diff --git a/web/src/client/components/session-create-form.ts b/web/src/client/components/session-create-form.ts
index 302a9479..e8e2cbff 100644
--- a/web/src/client/components/session-create-form.ts
+++ b/web/src/client/components/session-create-form.ts
@@ -271,7 +271,9 @@ export class SessionCreateForm extends LitElement {
   }
 
   private handleBrowse() {
+    logger.debug('handleBrowse called, setting showFileBrowser to true');
     this.showFileBrowser = true;
+    this.requestUpdate();
   }
 
   private handleDirectorySelected(e: CustomEvent) {
diff --git a/web/src/client/utils/constants.ts b/web/src/client/utils/constants.ts
index d6d11f47..37710804 100644
--- a/web/src/client/utils/constants.ts
+++ b/web/src/client/utils/constants.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export const Z_INDEX = {
   SESSION_EXITED_OVERLAY: 120,
 
   // Special high-priority overlays (200+)
-  FILE_BROWSER: 200, // Reduced from 1100
+  FILE_BROWSER: 1100, // Must be higher than modal backdrop (1000)
 } as const;
 
 export const TERMINAL = {