diff --git a/cmd/footer_layout_clip_test.go b/cmd/footer_layout_clip_test.go
index a8105081..eb03f451 100644
--- a/cmd/footer_layout_clip_test.go
+++ b/cmd/footer_layout_clip_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestLayoutFooterRow_TokensSurviveFinishFooterLine(t *testing.T) {
 	m := chatModel{width: 70, height: 24}
-	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/OSS2026/RealWork/graycode-eco/hawk:")
+	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/OSS2026/RealWork/graycode-eco/hawk")
 	left += " " + lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusBranchColor).Inline(true).Render("⎇ main")
 	right := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusTokenColor).Inline(true).Render("[db] 13k")
 	right += lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(dimColor).Inline(true).Render(" · ")
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestLayoutFooterRow_LeftWiderThanFooterStillShowsTokens(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestLayoutFooterRow_ClipDoesNotDropStyledTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	m := chatModel{width: 55, height: 24}
-	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/Desktop/OSS2026/RealWork/graycode-eco/hawk:")
+	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/Desktop/OSS2026/RealWork/graycode-eco/hawk")
 	left += " " + lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusBranchColor).Inline(true).Render("⎇ feature/footer-fix")
 	dim := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(dimColor).Inline(true)
 	tok := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusTokenColor).Inline(true)
diff --git a/cmd/footer_layout_width_test.go b/cmd/footer_layout_width_test.go
index be5c02d0..d8568700 100644
--- a/cmd/footer_layout_width_test.go
+++ b/cmd/footer_layout_width_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ func TestLayoutFooterRow_StyledStringsAlignRight(t *testing.T) {
 	tokenStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusTokenColor).Inline(true)
 	dim := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(dimColor).Inline(true)
 
-	left := cwdStyle.Render("~/hawk:") + " " + cwdStyle.Render("⎇ main")
+	left := cwdStyle.Render("~/hawk") + " " + cwdStyle.Render("⎇ main")
 	right := tokenStyle.Render("[db] 13k") + dim.Render(" · ") + tokenStyle.Render("$0.00")
 	width := 80
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestLayoutFooterRow_StyledStringsAlignRight(t *testing.T) {
 func TestFinishFooterLine_PreservesRightAlignedStats(t *testing.T) {
 	m := chatModel{width: 100, height: 24}
 	tokenStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusTokenColor).Inline(true)
-	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/proj:")
+	left := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(statusCWDColor).Inline(true).Render("~/proj")
 	right := tokenStyle.Render("[db] 1k") + lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(dimColor).Inline(true).Render(" · ") + tokenStyle.Render("$1.00")
 	row := layoutFooterRow(left, right, m.footerContentWidth(100))
 	out := m.finishFooterLine(row, 100)
diff --git a/cmd/statusbar.go b/cmd/statusbar.go
index 0bc4d08e..03d3c408 100644
--- a/cmd/statusbar.go
+++ b/cmd/statusbar.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func renderStatusBarPrimaryLeft(m *chatModel) string {
 	if !ok {
 		return ""
 	}
-	parts := []string{statusCwdStyle.Render(cwd + ":")}
+	parts := []string{statusCwdStyle.Render(cwd)}
 	if branch := cachedStatusBranch(m); branch != "" {
 		parts = append(parts, statusBranchStyle.Render(icons.Branch()+" "+branch))
 		if m != nil && len(m.statusLeftPRs) > 0 {
@@ -165,15 +165,7 @@ func formatStatusCost(c *engine.Cost) string {
 }
 
 func renderStatusBarSecondaryLeft(m *chatModel) string {
-	if m == nil || m.session == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	parts := []string{}
-	branch := cachedStatusBranch(m)
-	if branch == "main" || branch == "master" {
-		parts = append(parts, dryRunStyle.Render(icons.Alert()+" default-branch"))
-	}
-	return strings.Join(parts, statusDimStyle.Render(" · "))
+	return ""
 }
 
 // renderStatusBarSecondaryRight — errors, dry-run, vim, focus/pause, spend.
@@ -304,7 +296,7 @@ func renderStatusBarLeft(m *chatModel) string {
 	if !ok {
 		return ""
 	}
-	parts := []string{statusCwdStyle.Render(cwd + ":")}
+	parts := []string{statusCwdStyle.Render(cwd)}
 	if branch := cachedStatusBranch(m); branch != "" {
 		parts = append(parts, statusBranchStyle.Render(icons.Branch()+" "+branch))
 		if m != nil && len(m.statusLeftPRs) > 0 {
diff --git a/cmd/statusbar_test.go b/cmd/statusbar_test.go
index 79b1af57..7c87259d 100644
--- a/cmd/statusbar_test.go
+++ b/cmd/statusbar_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestRenderStatusBarRight_OmitsDuplicatedContext(t *testing.T) {
 func TestRenderStatusBarLeft_UsesCachedState(t *testing.T) {
 	m := &chatModel{statusLeftVal: "~/repo", statusLeftBranch: "main"}
 	got := renderStatusBarLeft(m)
-	if !strings.Contains(got, "~/repo:") {
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "~/repo") {
 		t.Fatalf("status left = %q, want cached cwd", got)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(got, "main") {
diff --git a/docs/architecture/control-plane.md b/docs/architecture/control-plane.md
index e692a48e..95d84e56 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/control-plane.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/control-plane.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ Single entry for subagents + background tasks:
 ### Git safety
 - `engine.InspectGitBranch` / `EnsureAgentBranch`
 - `/branch-agent` when on main/master
-- Status bar warns `default-branch` when on main
+- Status bar warns `main!` when on main
 
 ### HUD
 - Wide status secondary row: `mode:act · iso:workspace · trusted`