diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/footer.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/footer.rs
index 3d91eb2a..80f8c10b 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/footer.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/widgets/footer.rs
@@ -506,6 +506,20 @@ impl FooterWidget {
         }
         spans
     }
+
+    fn left_spans(&self, max_width: usize) -> Vec<Span<'static>> {
+        if let Some(banner) = retry_banner_spans(max_width, &self.props) {
+            // Retry banner takes precedence over toast and the regular
+            // status line so the user sees it loud and clear (#499).
+            // The banner clears automatically on success or on the next
+            // `TurnStarted` (engine emits the clear).
+            banner
+        } else if let Some(toast) = self.props.toast.as_ref() {
+            Self::toast_spans(toast, max_width)
+        } else {
+            self.status_line_spans(max_width)
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 fn spans_text(spans: &[Span<'_>]) -> String {
@@ -546,25 +560,19 @@ impl Renderable for FooterWidget {
             return;
         }
 
-        let right_spans = self.auxiliary_spans(available_width);
+        let preview_left_spans = self.left_spans(available_width);
+        let preview_left_width = span_width(&preview_left_spans);
+        let right_budget = available_width
+            .saturating_sub(preview_left_width)
+            .saturating_sub(2);
+        let right_spans = self.auxiliary_spans(right_budget);
         let right_width = span_width(&right_spans);
         let min_gap = if right_width > 0 { 2 } else { 0 };
         let max_left_width = available_width
             .saturating_sub(right_width)
             .saturating_sub(min_gap)
             .max(1);
-
-        let left_spans = if let Some(banner) = retry_banner_spans(max_left_width, &self.props) {
-            // Retry banner takes precedence over toast and the regular
-            // status line so the user sees it loud and clear (#499).
-            // The banner clears automatically on success or on the next
-            // `TurnStarted` (engine emits the clear).
-            banner
-        } else if let Some(toast) = self.props.toast.as_ref() {
-            Self::toast_spans(toast, max_left_width)
-        } else {
-            self.status_line_spans(max_left_width)
-        };
+        let left_spans = self.left_spans(max_left_width);
 
         let left_width = span_width(&left_spans);
         let spacer_width = available_width.saturating_sub(left_width + right_width);
@@ -635,6 +643,7 @@ mod tests {
         text::Span,
     };
     use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use unicode_width::UnicodeWidthStr;
 
     fn make_app() -> App {
         let options = TuiOptions {
@@ -1225,6 +1234,58 @@ mod tests {
         )
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn render_drops_oversized_right_chips_before_they_crowd_left_status() {
+        let app = make_app();
+        let long_cache = vec![Span::styled(
+            "Cache: 75.0% hit | hit 36000 | miss 12000".to_string(),
+            Style::default(),
+        )];
+        let props = FooterProps::from_app(
+            &app,
+            None,
+            "ready",
+            palette::TEXT_MUTED,
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            long_cache,
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+        );
+
+        let line = render_at_width(props, 40);
+
+        assert!(line.contains("agent"), "left status should survive: {line:?}");
+        assert!(
+            !line.contains("Cache:"),
+            "oversized right chip should drop instead of crowding the row: {line:?}",
+        );
+        assert!(line.width() <= 40, "footer must fit in one row: {line:?}");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn render_keeps_right_chips_when_left_status_leaves_room() {
+        let app = make_app();
+        let cache = vec![Span::styled("Cache: 75.0% hit".to_string(), Style::default())];
+        let props = FooterProps::from_app(
+            &app,
+            None,
+            "ready",
+            palette::TEXT_MUTED,
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+            cache,
+            Vec::<Span<'static>>::new(),
+        );
+
+        let line = render_at_width(props, 80);
+
+        assert!(line.contains("agent"), "left status should render: {line:?}");
+        assert!(line.contains("Cache: 75.0% hit"), "right chip should render: {line:?}");
+        assert!(line.width() <= 80, "footer must fit in one row: {line:?}");
+    }
+
     /// v0.6.6 redesign — cost lives on the LEFT, between model and status.
     /// At wide widths the line reads `mode · model · cost · status`.
     #[test]