diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageActionBar.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageActionBar.tsx
index 967e50f5d2..39be0f7f5c 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageActionBar.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageActionBar.tsx
@@ -445,6 +445,10 @@ export const MessageActionBar = React.memo(function MessageActionBar({
         isReactionPickerOpen || isDropdownOpen
           ? "sm:pointer-events-auto sm:opacity-100"
           : "",
+        // Issue #4077: the hover action bar is chrome, not message content —
+        // it must not become part of the surrounding text selection when the
+        // user drag-selects across a message.
+        "select-none",
       )}
       data-testid={`message-action-bar-${message.id}`}
     >
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageReactions.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageReactions.tsx
index 2250b3931f..5eb262b33b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageReactions.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageReactions.tsx
@@ -247,6 +247,10 @@ export function MessageReactions({
     <div
       className={cn(
         "group/reactions mt-1.5 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5",
+        // Issue #4077: reaction pills and the inline picker are chrome, not
+        // message content — they must not become part of the surrounding
+        // text selection when the user drag-selects across a message.
+        "select-none",
         className,
       )}
       data-testid="message-reactions"