diff --git a/hermes_state_sessions.py b/hermes_state_sessions.py
index 6155d2d6ef..7974b3cccf 100644
--- a/hermes_state_sessions.py
+++ b/hermes_state_sessions.py
@@ -878,10 +878,18 @@ class SessionSessionsMixin:
     def set_session_pinned(self, session_id: str, pinned: bool) -> bool:
         """Pin/unpin a session and its compression lineage (pins are exempt from the auto_archive sweep).
         Pinning also clears ``hidden``: a pin means "keep this visible", and a hidden+pinned row is
-        otherwise absent from both the default listing and the pinned back-fill (see #106171)."""
+        otherwise absent from both the default listing and the pinned back-fill (see #106171).
+        Exempt the canonical Bot Chat (hidden + exact registry title): the desktop contract keeps it
+        hidden and reachable only through the bot row, and unhiding it would also disable the
+        rename guard in ``_set_session_title`` that protects its identity (see review on #106180)."""
         result = self._set_lineage_column("pinned", session_id, int(pinned))
         if pinned:
-            self._set_lineage_column("hidden", session_id, 0)
+            row = self.get_session(session_id)
+            is_canonical_bot_chat = bool(row) and bool(row.get("hidden")) and (
+                (row.get("title") or "") == self.CANONICAL_BOT_CHAT_TITLE
+            )
+            if not is_canonical_bot_chat:
+                self._set_lineage_column("hidden", session_id, 0)
         return result
 
     def set_session_hidden(self, session_id: str, hidden: bool) -> bool:
diff --git a/tests/test_hermes_state.py b/tests/test_hermes_state.py
index 6793e80bff..a3013deac8 100644
--- a/tests/test_hermes_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_hermes_state.py
@@ -4476,7 +4476,17 @@ class TestSessionPinAndStaleArchive:
         listed_ids = [s["id"] for s in db.list_sessions_rich(min_message_count=1)]
         assert "s1" in listed_ids
 
+    def test_pinning_the_canonical_bot_chat_leaves_it_hidden(self, db):
+        """The canonical Bot Chat (hidden + exact registry title) is desktop-owned and must stay
+        hidden even when pinned, or it leaks into the Sessions sidebar and loses its rename guard
+        (review on #106180). Unlike an ordinary hidden session, pinning must not clear ``hidden``."""
+        db.create_session(session_id="bot1", source="desktop")
+        db.set_session_title("bot1", db.CANONICAL_BOT_CHAT_TITLE)
+        db.set_session_hidden("bot1", True)
 
+        db.set_session_pinned("bot1", True)
+
+        assert db.get_session("bot1")["hidden"] == 1
 
     # ── pinned back-fill past the page window ─────────────────────────────
     def test_pinned_session_survives_the_limit_window(self, db):