diff --git a/assets/css/custom.css b/assets/css/custom.css
index 2b71d6c..e3b5e44 100644
--- a/assets/css/custom.css
+++ b/assets/css/custom.css
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@
 
 /* always-open file menu (the shell's "ls") — only shown on the home page;
    on subpages it stays in the DOM (hidden) so typed commands still resolve */
-.menu { margin: var(--spacing-sm) 0 0; }
+/* stays the file list's normal width even when .topbar is widened (below) to
+   line up the shell/lang-switch with a wider info panel elsewhere — the home
+   menu was never meant to stretch, only the prompt row + toggle were */
+.menu { margin: var(--spacing-sm) 0 0; max-width: var(--container-width); }
 body:not(.home) .menu { display: none; }
 
 /* easter-egg output line — takes no space until it actually has output */