diff --git a/tools/check_project_screen.py b/tools/check_project_screen.py
index 67323a4..698d054 100644
--- a/tools/check_project_screen.py
+++ b/tools/check_project_screen.py
@@ -103,6 +103,26 @@ def main() -> int:
             fails.append(f"thieu nhan {label!r}")
     print(f"nhan form: {want}")
 
+    # 5. the rail's picker must name the projects. It reads project_choices(),
+    #    which used to read item.text() — and when rows became widgets the item
+    #    text went empty, so every entry showed as a bare folder glyph. Creating
+    #    a project is when a user notices, so create one here.
+    before = [n for n, _pid in w.project_choices()]
+    w._create()
+    app.processEvents()
+    choices = w.project_choices()
+    picker = [win.nav_project.itemText(i) for i in range(win.nav_project.count())]
+    print(f"project_choices: {[n for n, _p in choices][:4]}")
+    print(f"picker hien thi: {picker[:4]}")
+    if any(not name.strip() for name, _pid in choices):
+        fails.append("project_choices tra ve ten rong")
+    if len(choices) <= len(before):
+        fails.append("tao project moi khong vao danh sach")
+    for name, _pid in choices:
+        if not any(name in text for text in picker):
+            fails.append(f"picker khong hien ten {name!r}")
+            break
+
     print()
     for f in fails:
         print("FAIL  " + f)
diff --git a/ui/workspace_tab.py b/ui/workspace_tab.py
index e8d5113..0b0f234 100644
--- a/ui/workspace_tab.py
+++ b/ui/workspace_tab.py
@@ -532,6 +532,8 @@ class WorkspaceTab(QWidget):
         row_to_select = 0
         for i, p in enumerate(list_projects()):
             chats, tasks = counts.get(p.project_id, (0, 0))
+            # No text on the item: the row widget paints the name, and setting
+            # both drew it twice, one string ghosting the other.
             item = QListWidgetItem()
             item.setData(Qt.UserRole, p.project_id)
             if p.description:
@@ -622,10 +624,16 @@ class WorkspaceTab(QWidget):
 
     # ---- rail integration -------------------------------------------------
     def project_choices(self):
-        """(name, project_id) for the rail picker, in the list's own order."""
-        return [(self.project_list.item(i).text(),
-                 self.project_list.item(i).data(Qt.UserRole))
-                for i in range(self.project_list.count())]
+        """(name, project_id) for the rail picker, in the list's own order.
+
+        Read from the store, which is what the list is built from — reading
+        item.text() coupled the picker to how a row happens to be drawn, and
+        when rows became widgets the picker went blank: every project showed
+        as a bare folder glyph with no name.
+        """
+        from ..core.projects import list_projects
+
+        return [(p.name, p.project_id) for p in list_projects()]
 
     def selected_project_id(self) -> str:
         return self._selected_id()