diff --git a/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/NetworkIndicator.qml b/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/NetworkIndicator.qml
index 266d893..cb27faa 100644
--- a/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/NetworkIndicator.qml
+++ b/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/NetworkIndicator.qml
@@ -645,6 +645,16 @@ Item {
         color: (netRow.net.connected || netRow.passwordOpen)
             ? Qt.rgba(Colors.primary.r, Colors.primary.g, Colors.primary.b, 0.18)
             : (rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primary : "transparent")
+        readonly property bool active: netRow.net.connected || netRow.passwordOpen
+
+        // Colors.primaryText (used below whenever hovered) assumes a solid
+        // Colors.primary fill behind it — true for a hovered *inactive* row,
+        // but an active row's background stays the translucent tint above
+        // even while hovered, so primaryText (dark, meant for a bright solid
+        // fill) reads poorly against it. This hardcoded near-white (same one
+        // TailscaleIndicator.qml uses for the same reason) is used instead
+        // for that one case.
+        readonly property color activeHoverColor: "#c9f0f0f0"
 
         // Hover-only outline, offset outside the row rather than drawn on
         // its own edge — same treatment as ToggleSwitch's halo and the DNS
@@ -680,7 +690,7 @@ Item {
                     font.family: Appearance.iconFontFamilyRounded
                     font.variableAxes: Appearance.iconFontAxes
                     font.pixelSize: 16
-                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primaryText : Colors.foreground
+                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? (netRow.active ? netRow.activeHoverColor : Colors.primaryText) : Colors.foreground
                     // The wifi-fan glyph itself is flat/wide — stretch it
                     // vertically to read taller while keeping its width (and
                     // the layout around it) unchanged.
@@ -701,14 +711,14 @@ Item {
                         font.family: Appearance.fontFamily
                         font.pixelSize: Appearance.fontSize
                         font.bold: netRow.net.connected
-                        color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primaryText : Colors.foreground
+                        color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? (netRow.active ? netRow.activeHoverColor : Colors.primaryText) : Colors.foreground
                     }
                     Text {
                         visible: netRow.net.connected
                         text: "Connected"
                         font.family: Appearance.fontFamily
                         font.pixelSize: Appearance.fontSizeSmall
-                        color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primaryText : Colors.foreground
+                        color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? (netRow.active ? netRow.activeHoverColor : Colors.primaryText) : Colors.foreground
                     }
                 }
                 Text {
@@ -717,7 +727,7 @@ Item {
                     font.family: Appearance.iconFontFamilyRounded
                     font.variableAxes: Appearance.iconFontAxes
                     font.pixelSize: 13
-                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primaryText : Colors.muted
+                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? (netRow.active ? netRow.activeHoverColor : Colors.primaryText) : Colors.muted
                 }
                 Text {
                     id: forgetIcon
@@ -726,7 +736,7 @@ Item {
                     font.family: Appearance.iconFontFamilyRounded
                     font.variableAxes: Appearance.iconFontAxes
                     font.pixelSize: 14
-                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? Colors.primaryText : Colors.muted
+                    color: rowMouse.containsMouse ? (netRow.active ? netRow.activeHoverColor : Colors.primaryText) : Colors.muted
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1204,12 +1214,19 @@ Item {
 
                         Column {
                             id: networkListColumn
-                            // Inset 3px on each side (rather than flush with
+                            // Inset 3px on every side (rather than flush with
                             // the Flickable) so NetworkRow's hover halo below
                             // has room to sit outside the row without being
-                            // cropped by the Flickable's own clip.
+                            // cropped by the Flickable's own clip. Left/right
+                            // needs the manual x/width shift (children bind
+                            // width: parent.width, which ignores Column's own
+                            // padding); top/bottom just needs padding, since
+                            // that's along Column's own layout axis and the
+                            // Flickable's contentHeight tracks it.
                             x: 3
                             width: networkListFlick.width - 6
+                            topPadding: 3
+                            bottomPadding: 3
                             spacing: 6
 
                             Column {
diff --git a/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/TailscaleIndicator.qml b/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/TailscaleIndicator.qml
index ed70c8d..ed23d33 100644
--- a/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/TailscaleIndicator.qml
+++ b/dotfiles/.config/quickshell/modules/bar/TailscaleIndicator.qml
@@ -1097,11 +1097,18 @@ Item {
 
                     Column {
                         id: listColumn
-                        // Inset 3px on each side so ExitNodeRow/PeerRow's
+                        // Inset 3px on every side so ExitNodeRow/PeerRow's
                         // hover halo has room without being cropped by
-                        // listFlick's clip.
+                        // listFlick's clip. Left/right needs the manual
+                        // x/width shift (children bind width: parent.width,
+                        // which ignores Column's own padding); top/bottom
+                        // just needs padding, since that's along Column's
+                        // own layout axis and Flickable's contentHeight
+                        // tracks it.
                         x: 3
                         width: listFlick.width - 6
+                        topPadding: 3
+                        bottomPadding: 3
                         spacing: 6
 
                         Column {