diff --git a/apps/web/src/navigation-shell.tsx b/apps/web/src/navigation-shell.tsx
index a0c7edeb..b66c77b8 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/navigation-shell.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/navigation-shell.tsx
@@ -747,6 +747,9 @@ export function NavigationShell(
 			&& !/^\/(?:channels|documents|repositories)(?:\/|$)/.test(destination.pathname)
 		) return;
 		event.preventDefault();
+		// Lexical's clickable-link listener is attached at the editor root. Stop
+		// the event before it reaches that root after this shell has claimed an app route.
+		event.stopPropagation();
 		setDrawerOpen(false);
 		navigate(`${destination.pathname}${destination.search}${destination.hash}`);
 	};
diff --git a/e2e/research-child-surface.e2e.ts b/e2e/research-child-surface.e2e.ts
index 8089d225..a000e701 100644
--- a/e2e/research-child-surface.e2e.ts
+++ b/e2e/research-child-surface.e2e.ts
@@ -15,10 +15,56 @@ const CHILD_SOURCE = `# Source review
 This ordinary child has its own editable document, Decisions, and inline comments.
 `;
 
+const LINKED_PARENT_SOURCE = `# Parent document
+
+[Parent source](https://example.com/parent-source)
+`;
+
+const LINKED_CHILD_SOURCE = `# Source review
+
+[Child source](https://example.com/child-source)
+`;
+
 function port(baseURL: string): number {
 	return Number(new URL(baseURL).port);
 }
 
+test("authored links open from parent and child documents", async ({ baseURL, join, page, room, seed }) => {
+	await seed(LINKED_PARENT_SOURCE);
+	let child = await seedChildChannel(
+		port(baseURL!),
+		room,
+		crypto.randomUUID(),
+		`Linked child ${room.slice(0, 8)}`,
+		LINKED_CHILD_SOURCE,
+	);
+	await join("ana");
+
+	let parent = page.locator(`[data-workspace-room="${room}"]`);
+	let parentLink = parent.getByRole("link", { name: "Parent source", exact: true });
+	let parentPopupPromise = page.waitForEvent("popup");
+	await parentLink.click();
+	let parentPopup = await parentPopupPromise;
+	await expect(parentPopup).toHaveURL("https://example.com/parent-source");
+	expect(await parentPopup.evaluate(() => opener === null)).toBe(true);
+	await parentPopup.close();
+
+	let sidebar = page.getByRole("complementary", { name: "Projects" });
+	await sidebar.getByRole("link", { name: `Linked child ${room.slice(0, 8)}`, exact: true })
+		.click();
+	let surface = page.getByRole("region", {
+		name: `Child document: Linked child ${room.slice(0, 8)}`,
+	});
+	await expect(surface.locator(`[data-workspace-room="${child.id}"]`)).toBeVisible();
+
+	let childLink = surface.getByRole("link", { name: "Child source", exact: true });
+	let childPopupPromise = page.waitForEvent("popup");
+	await childLink.click();
+	let childPopup = await childPopupPromise;
+	await expect(childPopup).toHaveURL("https://example.com/child-source");
+	await childPopup.close();
+});
+
 async function captureChatSends(page: Page) {
 	let sends: { channelId: string; text: string; to: Chat.Destination }[] = [];
 	await page.route("**/api/session", async route => {
diff --git a/packages/editor/src/widgets-plugin.tsx b/packages/editor/src/widgets-plugin.tsx
index 5fa5f7f4..0a829106 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/widgets-plugin.tsx
+++ b/packages/editor/src/widgets-plugin.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
  * only way a later value arrives.
  */
 
+import { useEffect } from "react";
+import { $getSelection, $isRangeSelection } from "lexical";
+import { useLexicalComposerContext } from "@lexical/react/LexicalComposerContext";
 import { addComposerChild$, realmPlugin } from "@mdxeditor/editor";
 
 import { ChangeObserver } from "./changes-observer";
@@ -33,6 +36,42 @@ import type { WidgetOptions } from "./widget-options";
 export { widgets$ } from "./widget-options";
 export type { WidgetOptions } from "./widget-options";
 
+function SafeClickableLinkPlugin() {
+	let [editor] = useLexicalComposerContext();
+
+	useEffect(() => {
+		let follow = (event: MouseEvent) => {
+			if (event.defaultPrevented || (event.button !== 0 && event.button !== 1)) return;
+			let target = event.target;
+			if (!(target instanceof Element)) return;
+			let link = target.closest<HTMLAnchorElement>("a[href]");
+			if (!link || link.hasAttribute("download")) return;
+			let selecting = editor.read(() => {
+				let selection = $getSelection();
+				return $isRangeSelection(selection) && !selection.isCollapsed();
+			});
+			if (selecting) {
+				event.preventDefault();
+				return;
+			}
+			event.preventDefault();
+			event.stopPropagation();
+			window.open(link.href, "_blank", "noopener,noreferrer");
+		};
+		let middle = (event: MouseEvent) => {
+			if (event.button === 1) follow(event);
+		};
+		return editor.registerRootListener((current, previous) => {
+			previous?.removeEventListener("click", follow);
+			previous?.removeEventListener("mouseup", middle);
+			current?.addEventListener("click", follow);
+			current?.addEventListener("mouseup", middle);
+		});
+	}, [editor]);
+
+	return null;
+}
+
 export const widgetsPlugin = realmPlugin<WidgetOptions>({
 	init(realm, params) {
 		realm.pub(widgets$, params ?? {});
@@ -56,6 +95,9 @@ export const widgetsPlugin = realmPlugin<WidgetOptions>({
 		realm.pub(addComposerChild$, CalloutPlugin);
 		realm.pub(addComposerChild$, EnterPlugin);
 		realm.pub(addComposerChild$, ResearchDeletionPlugin);
+		// Link nodes live inside Lexical's contenteditable root, where a normal
+		// browser click changes the selection instead of following the anchor.
+		realm.pub(addComposerChild$, SafeClickableLinkPlugin);
 		// Also where `@lexical/table`'s own plugins are registered, which the
 		// editor otherwise runs without.
 		realm.pub(addComposerChild$, TableChrome);