diff --git a/ui/src/components/KanbanBoard.tsx b/ui/src/components/KanbanBoard.tsx
index 96750558..92510384 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/KanbanBoard.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/KanbanBoard.tsx
@@ -63,16 +63,22 @@ function KanbanColumn({
 }) {
   const { setNodeRef, isOver } = useDroppable({ id: status });
 
+  const isEmpty = issues.length === 0;
+
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col min-w-[260px] w-[260px] shrink-0">
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-2 py-2 mb-1">
+    <div className={`flex flex-col shrink-0 transition-all ${isEmpty && !isOver ? "min-w-[48px] w-[48px]" : "min-w-[260px] w-[260px]"}`}>
+      <div className={`flex items-center gap-2 px-2 py-2 mb-1 ${isEmpty && !isOver ? "justify-center" : ""}`}>
         <StatusIcon status={status} />
-        <span className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
-          {statusLabel(status)}
-        </span>
-        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/60 ml-auto tabular-nums">
-          {issues.length}
-        </span>
+        {(!isEmpty || isOver) && (
+          <>
+            <span className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
+              {statusLabel(status)}
+            </span>
+            <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/60 ml-auto tabular-nums">
+              {issues.length}
+            </span>
+          </>
+        )}
       </div>
       <div
         ref={setNodeRef}