diff --git a/src/app/state/misc.rs b/src/app/state/misc.rs
index e5047a1..3c70597 100644
--- a/src/app/state/misc.rs
+++ b/src/app/state/misc.rs
@@ -270,6 +270,17 @@ impl InputState {
                 self.cursor = self.buffer.len();
             }
             AutocompleteKind::FileMention => {
+                // Cursor movement (Left/Right) does not close the dropdown, so
+                // by the time Enter is pressed `mention_start` may no longer
+                // describe a valid range against the current cursor/buffer
+                // (e.g. the cursor moved left past the '@'). Splicing on a
+                // stale range would panic (`start > end`) or, even when it
+                // doesn't panic, produce a nonsensical replacement. Treat a
+                // stale mention context the same as "nothing selected".
+                if self.cursor < self.mention_start || self.mention_start > self.buffer.len() {
+                    self.close_autocomplete();
+                    return false;
+                }
                 let replacement = format!("@{candidate} ");
                 self.buffer.replace_range(self.mention_start..self.cursor, &replacement);
                 self.cursor = self.mention_start + replacement.len();
@@ -485,6 +496,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(input.cursor, 8 + "@src/main.rs ".len());
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn select_file_mention_with_stale_cursor_before_mention_start_does_not_panic() {
+        // Simulates: user typed "foo @rea" (mention_start = 4, cursor = 8,
+        // dropdown open), then pressed Left 5 times without closing the
+        // dropdown, moving the cursor to byte 3 (before the '@'). Selecting
+        // now must not panic on `replace_range(4..3, ...)`.
+        let mut input = input_with("foo @rea", 3);
+        input.autocomplete_candidates = vec!["src/main.rs".to_string()];
+        input.autocomplete_idx = 0;
+        input.autocomplete_kind = AutocompleteKind::FileMention;
+        input.mention_start = 4;
+        assert!(!input.select_autocomplete());
+        assert!(!input.autocomplete_visible);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn select_command_still_replaces_whole_buffer() {
         let mut input = input_with("/mo", 3);