diff --git a/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py b/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
index 2771d10..078f50e 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
@@ -2563,22 +2563,20 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
         self._updateAIControlsState(enabled)
         
     def _updateAIControlsState(self, enabled):
-        """Enable or disable AI controls based on AI enabled state."""
-        self.aiProviderCombo.set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self.aiApiKeyEntry.set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self.aiOllamaModelEntry.set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self.aiOllamaEndpointEntry.set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self.aiConfirmationCheckButton.set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self.aiScreenshotQualityCombo.set_sensitive(enabled)
+        """Refresh AI controls while keeping configuration fields editable."""
+        _ = enabled  # kept for signal/call compatibility
+        # Keep settings editable even when AI assistant is disabled so users
+        # can configure providers/keys before enabling it.
+        self.aiProviderCombo.set_sensitive(True)
+        self.aiConfirmationCheckButton.set_sensitive(True)
+        self.aiScreenshotQualityCombo.set_sensitive(True)
         try:
-            self.get_widget("aiGetClaudeKeyButton").set_sensitive(enabled)
+            self.get_widget("aiGetClaudeKeyButton").set_sensitive(True)
         except:
             pass  # Button might not exist in older UI files
-        
-        # Update provider-specific controls if AI is enabled
-        if enabled:
-            current_provider = self.prefsDict.get("aiProvider", settings.aiProvider)
-            self._updateProviderControls(current_provider)
+
+        current_provider = self.prefsDict.get("aiProvider", settings.aiProvider)
+        self._updateProviderControls(current_provider)
 
     def _initIndentationState(self):
         """Initialize Indentation widgets with current settings."""
diff --git a/src/cthulhu/plugins/AIAssistant/plugin.py b/src/cthulhu/plugins/AIAssistant/plugin.py
index f471ca9..6a64018 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/plugins/AIAssistant/plugin.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/plugins/AIAssistant/plugin.py
@@ -325,7 +325,6 @@ class AIAssistant(Plugin):
         if not self._prefs_widgets:
             return
 
-        enabled = self._prefs_widgets["enable_check"].get_active()
         provider_values = self._prefs_widgets.get("provider_values", [])
         provider_index = self._prefs_widgets["provider_combo"].get_active()
         provider = provider_values[provider_index] if 0 <= provider_index < len(provider_values) else settings.aiProvider
@@ -333,12 +332,14 @@ class AIAssistant(Plugin):
         is_gemini = provider == settings.AI_PROVIDER_GEMINI
         is_ollama = provider == settings.AI_PROVIDER_OLLAMA
 
-        self._prefs_widgets["provider_combo"].set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self._prefs_widgets["api_key_entry"].set_sensitive(enabled and is_gemini)
-        self._prefs_widgets["ollama_model_entry"].set_sensitive(enabled and is_ollama)
-        self._prefs_widgets["ollama_endpoint_entry"].set_sensitive(enabled and is_ollama)
-        self._prefs_widgets["confirmation_check"].set_sensitive(enabled)
-        self._prefs_widgets["quality_combo"].set_sensitive(enabled)
+        # Keep preferences editable even when the feature is disabled so users
+        # can prepare configuration before turning AI assistant on.
+        self._prefs_widgets["provider_combo"].set_sensitive(True)
+        self._prefs_widgets["api_key_entry"].set_sensitive(is_gemini)
+        self._prefs_widgets["ollama_model_entry"].set_sensitive(is_ollama)
+        self._prefs_widgets["ollama_endpoint_entry"].set_sensitive(is_ollama)
+        self._prefs_widgets["confirmation_check"].set_sensitive(True)
+        self._prefs_widgets["quality_combo"].set_sensitive(True)
         
     def refresh_settings(self):
         """Refresh plugin settings and reinitialize provider. Called when settings change."""
diff --git a/src/cthulhu/scripts/default.py b/src/cthulhu/scripts/default.py
index 16b6444..857711b 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/scripts/default.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/scripts/default.py
@@ -1967,6 +1967,15 @@ class Script(script.Script):
             debug.printMessage(debug.LEVEL_INFO, msg, True)
             return
 
+        # Some toolkits emit transient window:deactivate/window:activate pairs
+        # while the same window remains active. Treat those as noise so we do
+        # not clear state and force a full script/settings reactivation.
+        AXObject.clear_cache(event.source)
+        if AXUtilities.is_active(event.source):
+            msg = "DEFAULT: Ignoring event. Source window still active."
+            debug.printMessage(debug.LEVEL_INFO, msg, True)
+            return
+
         if self.flatReviewPresenter.is_active():
             self.flatReviewPresenter.quit()
 
diff --git a/src/cthulhu/scripts/web/speech_generator.py b/src/cthulhu/scripts/web/speech_generator.py
index 11b57f2..8048c4b 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/scripts/web/speech_generator.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/scripts/web/speech_generator.py
@@ -572,7 +572,9 @@ class SpeechGenerator(speech_generator.SpeechGenerator):
            and soundEnabled:
             roleSoundIcon = sound_theme_manager.getManager().getRoleSoundIcon(role)
         if roleSoundPresentation == settings.ROLE_SOUND_PRESENTATION_SOUND_ONLY \
-           and soundEnabled and roleSoundIcon:
+           and soundEnabled:
+            # Stateful controls present their role via state sounds; suppress
+            # spoken role names here even if no dedicated role icon exists.
             if AXUtilities.is_check_box(obj) \
                or AXUtilities.is_check_menu_item(obj) \
                or AXUtilities.is_radio_button(obj) \
diff --git a/src/cthulhu/speech_generator.py b/src/cthulhu/speech_generator.py
index 9b96d79..7885c7d 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/speech_generator.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/speech_generator.py
@@ -678,7 +678,9 @@ class SpeechGenerator(generator.Generator):
            and soundEnabled:
             roleSoundIcon = sound_theme_manager.getManager().getRoleSoundIcon(role)
         if roleSoundPresentation == settings.ROLE_SOUND_PRESENTATION_SOUND_ONLY \
-           and soundEnabled and roleSoundIcon:
+           and soundEnabled:
+            # Stateful controls present their role via state sounds; suppress
+            # spoken role names here even if no dedicated role icon exists.
             if AXUtilities.is_check_box(obj) \
                or AXUtilities.is_check_menu_item(obj) \
                or AXUtilities.is_radio_button(obj) \