diff --git a/frontend/e2e/dashboard-classic-split.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/dashboard-classic-split.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..203a67a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/e2e/dashboard-classic-split.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+import { login } from './helpers/auth';
+
+/**
+ * Classic Split layout — verifies the right column visibility guard.
+ *
+ * The right column (DropZone + NeedsMetadata queue) is only rendered when
+ * `canWrite === true` or there are incomplete docs. A read-only user with a
+ * complete archive must never see an empty 300px ghost column.
+ */
+
+test.describe('Dashboard Classic Split — write user', () => {
+	test('right column is visible for admin user', async ({ page }) => {
+		await page.goto('/');
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('dashboard-right-column')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+});
+
+test.describe('Dashboard Classic Split — read-only user', () => {
+	test.use({ storageState: { cookies: [], origins: [] } });
+
+	test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
+		await login(page, 'reader', 'reader123');
+	});
+
+	test('right column is absent for read-only user with no incomplete docs', async ({ page }) => {
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('dashboard-right-column')).not.toBeVisible();
+	});
+});