diff --git a/src/connection.rs b/src/connection.rs
index fe62782..d776912 100644
--- a/src/connection.rs
+++ b/src/connection.rs
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ fn draw_bars(
     let access = access.map_or("NOT CONNECTED", AccessMode::label);
     let [brand_area, access_area] = Layout::horizontal([
         Constraint::Min(0),
-        Constraint::Length(access.len() as u16),
+        Constraint::Length(access.len() as u16 + 4),
     ])
     .areas(top);
     frame.render_widget(
@@ -560,7 +560,15 @@ fn draw_bars(
         .style(base),
         brand_area,
     );
-    frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(access).right_aligned().style(base), access_area);
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::styled("░▓", edge),
+            Span::styled(format!(" {access} "), badge),
+        ]))
+        .right_aligned()
+        .style(base),
+        access_area,
+    );
     frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new("").style(base), bottom);
     let position = position.map(|(line, column)| format!(" {line}:{column} "));
     let position = position.as_deref().unwrap_or(" N/A ");
@@ -1616,8 +1624,17 @@ mod tests {
                 let header: String = (0..width)
                     .map(|x| terminal.backend().buffer()[(x, 0)].symbol())
                     .collect();
-                assert!(header.starts_with(" dbdash ▓░"));
-                assert!(header.ends_with(access.map_or("NOT CONNECTED", AccessMode::label)));
+                let status = format!("░▓ {} ", access.map_or("NOT CONNECTED", AccessMode::label));
+                assert!(header.ends_with(&status));
+                if usize::from(width) >= Line::raw(&status).width() + 10 {
+                    assert!(header.starts_with(" dbdash ▓░"));
+                }
+                let buffer = terminal.backend().buffer();
+                assert_eq!(buffer[(width - 1, 0)].bg, Color::Cyan);
+                assert_eq!(buffer[(width - 1, 0)].fg, Color::Black);
+                let edge_x = width - (access.map_or("NOT CONNECTED", AccessMode::label).len() as u16 + 4);
+                assert_eq!(buffer[(edge_x, 0)].bg, Color::Reset);
+                assert_eq!(buffer[(edge_x, 0)].fg, Color::Cyan);
             }
         }
         Ok(())
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e8df42d..0b4a04f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Navigation:
   Enter on the connected database collapses/expands it without reconnecting.
   Keybindings float above the workspace; Up/Down/jk scroll, Home/End/g/G jump.
   Query Insert mode and connection/password fields keep ? as literal text.
-  Full-width bars show dbdash at top-left, live access mode at top-right, and mode/database below.
+  Full-width bars show matching dbdash (top-left) and live access (top-right) badges, with mode/database below.
   Saved PostgreSQL connections show database · user@host:port beside the mode,
   regardless of custom sidebar names; passwords are never included.
   The database provider sits immediately left of the bottom-right position badge.