diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.test.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.test.tsx
index bd69952d..b3a4fd8f 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.test.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.test.tsx
@@ -67,3 +67,19 @@ test('finishing the opening transition preserves focus already moved inside the
     jest.useRealTimers();
   }
 });
+
+test('finishing the opening transition recovers Cancel from the nested-modal container fallback', async () => {
+  jest.useFakeTimers();
+  try {
+    render(<ConfirmProvider><Demo /></ConfirmProvider>);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /open confirm/i }));
+    const container = screen.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Delete job' }).parentElement!;
+    expect(container).toHaveAttribute('role', 'presentation');
+    act(() => container.focus());
+    expect(container).toHaveFocus();
+    await act(async () => { jest.advanceTimersByTime(1000); });
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Cancel' })).toHaveFocus();
+  } finally {
+    jest.useRealTimers();
+  }
+});
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.tsx
index a9c27504..2b48aecd 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/confirm.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export function ConfirmProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const i18n = useOptionalI18n();
   const messageId = useId();
   const titleId = useId();
+  const cancelRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
   const resolverRef = useRef<((value: boolean) => void) | null>(null);
   const [state, setState] = useState<ConfirmState>({
     open: false,
@@ -63,6 +64,10 @@ export function ConfirmProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
       <Dialog open={state.open} onClose={() => closeWith(false)} aria-labelledby={titleId} aria-describedby={messageId} fullWidth maxWidth="xs"
         slotProps={{
           paper: { sx: { borderRadius: 3, border: 1, borderColor: "divider", backgroundImage: "none" } },
+          transition: { onEntered: (node) => {
+            // Nested modals can leave initial focus on the container; preserve deliberate focus inside it.
+            if (node.ownerDocument.activeElement === node) cancelRef.current?.focus();
+          } },
         }}>
         <DialogTitle id={titleId} sx={{ pb: 1, fontWeight: 800 }}>{state.title}</DialogTitle>
         <DialogContent role="region" aria-labelledby={titleId} tabIndex={0}>
@@ -74,7 +79,7 @@ export function ConfirmProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
           <Typography id={messageId} sx={{ color: "text.secondary" }}>{state.message}</Typography>
         </DialogContent>
         <DialogActions sx={{ px: 3, pb: 2.5, gap: 1 }}>
-          <Button autoFocus onClick={() => closeWith(false)}>{state.cancelLabel}</Button>
+          <Button ref={cancelRef} autoFocus onClick={() => closeWith(false)}>{state.cancelLabel}</Button>
           <Button color={state.destructive ? "error" : "primary"} variant="contained" onClick={() => closeWith(true)}>
             {state.confirmLabel}
           </Button>