diff --git a/apps/cli/src/config.ts b/apps/cli/src/config.ts
index 44ce8205..8be7b754 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/config.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/config.ts
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function queueMigrationNotice(notice: MigrationNotice): void {
 
 /**
  * Show any pending migration notice and clear it.
- * Call this after the welcome screen renders so `console.clear()` doesn't wipe it.
+ * Call this after the welcome screen renders so the fresh viewport doesn't hide it.
  */
 export function flushMigrationNotice(): void {
   if (pendingMigrationNotice) {
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.test.ts b/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b35a0a47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { freshViewportSequence } from "./welcome.ts";
+
+describe("freshViewportSequence", () => {
+  test("scrolls the visible screen into history and returns to the top", () => {
+    const sequence = freshViewportSequence(3);
+
+    expect(sequence).toBe("\x1b[3;1H\n\n\n\x1b[H");
+    expect(sequence).not.toContain("\x1b[2J");
+    expect(sequence).not.toContain("\x1b[3J");
+  });
+
+  test("returns no output for invalid terminal heights", () => {
+    expect(freshViewportSequence(0)).toBe("");
+    expect(freshViewportSequence(-1)).toBe("");
+    expect(freshViewportSequence(1.5)).toBe("");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.ts b/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.ts
index 23d814fb..54cbf4ba 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/lib/ui/welcome.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,22 @@ export interface WelcomeResult {
   proceed: boolean;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Build a blank viewport while retaining the current screen in scrollback.
+ */
+export function freshViewportSequence(rows: number): string {
+  if (!Number.isInteger(rows) || rows <= 0) return "";
+
+  return `\x1b[${rows};1H${"\n".repeat(rows)}\x1b[H`;
+}
+
+function startOnFreshViewport(): void {
+  if (!process.stdout.isTTY) return;
+
+  const sequence = freshViewportSequence(process.stdout.rows);
+  if (sequence) process.stdout.write(sequence);
+}
+
 /**
  * Strip ANSI escape codes from a string.
  */
@@ -90,7 +106,7 @@ export async function showWelcomeScreen(
   version: string,
   options?: WelcomeOptions,
 ): Promise<WelcomeResult> {
-  console.clear();
+  startOnFreshViewport();
 
   // Layout dimensions
   const leftWidth = 30;