diff --git a/neode-ui/src/App.vue b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
index 11f59657..74ac0e37 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/App.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
@@ -59,6 +59,15 @@
               <p class="mt-0.5 text-sm text-white/70 line-clamp-2">{{ toastMessage.text }}</p>
               <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-orange-400">Click to view</p>
             </div>
+            <button
+              @click.stop="messageToast.closeToast"
+              aria-label="Dismiss notification"
+              class="-mt-1 -mr-1 shrink-0 rounded-full p-1 text-white/40 transition-colors hover:bg-white/10 hover:text-white/80"
+            >
+              <svg class="h-4 w-4" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
+              </svg>
+            </button>
           </div>
         </div>
       </Transition>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useMessageToast.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useMessageToast.ts
index cc5de069..aafde68d 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/composables/useMessageToast.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useMessageToast.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const MESSAGE_POLL_INTERVAL = 30000 // 30s
 const receivedMessages = ref<ReceivedMessage[]>([])
 const lastMessageCount = ref(0)
 const loadingMessages = ref(false)
-const toastMessage = ref<{ show: boolean; text: string }>({ show: false, text: '' })
+const toastMessage = ref<{ show: boolean; text: string; fromPubkey: string }>({ show: false, text: '', fromPubkey: '' })
 let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
 
 export function useMessageToast() {
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ export function useMessageToast() {
         toastMessage.value = {
           show: true,
           text: (newCount === 1 ? latest?.message : null) ?? `${newCount} new messages`,
+          // Only deep-link to a specific chat when it's a single new message
+          // from one sender; otherwise open the mesh list.
+          fromPubkey: newCount === 1 ? (latest?.from_pubkey ?? '') : '',
         }
         lastMessageCount.value = msgs.length
       } else {
@@ -83,9 +86,16 @@ export function useMessageToast() {
   }
 
   function dismissToastAndOpenMessages() {
-    toastMessage.value = { show: false, text: '' }
+    const peer = toastMessage.value.fromPubkey
+    toastMessage.value = { show: false, text: '', fromPubkey: '' }
     markAsRead()
-    router.push('/dashboard/mesh')
+    // Open the specific conversation when we know the sender; else the mesh list.
+    router.push(peer ? { path: '/dashboard/mesh', query: { peer } } : '/dashboard/mesh')
+  }
+
+  // Dismiss the toast without navigating (the close icon).
+  function closeToast() {
+    toastMessage.value = { show: false, text: '', fromPubkey: '' }
   }
 
   return {
@@ -99,5 +109,6 @@ export function useMessageToast() {
     stopPolling,
     markAsRead,
     dismissToastAndOpenMessages,
+    closeToast,
   }
 }
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Mesh.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Mesh.vue
index e63256a8..acc7dfb0 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Mesh.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Mesh.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, computed, watch, nextTick, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
 import { useMeshStore } from '@/stores/mesh'
 import { useTransportStore } from '@/stores/transport'
 import type { MeshMessage, MeshPeer, SessionStatus } from '@/stores/mesh'
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import '@/views/mesh/mesh-styles.css'
 
 const mesh = useMeshStore()
 const transport = useTransportStore()
+const route = useRoute()
 
 // Responsive layout breakpoints
 const isWideDesktop = ref(window.innerWidth >= 1536)
@@ -301,6 +303,15 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   loadPendingFromSession()
   await Promise.all([mesh.refreshAll(), transport.fetchStatus(), refreshFederationNodes(), refreshSelfOnion(), refreshSelfDid(), refreshContacts()])
   refreshOutboxCount()
+  // Deep-link from a message toast: open the sender's conversation if we can
+  // match it; otherwise just land on the mesh page (graceful fallback).
+  const targetPeer = typeof route.query.peer === 'string' ? route.query.peer : ''
+  if (targetPeer) {
+    const match = mesh.peers.find(
+      (p) => p.pubkey_hex === targetPeer || p.did === targetPeer
+    )
+    if (match) openChat(match)
+  }
   // Start background polling for Archipelago (Tor) messages so unread count works
   loadArchMessages()
   if (!archPollInterval) {