diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
index cbf21ddd9..0cbd66de7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
@@ -1194,6 +1194,30 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(opened.borrow().len(), 1);
     }
 
+    /// #2181: an OK that arrives with synthetic control-channel input (`ui.key` Enter, `ui.click`
+    /// on OK) opens nothing and keeps the prompt open; the same OK from the user opens the link.
+    #[test]
+    fn synthetic_input_cannot_confirm_open_hyperlink() {
+        use show::{SYNTHETIC_LINK_CONFIRM, confirm_open_link};
+        use std::{cell::RefCell, rc::Rc};
+        let opened = Rc::new(RefCell::new(Vec::<String>::new()));
+        let sink = opened.clone();
+        let services = crate::Services { open_url: Some(Box::new(move |u: &str| sink.borrow_mut().push(u.to_string()))), ..Default::default() };
+        let mut session = gridcraft_engine::Session::default();
+        session.new_workbook();
+        let mut app = SheetApp::new(session, services);
+        let d = Dialog::open(&mut app, "openLink", json!({"url": "https://example.org/a"})).unwrap();
+
+        app.synthetic_pending = true;
+        assert!(!confirm_open_link(&mut app, &d), "the prompt stays open");
+        assert!(opened.borrow().is_empty(), "synthetic input opens nothing");
+        assert_eq!(app.message.as_ref().map(|m| m.1.as_str()), Some(SYNTHETIC_LINK_CONFIRM));
+
+        app.synthetic_pending = false;
+        app.message = None;
+        assert!(confirm_open_link(&mut app, &d), "the user's OK closes the prompt");
+        assert_eq!(*opened.borrow(), vec!["https://example.org/a".to_string()]);
+    }
 
     #[test]
     fn data_validation_without_a_rule_opens_on_a_blank_list() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/show.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/show.rs
index 1aa013442..6dd5519c3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/show.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/show.rs
@@ -409,9 +409,8 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SheetApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     }
     if confirm && d.name == "openLink" {
         confirm = false;
-        open = false;
-        if let Err(e) = open_confirmed_link(app, &d) {
-            app.message = Some((d.title.clone(), crate::clean_error(&e)));
+        if confirm_open_link(app, &d) {
+            open = false;
         }
     }
     if confirm && d.command.is_some() && home_sheet_deleted(app, &mut d) {
@@ -492,6 +491,24 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SheetApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     }
 }
 
+/// OK in Open Hyperlink; returns whether the prompt closes. A pass that carries control-channel
+/// input (`ui.key`, `ui.click`, `ui.drag`) can't say yes for the user (#2181): the link stays
+/// unopened and the prompt open, with a message. Real input in that same pass is refused too, so
+/// the user just presses OK again.
+pub(super) fn confirm_open_link(app: &mut SheetApp, d: &Dialog) -> bool {
+    if app.synthetic_pending {
+        app.message = Some((d.title.clone(), SYNTHETIC_LINK_CONFIRM.into()));
+        return false;
+    }
+    if let Err(e) = open_confirmed_link(app, d) {
+        app.message = Some((d.title.clone(), crate::clean_error(&e)));
+    }
+    true
+}
+
+/// Why Open Hyperlink ignored an OK that arrived with synthetic control-channel input.
+pub(super) const SYNTHETIC_LINK_CONFIRM: &str = "Synthetic input from the control channel can't open a link: press OK yourself to open it.";
+
 /// The user pressed OK in Open Hyperlink: opens the address the prompt showed (`d.link`), never
 /// one a caller edited into its values afterwards.
 pub(super) fn open_confirmed_link(app: &mut SheetApp, d: &Dialog) -> Result<(), String> {