diff --git a/packages/obsidian/src/library/CandidatePickerModal.ts b/packages/obsidian/src/library/CandidatePickerModal.ts
index 0daab33..063d195 100644
--- a/packages/obsidian/src/library/CandidatePickerModal.ts
+++ b/packages/obsidian/src/library/CandidatePickerModal.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ export class CandidatePickerModal extends FuzzySuggestModal<PickerItem> {
 	}
 
 	onClose(): void {
-		this.settle(null); // dismissed without choosing -> treat as skip
+		// Obsidian's selectSuggestion() calls close() BEFORE onChooseItem(), so settling here
+		// synchronously would discard a real choice. Defer one tick: a choice made in the same
+		// tick settles first and this becomes a no-op; a genuine dismissal settles as skip.
+		window.setTimeout(() => this.settle(null), 0);
 		this.contentEl.empty();
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/library-candidate-picker-modal.test.ts b/tests/library-candidate-picker-modal.test.ts
index 7f5f5a1..b59988a 100644
--- a/tests/library-candidate-picker-modal.test.ts
+++ b/tests/library-candidate-picker-modal.test.ts
@@ -117,4 +117,13 @@ describe('CandidatePickerModal', () => {
 		modal.onClose(); // Obsidian calls onClose() after a choice too -- must not clobber the resolved value
 		expect(await result).toBe(0);
 	});
+
+	test('REAL Obsidian order — close() fires BEFORE onChooseItem: choice still wins over dismiss-skip', async () => {
+		const modal = new CandidatePickerModal(fakeApp(), 'Some Note.md', CANDIDATES);
+		const result = modal.pick();
+		// selectSuggestion() in Obsidian calls close() (→ onClose) first, THEN onChooseItem
+		modal.onClose();
+		modal.onChooseItem({ label: 'Foo (2020)', index: 0 }, {} as MouseEvent);
+		expect(await result).toBe(0);
+	});
 });