_main/mouse.rs
+++ b/src/tui_main/mouse.rs
@@ -2068,17 +2068,11 @@ pub(super) fn handle_mouse(
                     }
                 } else {
                     drop(split_layout);
-                    engine.terminal_has_focus = true;
+                    // #429: focus + scroll reset + selection are now owned by
+                    // the engine. TUI still does the col conversion (panel
+                    // is offset by sidebar/activity-bar width on the left).
                     let term_col = col.saturating_sub(editor_left);
-                    engine.terminal_scroll_reset();
-                    if let Some(term) = engine.active_terminal_mut() {
-                        term.selection = Some(crate::core::terminal::TermSelection {
-                            start_row: row_offset,
-                            start_col: term_col,
-                            end_row: row_offset,
-                            end_col: term_col,
-                        });
-                    }
+                    engine.handle_terminal_pane_click(term_col, row_offset);
                 }
             }
             return sidebar_width;