diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index baf4006..d9f774f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,16 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+
+- The PR overview's `g?` cheatsheet now correctly says that `r` starts a draft review, whilst `e` only enters the review
+
+### Fixed
+
+- The diff drew a cursor line even with `cursorline` off and the PR overview drew none with it on; both now respect the user's config. Opening the PR checks float used to switch `cursorline` on for the rest of the session, it now doesn't
+
+## [0.1.41] — 2026-09-06
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - A renamed file in a PR review showed every line as new, which wasn't very useful. It now diffs against the file's old path, showing only what actually changed
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 999aa90..4b8e6ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ require("differ").setup({
   context = math.huge,           -- fold threshold; math.huge = whole file, no folds
   wrap = true,                   -- soft-wrap long lines in the diff view
   diff_counter = true,           -- hunk counter in the diff window's winbar
-  cursorline_tint = true,        -- allow the cursorline to inherit the add/delete highlights
+  cursorline_tint = true,        -- add/delete tint on the cursor line; only drawn when 'cursorline' is on
   deep_diff = {                  -- word-level diffing
     enabled = true,
     granularity = "word",        -- "word" | "char"
diff --git a/doc/differ.txt b/doc/differ.txt
index 4c87ab5..2e13bd5 100644
--- a/doc/differ.txt
+++ b/doc/differ.txt
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ you’re in doubt, `:Differ sidecar` reports which one is actually running.
       context = math.huge,           -- fold threshold; math.huge = whole file, no folds
       wrap = true,                   -- soft-wrap long lines in the diff view
       diff_counter = true,           -- hunk counter in the diff window's winbar
-      cursorline_tint = true,        -- allow the cursorline to inherit the add/delete highlights
+      cursorline_tint = true,        -- add/delete tint on the cursor line; only drawn when 'cursorline' is on
       deep_diff = {                  -- word-level diffing
         enabled = true,
         granularity = "word",        -- "word" | "char"
diff --git a/lua/differ/pr/checks.lua b/lua/differ/pr/checks.lua
index fe981de..202008d 100644
--- a/lua/differ/pr/checks.lua
+++ b/lua/differ/pr/checks.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 -- vim.ui.open. no rerun/dispatch (reserved); the sidecar fetch is the only I/O
 
 local client = require("differ.pr.client")
+local set_wo = require("differ.util.win").set_local
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ local function render(checks)
         title = title,
         title_pos = "center",
     })
-    vim.wo[win].cursorline = true
+    set_wo(win, "cursorline", true)
 
     local function close()
         if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win) then
diff --git a/lua/differ/pr/overview.lua b/lua/differ/pr/overview.lua
index 9fdd407..0d98e04 100644
--- a/lua/differ/pr/overview.lua
+++ b/lua/differ/pr/overview.lua
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 -- the PR overview home: a read-only pre-review page with the PR summary + a
 -- minimal timeline (conversation comments, submitted review verdicts, and code
 -- threads). it is a step *before* the review proper — no file panel, just a dedicated
--- page filling the session tab. e/r enter the review (build the panel + diff), <CR> on
--- a thread row enters it at that thread's file/line, q backs into an in-progress
--- review. the pure layout
--- lives in ui/overview.lua; this owns the vim surface (buffer, window, extmarks,
+-- page filling the session tab. e enters the review (builds the panel + diff), r enters
+-- and also starts a github draft review, <CR> on a thread row enters at that thread's
+-- file/line, q backs into an in-progress review. the pure layout lives in
+-- ui/overview.lua; this owns the vim surface (buffer, window, extmarks,
 -- fetches). get_timeline is a round-trip and threads are ensured (shared, PR-wide,
 -- also feeding the header count) — the meta comes from session.pr_meta (enriched in
 -- pr/init), checks reuse slice 5
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ local function arm_guard(session, win)
 end
 
 -- buffer-local keymaps; they read the live session each time so the reused buffer never
--- acts on a stale session. e enters the review (files), r enters + starts a review, q
--- backs into the review when one is open, gx opens the PR url. <CR> on a thread row
--- enters the review at that thread's file/line; elsewhere it opens the url. ]t/[t hop
--- between thread boxes; g? floats the keymap cheatsheet
+-- acts on a stale session. e enters the review (panel + diff), r enters and also starts
+-- a github draft review, q backs into the review when one is open, gx opens the PR url.
+-- <CR> on a thread row enters the review at that thread's file/line; elsewhere it opens
+-- the url. ]t/[t hop between thread boxes; g? floats the keymap cheatsheet
 ---@param b integer
 local function set_keymaps(b)
     local function live()
@@ -166,9 +166,10 @@ local function set_keymaps(b)
         end
         open_url()
     end
-    -- e/r: enter the review. on a thread row, jump into that thread's file/line (like
-    -- <CR>) so the comment's diff opens directly; elsewhere enter at the panel's file. r
-    -- also starts a review either way
+    -- e/r: enter the review (panel + diff). on a thread row, jump into that thread's
+    -- file/line (like <CR>) so the comment's diff opens directly; elsewhere enter at the
+    -- panel's file. r also starts a github draft review either way, so comments become
+    -- drafts submitted as one batch rather than posting on the spot
     local function enter(review)
         local s = live()
         if not s then
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ local function set_keymaps(b)
     -- g?: a floating keymap cheatsheet, dismissed with <Esc> / q / g?
     local function show_help()
         require("differ.ui.help").show({
-            " e / r      enter review / enter + start a review (thread row: at its file)",
+            " e / r      enter review / enter + start a draft review (thread row: at its file)",
             " <CR>       thread row: jump into the review here, else open the PR url",
             " ]t / [t    next / previous thread",
             " gx         open the PR in the browser",
@@ -252,7 +253,9 @@ local function setup_window(win)
     set_wo(win, "relativenumber", false)
     set_wo(win, "signcolumn", "no")
     set_wo(win, "foldcolumn", "0")
-    set_wo(win, "cursorline", false)
+    -- the window is taken over from another surface, so mirror the global rather
+    -- than inherit whatever local cursorline it was left with
+    set_wo(win, "cursorline", vim.go.cursorline)
     set_wo(win, "wrap", true)
     set_wo(win, "conceallevel", 2)
     set_wo(win, "list", false)
diff --git a/lua/differ/view.lua b/lua/differ/view.lua
index 4e33778..8268fb2 100644
--- a/lua/differ/view.lua
+++ b/lua/differ/view.lua
@@ -391,6 +391,11 @@ function View:_paint_cursorline()
     if not (win and vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win)) then
         return
     end
+    -- read the window's effective value, so a :setlocal cursorline inside the diff
+    -- still paints while a global nocursorline leaves the rows clean
+    if not vim.api.nvim_get_option_value("cursorline", { scope = "local", win = win }) then
+        return
+    end
     local row = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(win)[1] - 1
     local line = col.map.lines[row + 1]
     -- tint the cursor line by the row's change kind so the add/remove colour survives
@@ -622,6 +627,18 @@ function View:_setup_window(winid, bufnr)
             end
         end,
     })
+    -- toggling cursorline mid-session repaints straight away instead of waiting for
+    -- the next cursor move. OptionSet takes the option name as its pattern, so it
+    -- can't also be buffer-scoped: skip the fire unless this view holds focus
+    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("OptionSet", {
+        group = group,
+        pattern = "cursorline",
+        callback = function()
+            if vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf() == bufnr then
+                self:_paint_cursorline()
+            end
+        end,
+    })
     local km = self.keymaps
     bind(bufnr, km.next_hunk, function()
         self:goto_hunk("next", {
diff --git a/test/nvim/pr_nav_spec.lua b/test/nvim/pr_nav_spec.lua
index 749e26e..913468e 100644
--- a/test/nvim/pr_nav_spec.lua
+++ b/test/nvim/pr_nav_spec.lua
@@ -198,6 +198,25 @@ describe("pr overview <-> review navigation loop", function()
         restore()
     end)
 
+    it("the overview page follows the cursorline setting", function()
+        local had_cursorline = vim.go.cursorline
+
+        vim.o.cursorline = true
+        local restore = open_overview(default_responses())
+        local win = pr.current_session().overview_win
+        assert.is_true(vim.api.nvim_get_option_value("cursorline", { scope = "local", win = win }))
+        pr.end_session()
+        restore()
+
+        vim.o.cursorline = false
+        restore = open_overview(default_responses())
+        win = pr.current_session().overview_win
+        assert.is_false(vim.api.nvim_get_option_value("cursorline", { scope = "local", win = win }))
+        restore()
+
+        vim.o.cursorline = had_cursorline
+    end)
+
     it("<CR> on a thread row enters the review with the cursor on the anchored diff row", function()
         local restore = open_overview(default_responses())
 
diff --git a/test/nvim/pr_spec.lua b/test/nvim/pr_spec.lua
index eb39d02..579b041 100644
--- a/test/nvim/pr_spec.lua
+++ b/test/nvim/pr_spec.lua
@@ -201,6 +201,44 @@ describe("pr session notifies", function()
         restore()
     end)
 
+    it("leaves the global cursorline untouched when the checks float opens", function()
+        local restore = stub_sidecar({
+            get_pr = { result = get_pr_result() },
+            get_file_versions = {
+                result = { base = { content = "a\n" }, head = { content = "b\n" } },
+            },
+            get_checks = {
+                result = {
+                    rollup = "SUCCESS",
+                    checks = { { name = "build", status = "COMPLETED", conclusion = "SUCCESS" } },
+                },
+            },
+        })
+
+        local had_cursorline = vim.go.cursorline
+        vim.o.cursorline = false -- :set, so the global default goes off too
+
+        pr.show(PR)
+        assert.is_true(vim.wait(1000, function()
+            return pr.current_session() ~= nil
+        end))
+
+        pr.checks()
+        assert.is_true(vim.wait(1000, function()
+            return vim.api.nvim_win_get_config(0).relative ~= ""
+        end))
+
+        local float = vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()
+        -- the float still carries its own cursor line, set :setlocal
+        assert.is_true(
+            vim.api.nvim_get_option_value("cursorline", { scope = "local", win = float })
+        )
+        assert.is_false(vim.go.cursorline) -- but the global default is left alone
+
+        vim.o.cursorline = had_cursorline
+        restore()
+    end)
+
     it("notifies 'no thread on this line' toggling a thread off a plain diff line", function()
         local restore = stub_sidecar({
             get_pr = { result = get_pr_result() },
diff --git a/test/nvim/view_spec.lua b/test/nvim/view_spec.lua
index ce60d47..f51aad9 100644
--- a/test/nvim/view_spec.lua
+++ b/test/nvim/view_spec.lua
@@ -1031,6 +1031,16 @@ end)
 describe("view cursor-line overlay", function()
     local cursor_ns = vim.api.nvim_create_namespace("differ.cursorline")
 
+    -- the overlay follows the window's cursorline, and nvim ships it off
+    local had_cursorline
+    before_each(function()
+        had_cursorline = vim.o.cursorline
+        vim.o.cursorline = true
+    end)
+    after_each(function()
+        vim.o.cursorline = had_cursorline
+    end)
+
     local CURSORLINE = {
         differCursorLine = true,
         differCursorLineAdd = true,
@@ -1150,6 +1160,47 @@ describe("view cursor-line overlay", function()
         assert.are.equal("differCursorLine", overlay_hl(buf, chg_row)) -- no tint
         v:close()
     end)
+
+    it("paints no overlay when cursorline is off", function()
+        vim.cmd("silent! only")
+        vim.o.cursorline = false
+        local v = View.new(model("a\nb\nc\n", "a\nB\nc\n"), {
+            layout = "stacked",
+            context = math.huge,
+            deep_diff = { enabled = true },
+        })
+        v:open()
+        local buf, win = v.columns[1].bufnr, v.columns[1].winid
+        assert.are.same({}, overlay_rows(buf))
+
+        vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(win, { 1, 0 })
+        vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds("CursorMoved", { buffer = buf })
+        assert.are.same({}, overlay_rows(buf)) -- and stays clean as the cursor moves
+        v:close()
+    end)
+
+    it("repaints when cursorline is toggled on the diff window mid-session", function()
+        vim.cmd("silent! only")
+        vim.o.cursorline = false
+        local v = View.new(model("a\nb\nc\n", "a\nB\nc\n"), {
+            layout = "stacked",
+            context = math.huge,
+            deep_diff = { enabled = true },
+        })
+        v:open()
+        local buf, win = v.columns[1].bufnr, v.columns[1].winid
+        assert.are.same({}, overlay_rows(buf))
+
+        -- a :setlocal cursorline inside the diff paints without a cursor move
+        vim.api.nvim_set_option_value("cursorline", true, { scope = "local", win = win })
+        local cur = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(win)[1] - 1
+        assert.are.same({ cur }, overlay_rows(buf))
+
+        -- and turning it back off wipes the overlay already painted
+        vim.api.nvim_set_option_value("cursorline", false, { scope = "local", win = win })
+        assert.are.same({}, overlay_rows(buf))
+        v:close()
+    end)
 end)
 
 describe("view close guard", function()