diff --git a/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.test.tsx b/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.test.tsx
index 75995e709..298902e6e 100644
--- a/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.test.tsx
@@ -2251,6 +2251,58 @@ describe("Chat", () => {
       expect(console.warn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    test("should not re-render chat list on keydown when backdrop is already hidden", async () => {
+      // GIVEN a logged-in user with an active session
+      const givenUser: TabiyaUser = getMockUser();
+      AuthenticationStateService.getInstance().setUser(givenUser);
+      const givenActiveSessionId = 123;
+      UserPreferencesStateService.getInstance().setUserPreferences(
+        getMockUserPreferences(givenUser, givenActiveSessionId)
+      );
+
+      // AND a chat history with a message
+      const givenMessages: ConversationResponse = getMockConversationResponse(
+        [
+          {
+            message_id: nanoid(),
+            message: "hello",
+            sent_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+            sender: ConversationMessageSender.USER,
+            reaction: null,
+          },
+        ],
+        ConversationPhase.DIVE_IN,
+        75
+      );
+      jest.spyOn(ChatService.getInstance(), "getChatHistory").mockResolvedValueOnce(givenMessages);
+
+      // WHEN the component is mounted
+      render(<Chat />);
+
+      // AND the chat component is initialized
+      await assertChatInitialized();
+
+      // Capture the current render count after initialization settles
+      const initialRenderCount = (ChatList as jest.Mock).mock.calls.length;
+
+      // WHEN multiple keydown events are fired (user typing)
+      await act(async () => {
+        for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+          document.dispatchEvent(
+            new KeyboardEvent("keydown", {
+              key: "a",
+              code: "KeyA",
+              bubbles: true,
+              cancelable: true,
+            })
+          );
+        }
+      });
+
+      // THEN no additional ChatList renders should occur (no re-render per keystroke)
+      expect((ChatList as jest.Mock).mock.calls.length).toBe(initialRenderCount);
+    });
+
     test.each([
       [
         "click",
diff --git a/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.tsx b/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.tsx
index 49d00bc33..fdf4ea424 100644
--- a/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.tsx
+++ b/frontend-new/src/chat/Chat.tsx
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ export const Chat: React.FC<Readonly<ChatProps>> = ({
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = React.useState<boolean>(false);
   const [isLoggingOut, setIsLoggingOut] = React.useState<boolean>(false);
   const [showBackdrop, setShowBackdrop] = useState(showInactiveSessionAlert);
-  const [lastActivityTime, setLastActivityTime] = React.useState<number>(Date.now());
   const [newConversationDialog, setNewConversationDialog] = React.useState<boolean>(false);
   const [exploredExperiencesNotification, setExploredExperiencesNotification] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [activeSessionId, setActiveSessionId] = useState<number | null>(
@@ -134,6 +133,7 @@ export const Chat: React.FC<Readonly<ChatProps>> = ({
     timeoutId: NodeJS.Timeout
   }>>(new Map());
 
+  const lastActivityRef = useRef(Date.now());
   const navigate = useNavigate();
 
   const initializingRef = useRef(false);
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ export const Chat: React.FC<Readonly<ChatProps>> = ({
     if (disableInactivityCheck || conversationCompleted) return;
 
     const checkInactivity = () => {
-      if (Date.now() - lastActivityTime > INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT) {
+      if (Date.now() - lastActivityRef.current > INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT) {
         setShowBackdrop(true);
       }
     };
@@ -790,22 +790,24 @@ export const Chat: React.FC<Readonly<ChatProps>> = ({
     const interval = setInterval(checkInactivity, CHECK_INACTIVITY_INTERVAL);
 
     return () => clearInterval(interval);
-  }, [lastActivityTime, disableInactivityCheck, conversationCompleted]);
+  }, [disableInactivityCheck, conversationCompleted]);
 
-  // Close backdrop when user interacts with the page
+  // Close the backdrop when the user interacts with the page
   useEffect(() => {
     if (disableInactivityCheck) return;
 
     // Reset the timer when the user interacts with the page
     const resetTimer = () => {
-      setLastActivityTime(Date.now());
-      setShowBackdrop(false);
+      lastActivityRef.current = Date.now();
+      setShowBackdrop((prev) => (prev ? false : prev));
     };
 
     const events = ["mousedown", "keydown"];
-    events.forEach((event) => document.addEventListener(event, resetTimer));
+    events.forEach((event) => document.addEventListener(event, resetTimer, { passive: true }));
 
-    return () => events.forEach((event) => document.removeEventListener(event, resetTimer));
+    return () => {
+      events.forEach((e) => document.removeEventListener(e, resetTimer));
+    };
   }, [disableInactivityCheck]);
 
   // Preload the "Download Report" button when experiences are explored.