diff --git a/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.tsx b/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d12ba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+import { render, screen, within } from '@testing-library/react'
+import '@testing-library/jest-dom/vitest'
+import { vi } from 'vitest'
+import { AppLayout } from './AppLayout'
+
+// Mock dependencies
+vi.mock('@tanstack/react-router', () => ({
+  Link: ({ children, to }: any) => {
+    const content = typeof children === 'function' ? children({ isActive: false }) : children
+    return <a href={to}>{content}</a>
+  },
+}))
+vi.mock('@/components/ThemeToggle', () => ({ ThemeToggle: () => null }))
+vi.mock('@/components/HealthDot', () => ({ HealthDot: () => null }))
+vi.mock('@/components/NavBadge', () => ({
+  NavBadge: ({ count }: { count: number }) => (
+    count > 0 ? <span data-testid="nav-badge">{count}</span> : null
+  ),
+}))
+
+const mockUseQuery = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+vi.mock('@/lib/trpc', () => ({
+  trpc: {
+    listAgents: { useQuery: mockUseQuery },
+  },
+}))
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+  mockUseQuery.mockReturnValue({ data: [] })
+})
+
+describe('AppLayout navItems', () => {
+  it('renders HQ nav link', () => {
+    render(<AppLayout connectionState="connected">{null}</AppLayout>)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: /hq/i })).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('does not render Inbox nav link', () => {
+    render(<AppLayout connectionState="connected">{null}</AppLayout>)
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: /inbox/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('shows badge on HQ when agents are waiting_for_input', () => {
+    mockUseQuery.mockReturnValue({
+      data: [
+        { id: '1', status: 'waiting_for_input' },
+        { id: '2', status: 'running' },
+      ],
+    })
+    render(<AppLayout connectionState="connected">{null}</AppLayout>)
+    // NavBadge rendered next to HQ link (count=1)
+    const hqLink = screen.getByRole('link', { name: /hq/i })
+    const badge = within(hqLink).getByTestId('nav-badge')
+    expect(badge).toHaveTextContent('1')
+  })
+
+  it('does not show questions badge on any Inbox link (Inbox removed)', () => {
+    mockUseQuery.mockReturnValue({
+      data: [{ id: '1', status: 'waiting_for_input' }],
+    })
+    render(<AppLayout connectionState="connected">{null}</AppLayout>)
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: /inbox/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.tsx b/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.tsx
index 7dbc2eb..aa41888 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/layouts/AppLayout.tsx
@@ -7,11 +7,10 @@ import { trpc } from '@/lib/trpc'
 import type { ConnectionState } from '@/hooks/useConnectionStatus'
 
 const navItems = [
-  { label: 'HQ', to: '/hq', badgeKey: null },
+  { label: 'HQ', to: '/hq', badgeKey: 'questions' as const },
   { label: 'Initiatives', to: '/initiatives', badgeKey: null },
   { label: 'Agents', to: '/agents', badgeKey: 'running' as const },
   { label: 'Radar', to: '/radar', badgeKey: null },
-  { label: 'Inbox', to: '/inbox', badgeKey: 'questions' as const },
   { label: 'Settings', to: '/settings', badgeKey: null },
 ] as const