diff --git a/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/Teleprompter.tsx b/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/Teleprompter.tsx
index c2f71ea2a..747576f37 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/Teleprompter.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/Teleprompter.tsx
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ function Teleprompter({ rundown, rundownMetadata, customFields }: TeleprompterDa
           <ControlOverlay
             isRunning={isRunning}
             speed={speed}
-            followLocked={followLocked && options.followLoaded}
+            canReengageFollow={followLocked && options.followLoaded}
             atEnd={atEnd}
             controller={controller}
             onToggleHelp={handleToggleHelp}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/control-overlay/ControlOverlay.tsx b/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/control-overlay/ControlOverlay.tsx
index af18e612f..d8eeb2a0e 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/control-overlay/ControlOverlay.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/views/teleprompter/control-overlay/ControlOverlay.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { MouseEvent } from 'react';
 import { IoAdd, IoArrowUp, IoHelpCircleOutline, IoLocate, IoPause, IoPlay, IoRemove } from 'react-icons/io5';
 
 import IconButton from '../../../common/components/buttons/IconButton';
+import Tooltip from '../../../common/components/tooltip/Tooltip';
 import { useFadeOutOnInactivity } from '../../../common/hooks/useFadeOutOnInactivity';
 import { cx } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
 import { SPEED_STEP } from '../teleprompter.scroll';
@@ -10,7 +11,8 @@ import type { TeleprompterController } from '../teleprompter.types';
 interface ControlOverlayProps {
   isRunning: boolean;
   speed: number;
-  followLocked: boolean;
+  /** whether the follow can be re-engaged: it is off while already following */
+  canReengageFollow: boolean;
   atEnd: boolean;
   controller: TeleprompterController;
   onToggleHelp: () => void;
@@ -23,11 +25,16 @@ interface ControlOverlayProps {
  * Visibility follows the same rule as the rest of Ontime's floating chrome: it
  * fades once the operator stops moving, so it leaves the talent's eyeline
  * without needing to know whether the script happens to be rolling.
+ *
+ * Every control is present for the life of the view and goes disabled when it
+ * has nothing to do. A control which comes and goes moves every control after
+ * it, so the operator reaches for pause during a show and presses whatever slid
+ * under their finger instead.
  */
 export default function ControlOverlay({
   isRunning,
   speed,
-  followLocked,
+  canReengageFollow,
   atEnd,
   controller,
   onToggleHelp,
@@ -50,47 +57,67 @@ export default function ControlOverlay({
 
   return (
     <div className={cx(['teleprompter__controls', !isActive && 'teleprompter__controls--idle'])}>
-      <IconButton
-        variant='subtle-white'
-        size='large'
-        onClick={press(controller.togglePlay)}
-        data-testid='teleprompter-play'
-        aria-label={isRunning ? 'Pause' : 'Play'}
+      <Tooltip
+        text={isRunning ? 'Pause (Space)' : 'Play (Space)'}
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant='subtle-white'
+            size='large'
+            onClick={press(controller.togglePlay)}
+            data-testid='teleprompter-play'
+            aria-label={isRunning ? 'Pause' : 'Play'}
+          />
+        }
       >
         {isRunning ? <IoPause /> : <IoPlay />}
-      </IconButton>
+      </Tooltip>
 
-      <IconButton
-        variant='subtle-white'
-        size='large'
-        onClick={press(() => controller.changeSpeed(-SPEED_STEP))}
-        aria-label='Slow down'
+      <Tooltip
+        text='Slow down (Left arrow)'
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant='subtle-white'
+            size='large'
+            onClick={press(() => controller.changeSpeed(-SPEED_STEP))}
+            aria-label='Slow down'
+          />
+        }
       >
         <IoRemove />
-      </IconButton>
+      </Tooltip>
 
       <div className='teleprompter__speed' data-testid='teleprompter-speed'>
         {speed}
         <span className='teleprompter__speed-unit'>lpm</span>
       </div>
 
-      <IconButton
-        variant='subtle-white'
-        size='large'
-        onClick={press(() => controller.changeSpeed(SPEED_STEP))}
-        aria-label='Speed up'
+      <Tooltip
+        text='Speed up (Right arrow)'
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant='subtle-white'
+            size='large'
+            onClick={press(() => controller.changeSpeed(SPEED_STEP))}
+            aria-label='Speed up'
+          />
+        }
       >
         <IoAdd />
-      </IconButton>
+      </Tooltip>
 
-      <IconButton
-        variant={atEnd ? 'primary' : 'subtle-white'}
-        size='large'
-        onClick={press(() => controller.rewind())}
-        aria-label='Rewind to top'
+      <Tooltip
+        text='Rewind to the top (Home)'
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant={atEnd ? 'primary' : 'subtle-white'}
+            size='large'
+            onClick={press(() => controller.rewind())}
+            aria-label='Rewind to top'
+          />
+        }
       >
         <IoArrowUp />
-      </IconButton>
+      </Tooltip>
 
       {/*
         The operator view solves this with its own FollowButton, a labelled pill
@@ -98,21 +125,37 @@ export default function ControlOverlay({
         two would land on top of each other. Same icon and same job, folded into
         the transport rather than floating separately.
       */}
-      {followLocked && (
-        <IconButton
-          variant='primary'
-          size='large'
-          onClick={press(controller.reengageFollow)}
-          data-testid='teleprompter-follow'
-          aria-label='Follow the loaded event'
-        >
-          <IoLocate />
-        </IconButton>
-      )}
+      <Tooltip
+        text={
+          canReengageFollow ? 'Jump back to the loaded event and follow it again (L)' : 'Following the loaded event'
+        }
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant={canReengageFollow ? 'primary' : 'subtle-white'}
+            size='large'
+            disabled={!canReengageFollow}
+            onClick={press(controller.reengageFollow)}
+            data-testid='teleprompter-follow'
+            aria-label='Follow the loaded event'
+          />
+        }
+      >
+        <IoLocate />
+      </Tooltip>
 
-      <IconButton variant='subtle-white' size='large' onClick={press(onToggleHelp)} aria-label='Keyboard shortcuts'>
+      <Tooltip
+        text='Keyboard shortcuts (?)'
+        render={
+          <IconButton
+            variant='subtle-white'
+            size='large'
+            onClick={press(onToggleHelp)}
+            aria-label='Keyboard shortcuts'
+          />
+        }
+      >
         <IoHelpCircleOutline />
-      </IconButton>
+      </Tooltip>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/e2e/tests/features/215-teleprompter.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/features/215-teleprompter.spec.ts
index 73a877e25..e612f223c 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/features/215-teleprompter.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/features/215-teleprompter.spec.ts
@@ -116,6 +116,27 @@ test.describe('teleprompter', () => {
     expect(slower).toBe(before);
   });
 
+  test('keeps every transport control in place', async ({ page }) => {
+    // a control which appears mid show moves the ones after it, and the operator
+    // reaches for pause and presses whatever slid under their finger instead
+    await page.goto(teleprompterUrl);
+    await expect(scroller(page)).toBeVisible();
+
+    const controls = page.locator('.teleprompter__controls button');
+    const follow = page.getByTestId('teleprompter-follow');
+
+    await expect(controls).toHaveCount(6);
+    await expect(follow).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(follow).toBeDisabled();
+
+    // taking over by hand offers the follow back, without restacking the row
+    await page.mouse.move(640, 300);
+    await page.mouse.wheel(0, 200);
+
+    await expect(controls).toHaveCount(6);
+    await expect(follow).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
   test('f mirrors the view for a beam splitter rig', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(teleprompterUrl);
     await expect(scroller(page)).toBeVisible();