diff --git a/extension/content.js b/extension/content.js
index a3f887b0..1c119d7d 100644
--- a/extension/content.js
+++ b/extension/content.js
@@ -326,6 +326,9 @@ function startBasicPicker() {
   document.addEventListener('keydown', onBasicKeydown, true);
 }
 
+// Notify the page that the gstack extension is active (used by welcome page)
+document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('gstack-extension-ready'));
+
 // Listen for messages from background worker
 chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener((msg) => {
   if (msg.type === 'startBasicPicker') {
diff --git a/extension/sidepanel.css b/extension/sidepanel.css
index 2cc94a0f..ac394562 100644
--- a/extension/sidepanel.css
+++ b/extension/sidepanel.css
@@ -161,13 +161,14 @@ body::after {
 .chat-loading {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: center;
   height: 100%;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   color: var(--text-meta);
   gap: 12px;
   font-size: 13px;
+  padding: 24px;
 }
 .chat-loading-spinner {
   width: 24px;
@@ -183,10 +184,10 @@ body::after {
 .chat-welcome {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: center;
   height: 100%;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   color: var(--text-label);
   gap: 8px;
   padding: 24px;
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ body::after {
   border-bottom-right-radius: var(--radius-sm);
 }
 .chat-notification {
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   font-size: 11px;
   color: var(--text-meta);
   padding: 4px 12px;
@@ -545,10 +546,10 @@ body::after {
 .session-placeholder {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: center;
   height: 100%;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   color: var(--text-label);
   padding: 24px;
   gap: 8px;
@@ -559,10 +560,10 @@ body::after {
 .empty-state {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: center;
   padding: 40px 24px;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   color: var(--text-label);
   gap: 4px;
 }
@@ -787,7 +788,7 @@ footer {
   border-radius: 6px;
   font-size: 11px;
   margin: 6px 12px;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
@@ -964,10 +965,10 @@ footer {
 .inspector-empty {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
+  align-items: flex-start;
   justify-content: center;
   padding: 40px 24px;
-  text-align: center;
+  text-align: left;
   gap: 6px;
 }