diff --git a/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py b/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
index d02a0285..c13ff300 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/widgets/camera_image.py
@@ -585,6 +585,11 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         if self._hover_pos is not None:
             self._hover_pos = None
             self.update()
+        if self._help_expanded:
+            # Pointer left the widget with the cheatsheet open — fold it,
+            # same as wandering off the box below.
+            self._help_expanded = False
+            self.update()
         super().leaveEvent(event)
 
     def mouseMoveEvent(self, event):
@@ -593,6 +598,19 @@ class SampleCameraImageLabel(QGraphicsView):
         self._hover_pos = self.mapToScene(event.pos())
         self.update()
 
+        # Expanded help folds when the pointer wanders off the box — click
+        # is not the only way back to the "?" badge. Before the gate: the
+        # badge is a pure UI affordance, live even in viewing mode.
+        if (
+            self._help_expanded
+            and self._help_hit_rect is not None
+            and not self._help_hit_rect.contains(
+                QPointF(self.viewport().mapFrom(self, event.pos()))
+            )
+        ):
+            self._help_expanded = False
+            self.update()
+
         # Badge hover feedback must run BEFORE the interaction gate: the
         # badge is visible precisely when interaction is disabled.
         hovered = self._session_badge_rect is not None and self._session_badge_rect.contains(
diff --git a/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py b/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
index 17b6fd23..68045ff5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
+++ b/tests/unit/gui/test_camera_image.py
@@ -114,6 +114,29 @@ def test_help_badge_click_toggles_cheatsheet(camera, qtbot):
     assert not camera._help_expanded
 
 
+def test_help_overlay_folds_when_mouse_leaves_box(camera, qtbot):
+    camera.grab()  # paint records the collapsed "?" badge hit rect
+    badge = camera._help_hit_rect
+    qtbot.mouseClick(camera.viewport(), Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton, pos=badge.center().toPoint())
+    assert camera._help_expanded
+    camera.grab()  # expanded paint records the full box rect
+    box = camera._help_hit_rect
+
+    _mouse_move(camera, box.center().toPoint())  # inside the box: stays open
+    assert camera._help_expanded
+
+    _mouse_move(camera, QPoint(int(box.left()) - 40, int(box.bottom()) + 40))
+    assert not camera._help_expanded, "moving off the box must fold it back to the badge"
+
+    # Leaving the widget entirely folds it too.
+    camera.grab()
+    badge = camera._help_hit_rect
+    qtbot.mouseClick(camera.viewport(), Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton, pos=badge.center().toPoint())
+    assert camera._help_expanded
+    camera.leaveEvent(QEvent(QEvent.Type.Leave))
+    assert not camera._help_expanded
+
+
 def test_camera_error_message_rewords_and_draws(camera):
     camera.set_camera_available(False)
     camera.set_camera_error_message("Sample camera feed unavailable: cable unplugged")