diff --git a/src/widgets/request_item.py b/src/widgets/request_item.py
index 4f78bd6..d06ea6f 100644
--- a/src/widgets/request_item.py
+++ b/src/widgets/request_item.py
@@ -62,11 +62,17 @@ class RequestItem(Gtk.Box):
 
         self._setup_menu()
 
-        # Click gesture for loading (on the whole row, but not on the menu button)
+        # Click gesture for loading
         gesture = Gtk.GestureClick.new()
         gesture.connect('released', self._on_clicked)
         self.add_controller(gesture)
 
+        # Show/hide menu button on hover
+        motion = Gtk.EventControllerMotion.new()
+        motion.connect('enter', self._on_hover_enter)
+        motion.connect('leave', self._on_hover_leave)
+        self.add_controller(motion)
+
     def _setup_menu(self):
         actions = Gio.SimpleActionGroup.new()
 
@@ -107,17 +113,31 @@ class RequestItem(Gtk.Box):
 
         self.menu_button.set_menu_model(menu)
 
+        # Hidden by default; shown on hover via EventControllerMotion.
+        # When the popover closes, hide the button again.
+        self.menu_button.set_opacity(0.0)
+        popover = self.menu_button.get_popover()
+        if popover:
+            popover.connect('closed', lambda p: self.menu_button.set_opacity(0.0))
+
     def _on_move_to_project_activated(self, action, param):
         self.emit('move-to-project-requested', param.get_string())
 
     def _on_clicked(self, gesture, n_press, x, y):
         """Load request on row click (but not if the menu button was clicked)."""
-        # Check if the click was on the menu button — if so, ignore
         alloc = self.menu_button.get_allocation()
         if alloc.x <= x <= alloc.x + alloc.width and alloc.y <= y <= alloc.y + alloc.height:
             return
         self.emit('load-requested')
 
+    def _on_hover_enter(self, controller, x, y):
+        self.menu_button.set_opacity(1.0)
+
+    def _on_hover_leave(self, controller):
+        popover = self.menu_button.get_popover()
+        if not (popover and popover.get_visible()):
+            self.menu_button.set_opacity(0.0)
+
     def set_can_move_up(self, can: bool):
         self._move_up_action.set_enabled(can)
 
diff --git a/src/window.py b/src/window.py
index 3baeaa1..85e1670 100644
--- a/src/window.py
+++ b/src/window.py
@@ -224,16 +224,6 @@ class RosterWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
                 min-width: 0;
             }
 
-            /* Request menu button: hidden by default, visible on row hover or when open */
-            .request-menu-button {
-                opacity: 0;
-                transition: opacity 150ms ease;
-            }
-            row:hover .request-menu-button,
-            .request-menu-button:checked {
-                opacity: 1;
-            }
-
             /* Method chips in sidebar request list */
             .method-chip {
                 border-radius: 4px;
@@ -971,13 +961,16 @@ class RosterWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
 
     def _load_projects(self) -> None:
         """Load and display projects."""
-        # Remember which projects are currently expanded
+        # Remember which projects are currently expanded.
+        # GtkListBox wraps each child in a GtkListBoxRow, so we call get_child()
+        # on the row to reach the actual ProjectItem widget.
         expanded_ids = set()
-        child = self.projects_listbox.get_first_child()
-        while child:
-            if isinstance(child, ProjectItem) and child.expanded:
-                expanded_ids.add(child.project.id)
-            child = child.get_next_sibling()
+        row = self.projects_listbox.get_first_child()
+        while row:
+            project_item = row.get_child()
+            if isinstance(project_item, ProjectItem) and project_item.expanded:
+                expanded_ids.add(project_item.project.id)
+            row = row.get_next_sibling()
 
         # Clear existing
         while child := self.projects_listbox.get_first_child():