diff --git a/heph.nvim/lua/heph/view.lua b/heph.nvim/lua/heph/view.lua
index c8915fb..5c1063f 100644
--- a/heph.nvim/lua/heph/view.lua
+++ b/heph.nvim/lua/heph/view.lua
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ local function task_on_line(buf)
   if not view then
     return nil
   end
-  return view.tasks[vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[1]]
+  -- line 1 is the key-hint header; task rows start at line 2.
+  return view.tasks[vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[1] - 1]
 end
 
 -- Find or create the named scratch buffer, fill it, and (re)bind its keymaps.
@@ -48,23 +49,23 @@ local function render(name, tasks, refresh)
   vim.bo[buf].bufhidden = "hide"
   vim.bo[buf].swapfile = false
 
-  local lines = {}
+  -- Line 1 is a dimmed key hint; task rows follow.
+  local lines = { HINT }
   for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
     lines[#lines + 1] = row(t)
   end
-  if #lines == 0 then
-    lines = { "(nothing here — press 'a' to add a task)" }
+  if #tasks == 0 then
+    lines[#lines + 1] = "(nothing here — press 'a' to add a task)"
   end
   vim.bo[buf].modifiable = true
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(buf, 0, -1, false, lines)
   vim.bo[buf].modifiable = false
 
-  -- A dimmed key hint above the first row — a virtual line, so it isn't a task
-  -- row (cursor lines still map 1:1 to tasks).
   vim.api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(buf, hint_ns, 0, -1)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(buf, hint_ns, 0, 0, {
-    virt_lines_above = true,
-    virt_lines = { { { HINT, "Comment" } } },
+    end_row = 0,
+    end_col = #HINT,
+    hl_group = "Comment",
   })
 
   M._views[buf] = { tasks = tasks, refresh = refresh }
@@ -84,6 +85,9 @@ local function render(name, tasks, refresh)
     M.refresh(buf)
   end, "heph: refresh")
   vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(buf)
+  if #tasks > 0 then
+    pcall(vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor, 0, { 2, 0 }) -- land on the first task row
+  end
   return buf
 end
 
diff --git a/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/capture_spec.lua b/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/capture_spec.lua
index 2bba877..f4891a7 100644
--- a/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/capture_spec.lua
+++ b/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/capture_spec.lua
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ describe("task capture to done", function()
     assert.are.equal(task.node_id, ranked[1].node_id)
     assert.is_truthy(ranked[1].canonical_context_id)
 
-    -- Jump to its canonical context from the view (the one-keystroke jump).
-    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 1, 0 })
+    -- Jump to its canonical context from the view (line 1 is the hint header,
+    -- task rows start at line 2).
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 2, 0 })
     require("heph.view").open_under_cursor()
     local ctxbuf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
     assert.are.equal(
diff --git a/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/view_actions_spec.lua b/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/view_actions_spec.lua
index 1f1d998..110c57a 100644
--- a/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/view_actions_spec.lua
+++ b/heph.nvim/tests/e2e/view_actions_spec.lua
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ describe("task list actions", function()
     local t = ctx.q:call("task.create", { title = "Ship it", attention = "red" })
     require("heph.view").list()
     local buf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
-    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 1, 0 })
+    vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { 2, 0 }) -- line 1 is the hint header
 
     require("heph.view").done_under_cursor(buf)