diff --git a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.spec.tsx b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.spec.tsx
index d1c50f45289776..7bbb9fdcf7bc86 100644
--- a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.spec.tsx
+++ b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.spec.tsx
@@ -206,12 +206,10 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
           startNewSession: jest.fn(),
           isPolling: false,
           isError: true, // isError
-          isPending: false,
           deletedFromIndex: null,
           interruptRun: jest.fn(),
           interruptRequested: false,
           wasJustInterrupted: false,
-          clearWasJustInterrupted: jest.fn(),
           switchToRun: jest.fn(),
           respondToUserInput: jest.fn(),
           createPR: jest.fn(),
@@ -269,12 +267,10 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
         startNewSession: jest.fn(),
         isPolling: false,
         isError: false,
-        isPending: false,
         deletedFromIndex: null,
         interruptRun: jest.fn(),
         interruptRequested: false,
         wasJustInterrupted: false,
-        clearWasJustInterrupted: jest.fn(),
         runId: null,
         respondToUserInput: jest.fn(),
         switchToRun: jest.fn(),
@@ -451,7 +447,7 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    function mockSessionResponse(ownerUserId: number | null | undefined) {
+    function mockSessionResponse({ownerUserId}: {ownerUserId?: number}) {
       MockApiClient.addMockResponse({
         url: `/organizations/${organization.slug}/seer/explorer-chat/${runId}/`,
         method: 'GET',
@@ -467,24 +463,9 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
       });
     }
 
-    it('should have disabled input section when useUser returns none', async () => {
-      ConfigStore.set('user', undefined as any);
-      mockSessionResponse(2);
-
-      renderWithPanelContext(<ExplorerPanel />, true, {organization});
-
-      const textarea = await screen.findByTestId('seer-explorer-input');
-
-      expect(textarea).toBeDisabled();
-      expect(textarea).toHaveAttribute(
-        'placeholder',
-        'This conversation is owned by another user and is read-only'
-      );
-    });
-
     it('should have disabled input section when explorer owner differs', async () => {
       ConfigStore.set('user', UserFixture({id: '1'}));
-      mockSessionResponse(2);
+      mockSessionResponse({ownerUserId: 2});
 
       renderWithPanelContext(<ExplorerPanel />, true, {organization});
 
@@ -497,9 +478,9 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it('enables input when owner id is null', async () => {
+    it('enables input when owner id matches', async () => {
       ConfigStore.set('user', UserFixture({id: '1'}));
-      mockSessionResponse(null);
+      mockSessionResponse({ownerUserId: 1});
 
       renderWithPanelContext(<ExplorerPanel />, true, {organization});
 
@@ -512,9 +493,9 @@ describe('ExplorerPanel', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it('enables input when owner id matches', async () => {
+    it('enables input when owner id is undefined', async () => {
       ConfigStore.set('user', UserFixture({id: '1'}));
-      mockSessionResponse(1);
+      mockSessionResponse({ownerUserId: undefined});
 
       renderWithPanelContext(<ExplorerPanel />, true, {organization});
 
diff --git a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.tsx b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.tsx
index 3c8292be995e53..3c91c5ca15ea31 100644
--- a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.tsx
+++ b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/explorerPanel.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import {Text} from '@sentry/scraps/text';
 import {addErrorMessage, addSuccessMessage} from 'sentry/actionCreators/indicator';
 import {IconSeer} from 'sentry/icons';
 import {t} from 'sentry/locale';
-import type {User} from 'sentry/types/user';
 import {trackAnalytics} from 'sentry/utils/analytics';
 import {useFeedbackForm} from 'sentry/utils/useFeedbackForm';
 import {useLocation} from 'sentry/utils/useLocation';
@@ -101,18 +100,17 @@ export function ExplorerPanel() {
   const {
     runId,
     sessionData,
+    isPolling,
+    isError,
     sendMessage,
     deleteFromIndex,
     startNewSession,
-    isPolling,
-    isError,
-    interruptRun,
-    interruptRequested,
-    wasJustInterrupted,
-    clearWasJustInterrupted,
     switchToRun,
     respondToUserInput,
     createPR,
+    interruptRun,
+    interruptRequested,
+    wasJustInterrupted,
     overrideCtxEngEnable,
     setOverrideCtxEngEnable,
   } = useSeerExplorer();
@@ -137,13 +135,6 @@ export function ExplorerPanel() {
     onUnminimize: useCallback(() => setIsMinimized(false), []),
   });
 
-  // Clear wasJustInterrupted when user starts typing
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (inputValue.length > 0 && wasJustInterrupted) {
-      clearWasJustInterrupted();
-    }
-  }, [inputValue, wasJustInterrupted, clearWasJustInterrupted]);
-
   // Extract repo_pr_states from session
   const repoPRStates = useMemo(
     () => sessionData?.repo_pr_states ?? {},
@@ -153,25 +144,11 @@ export function ExplorerPanel() {
   // Get blocks from session data or empty array
   const blocks = useMemo(() => sessionData?.blocks || [], [sessionData]);
 
-  // Check owner id to determine edit permission. Defensive against any useUser return shape.
-  // Despite the type annotation, useUser can return null or undefined when not logged in.
-  // This component is in the top-level index so we have to guard against this.
-  const rawUser = useUser() as unknown;
-  const ownerUserId = sessionData?.owner_user_id ?? undefined;
-  const readOnly = useMemo(() => {
-    const isUser = (value: unknown): value is User =>
-      Boolean(
-        value &&
-        typeof value === 'object' &&
-        'id' in value &&
-        typeof value.id === 'string'
-      );
-    const userId = isUser(rawUser) ? rawUser.id : undefined;
-    return (
-      userId === undefined ||
-      (ownerUserId !== undefined && ownerUserId?.toString() !== userId)
-    );
-  }, [rawUser, ownerUserId]);
+  // Check owner id to determine edit permission.
+  const user = useUser();
+  const readOnly =
+    sessionData?.owner_user_id !== undefined &&
+    sessionData.owner_user_id.toString() !== user.id;
 
   // Get PR widget data for menu
   const {menuItems: prWidgetItems, menuFooter: prWidgetFooter} = usePRWidgetData({
@@ -735,10 +712,10 @@ export function ExplorerPanel() {
         focusedBlockIndex={focusedBlockIndex}
         inputValue={inputValue}
         interruptRequested={interruptRequested}
+        wasJustInterrupted={wasJustInterrupted}
         isMinimized={isMinimized}
         isPolling={isPolling}
         isVisible={isVisible}
-        wasJustInterrupted={wasJustInterrupted}
         onClear={() => setInputValue('')}
         onCreatePR={createPR}
         onInputChange={handleInputChange}
diff --git a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/hooks/useSeerExplorer.tsx b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/hooks/useSeerExplorer.tsx
index d52ba16425657b..92dbaf3ef4e0fe 100644
--- a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/hooks/useSeerExplorer.tsx
+++ b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/hooks/useSeerExplorer.tsx
@@ -143,14 +143,24 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
     }
   }, [location, navigate, openExplorerPanel, setRunId]);
 
-  // Check if Seer drawer is open - if so, always poll
-  const isSeerDrawerOpen = !!location.query?.seerDrawer;
-
   const [waitingForResponse, setWaitingForResponse] = useState<boolean>(false);
-  const [deletedFromIndex, setDeletedFromIndex] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [interruptRequested, setInterruptRequested] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [wasJustInterrupted, setWasJustInterrupted] = useState<boolean>(false);
-  const prevInterruptRequestedRef = useRef<boolean>(false);
+
+  // Helpers for managing waiting and interrupt state.
+  const _onNewRequest = useCallback(() => {
+    setWaitingForResponse(true);
+    setInterruptRequested(false);
+    setWasJustInterrupted(false);
+  }, []);
+
+  const _onRequestError = useCallback(() => {
+    setWaitingForResponse(false);
+    setInterruptRequested(false);
+    setWasJustInterrupted(false);
+  }, []);
+
+  const [deletedFromIndex, setDeletedFromIndex] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [optimistic, setOptimistic] = useState<{
     assistantBlockId: string;
     assistantContent: string;
@@ -161,25 +171,46 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
   } | null>(null);
   const previousPRStatesRef = useRef<Record<string, RepoPRState>>({});
 
-  const {
-    data: apiData,
-    isPending,
-    isError,
-  } = useApiQuery<SeerExplorerResponse>(makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug || '', runId), {
-    staleTime: 0,
-    retry: false,
-    enabled: !!runId && !!orgSlug,
-    refetchInterval: query => {
-      // Always poll when Seer drawer is open (actions triggered from drawer need updates)
-      if (isSeerDrawerOpen) {
-        return POLL_INTERVAL;
-      }
-      if (isPolling(query.state.data?.[0]?.session || null, waitingForResponse)) {
-        return POLL_INTERVAL;
+  const {data: apiData, isError} = useApiQuery<SeerExplorerResponse>(
+    makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug || '', runId),
+    {
+      staleTime: 0,
+      retry: false,
+      enabled: !!runId && !!orgSlug,
+      refetchInterval: query => {
+        if (isPolling(query.state.data?.[0]?.session || null, waitingForResponse)) {
+          return POLL_INTERVAL;
+        }
+        return false;
+      },
+    } as UseApiQueryOptions<SeerExplorerResponse, RequestError>
+  );
+
+  /** Switches to a different run and fetches its latest state. */
+  const switchToRun = useCallback(
+    (newRunId: number | null) => {
+      // Set the new run ID
+      setRunId(newRunId);
+
+      // Clear any optimistic state from previous run
+      setOptimistic(null);
+      setDeletedFromIndex(null);
+      setWaitingForResponse(false);
+      setInterruptRequested(false);
+      setWasJustInterrupted(false);
+
+      // Invalidate the query to force a fresh fetch
+      if (orgSlug && newRunId !== null) {
+        queryClient.invalidateQueries({
+          queryKey: makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, newRunId),
+        });
       }
-      return false;
     },
-  } as UseApiQueryOptions<SeerExplorerResponse, RequestError>);
+    [orgSlug, queryClient, setRunId]
+  );
+
+  /** Resets the hook state. The session isn't actually created until the user sends a message. */
+  const startNewSession = useCallback(() => switchToRun(null), [switchToRun]);
 
   const sendMessage = useCallback(
     async (query: string, insertIndex?: number, explicitRunId?: number | null) => {
@@ -207,9 +238,6 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
         screenshot = captureAsciiSnapshot?.();
       }
 
-      setWaitingForResponse(true);
-      setWasJustInterrupted(false);
-
       trackAnalytics('seer.explorer.message_sent', {
         referrer: getPageReferrer(),
         surface: 'global_panel',
@@ -255,6 +283,8 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
         baselineUpdatedAt: apiData?.session?.updated_at,
       });
 
+      _onNewRequest();
+
       try {
         const {url} = parseQueryKey(makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, effectiveRunId));
         const response = (await api.requestPromise(url, {
@@ -278,7 +308,7 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
           queryKey: makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, response.run_id),
         });
       } catch (e: any) {
-        setWaitingForResponse(false);
+        _onRequestError();
         setOptimistic(null);
         if (effectiveRunId !== null) {
           // API data is disabled for null runId (new runs).
@@ -292,6 +322,8 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
       }
     },
     [
+      _onNewRequest,
+      _onRequestError,
       queryClient,
       api,
       orgSlug,
@@ -321,6 +353,7 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
     }
 
     setInterruptRequested(true);
+    setWasJustInterrupted(false);
 
     try {
       await api.requestPromise(
@@ -346,7 +379,7 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
         return;
       }
 
-      setWaitingForResponse(true);
+      _onNewRequest();
 
       try {
         await api.requestPromise(
@@ -368,7 +401,7 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
           queryKey: makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, runId),
         });
       } catch (e: any) {
-        setWaitingForResponse(false);
+        _onRequestError();
         setApiQueryData<SeerExplorerResponse>(
           queryClient,
           makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, runId),
@@ -376,7 +409,7 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
         );
       }
     },
-    [api, orgSlug, runId, queryClient]
+    [_onNewRequest, _onRequestError, api, orgSlug, runId, queryClient]
   );
 
   const createPR = useCallback(
@@ -523,78 +556,33 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
     previousPRStatesRef.current = currentPRStates;
   }, [sessionData?.repo_pr_states]);
 
-  if (
-    waitingForResponse &&
-    filteredSessionData &&
-    Array.isArray(filteredSessionData.blocks)
-  ) {
-    // Stop waiting once we see the response is no longer loading
-    const hasLoadingMessage = filteredSessionData.blocks.some(block => block.loading);
-
-    if (!hasLoadingMessage && filteredSessionData.status !== 'processing') {
-      setWaitingForResponse(false);
-      setInterruptRequested(false);
-      // Clear deleted index once response is complete
-      setDeletedFromIndex(null);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Detect when interrupt succeeds and set wasJustInterrupted
+  // On response load
   useEffect(() => {
-    const prevInterruptRequested = prevInterruptRequestedRef.current;
-    const currentlyPolling = isPolling(filteredSessionData, waitingForResponse);
-
-    // Reset interruptRequested when polling stops after an interrupt was requested
-    if (interruptRequested && !currentlyPolling) {
-      setInterruptRequested(false);
-    }
-
-    // Detect successful interrupt: was requested, now not requested, and not polling
-    if (prevInterruptRequested && !interruptRequested && !currentlyPolling) {
-      setWasJustInterrupted(true);
-    }
-
-    prevInterruptRequestedRef.current = interruptRequested;
-  }, [interruptRequested, filteredSessionData, waitingForResponse]);
-
-  /** Resets the hook state. The session isn't actually created until the user sends a message. */
-  const startNewSession = useCallback(() => {
-    // Reset state.
-    setRunId(null);
-    setWaitingForResponse(false);
-    setDeletedFromIndex(null);
-    setOptimistic(null);
-    setInterruptRequested(false);
-    setWasJustInterrupted(false);
-  }, [setRunId]);
-
-  /** Switches to a different run and fetches its latest state. */
-  const switchToRun = useCallback(
-    (newRunId: number) => {
-      // Clear any optimistic state from previous run
-      setOptimistic(null);
-      setDeletedFromIndex(null);
-      setWaitingForResponse(false);
-      setInterruptRequested(false);
-      setWasJustInterrupted(false);
-
-      // Set the new run ID
-      setRunId(newRunId);
+    if (
+      waitingForResponse &&
+      filteredSessionData &&
+      Array.isArray(filteredSessionData.blocks)
+    ) {
+      // Stop waiting once we see the response is no longer loading
+      if (
+        filteredSessionData.status !== 'processing' &&
+        filteredSessionData.blocks.every(block => !block.loading)
+      ) {
+        setWaitingForResponse(false);
+        // Clear deleted index once response is complete
+        setDeletedFromIndex(null);
 
-      // Invalidate the query to force a fresh fetch
-      if (orgSlug) {
-        queryClient.invalidateQueries({
-          queryKey: makeSeerExplorerQueryKey(orgSlug, newRunId),
-        });
+        if (interruptRequested) {
+          setInterruptRequested(false);
+          setWasJustInterrupted(true); // set persistent UI flag until next request
+        }
       }
-    },
-    [orgSlug, queryClient, setRunId]
-  );
+    }
+  }, [waitingForResponse, filteredSessionData, interruptRequested]);
 
   return {
     sessionData: filteredSessionData,
     isPolling: isPolling(filteredSessionData, waitingForResponse),
-    isPending,
     isError,
     sendMessage,
     runId,
@@ -608,7 +596,6 @@ export const useSeerExplorer = () => {
     interruptRequested,
     /** True after an interrupt succeeds, until the user sends a new message or switches sessions. */
     wasJustInterrupted,
-    clearWasJustInterrupted: useCallback(() => setWasJustInterrupted(false), []),
     respondToUserInput,
     createPR,
     overrideCtxEngEnable,
diff --git a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/inputSection.tsx b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/inputSection.tsx
index 7412170a3ad6e4..68c3a4f722b63e 100644
--- a/static/app/views/seerExplorer/inputSection.tsx
+++ b/static/app/views/seerExplorer/inputSection.tsx
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ interface InputSectionProps {
   prWidgetButtonRef: React.RefObject<HTMLButtonElement | null>;
   repoPRStates: Record<string, RepoPRState>;
   textAreaRef: React.RefObject<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>;
+  wasJustInterrupted: boolean;
   fileApprovalActions?: FileApprovalActions;
   isMinimized?: boolean;
   isVisible?: boolean;
   questionActions?: QuestionActions;
-  wasJustInterrupted?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function InputSection({
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export function InputSection({
   isMinimized = false,
   isPolling,
   interruptRequested,
+  wasJustInterrupted = false,
   isVisible = false,
   onCreatePR,
   onInputChange,
@@ -74,16 +75,12 @@ export function InputSection({
   textAreaRef,
   fileApprovalActions,
   questionActions,
-  wasJustInterrupted = false,
 }: InputSectionProps) {
   // Check if there are any file patches for showing the PR widget
   const hasCodeChanges = useMemo(() => {
     return blocks.some(b => b.merged_file_patches && b.merged_file_patches.length > 0);
   }, [blocks]);
   const getPlaceholder = () => {
-    if (!enabled) {
-      return 'This conversation is owned by another user and is read-only';
-    }
     if (wasJustInterrupted) {
       return 'Interrupted. What should Seer do instead?';
     }
@@ -169,12 +166,9 @@ export function InputSection({
           <StyledInputGroup>
             <InputGroup.TextArea
               disabled
-              ref={textAreaRef}
-              value={inputValue}
-              onChange={onInputChange}
-              onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
-              onClick={onInputClick}
-              placeholder={getPlaceholder()}
+              placeholder={t(
+                'This conversation is owned by another user and is read-only'
+              )}
               rows={1}
               data-test-id="seer-explorer-input"
             />