diff --git a/src/features/chat/display/blocks.ts b/src/features/chat/display/blocks.ts
index d76c5df0..d8c9c1e7 100644
--- a/src/features/chat/display/blocks.ts
+++ b/src/features/chat/display/blocks.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { isCompletedTurnOutcomeMessage } from "./turn-outcome-message";
 import { pathRelativeToRoot } from "./paths";
 import { executionState } from "./state";
 
-const STEERING_ACTIVITY_LABEL = "user steered";
+const STEERING_ACTIVITY_LABEL = "steer";
 const STEERING_ACTIVITY_KIND = "userSteered";
 
 export function displayBlocksForItems(
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ function steeringActivityItem(item: DisplayItem, turnId: string): DisplayItem {
     id: `steer-activity-${item.id}`,
     kind: "tool",
     role: "tool",
-    text: "",
+    text: item.text,
     turnId,
     ...(item.itemId ? { itemId: item.itemId } : {}),
     activityKind: STEERING_ACTIVITY_KIND,
diff --git a/tests/features/chat/display/display-model.test.ts b/tests/features/chat/display/display-model.test.ts
index 51583e2b..a0f4805a 100644
--- a/tests/features/chat/display/display-model.test.ts
+++ b/tests/features/chat/display/display-model.test.ts
@@ -1107,7 +1107,11 @@ describe("display block grouping keeps work logs subordinate to conversation mes
     expect(blocks.map((block) => (block.type === "item" ? block.item.id : block.id))).toEqual(["u1", "u2", "turn-t1-activity", "a1"]);
     expect(blocks[2]).toMatchObject({
       summary: "Work details: steer, 2 commands",
-      items: [{ id: "c1" }, { id: "steer-activity-u2", text: "", activityKind: "userSteered", toolLabel: "user steered" }, { id: "c2" }],
+      items: [
+        { id: "c1" },
+        { id: "steer-activity-u2", text: "also check tests", activityKind: "userSteered", toolLabel: "steer" },
+        { id: "c2" },
+      ],
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/tests/features/chat/ui/message-stream/work-log.test.tsx b/tests/features/chat/ui/message-stream/work-log.test.tsx
index dc7e9f47..cef618fa 100644
--- a/tests/features/chat/ui/message-stream/work-log.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/features/chat/ui/message-stream/work-log.test.tsx
@@ -146,6 +146,43 @@ describe("work log renderer decisions", () => {
     expect(element.textContent).toBe("user steered");
   });
 
+  it("renders steering activity as a compact two-line tool summary", () => {
+    const block = messageStreamBlocks({
+      activeThreadId: "thread",
+      turnLifecycle: idleTurnLifecycle(),
+      historyCursor: null,
+      loadingHistory: false,
+      displayItems: [
+        { id: "u1", kind: "message", messageKind: "user", role: "user", text: "do it", turnId: "turn" },
+        {
+          id: "u2",
+          kind: "message",
+          messageKind: "user",
+          role: "user",
+          text: "also check tests and keep the summary compact",
+          turnId: "turn",
+        },
+        {
+          id: "a1",
+          kind: "message",
+          role: "assistant",
+          text: "done",
+          messageKind: "assistantResponse",
+          messageState: "completed",
+          turnId: "turn",
+        },
+      ],
+      openDetails: new Set(["turn:turn:activity"]),
+      loadOlderTurns: vi.fn(),
+      renderMarkdown: (parent, text) => parent.createDiv({ text }),
+    }).find((item) => item.key === "activity:turn-turn-activity");
+
+    const element = renderMessageBlockElement(expectPresent(block));
+
+    expect(element.querySelector(".codex-panel__tool-result-header")?.textContent).toBe("steer");
+    expect(element.querySelector(".codex-panel__tool-summary")?.textContent).toBe("also check tests and keep the summary compact");
+  });
+
   it("renders path summary tools relative to the workspace root", () => {
     const block = messageStreamBlocks({
       activeThreadId: "thread",