diff --git a/frontend/e2e/lang.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/lang.spec.ts
index 0e3edf9f..04294a98 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/lang.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/lang.spec.ts
@@ -3,35 +3,35 @@ import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
 test.describe('Language selector', () => {
 	test('shows DE, EN, ES buttons in the header', async ({ page }) => {
 		await page.goto('/');
-		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE' })).toBeVisible();
-		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN' })).toBeVisible();
-		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'ES' })).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE', exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN', exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'ES', exact: true })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
 	test('switching to EN translates the navigation', async ({ page }) => {
 		await page.goto('/');
-		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN' }).click();
+		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN', exact: true }).click();
 		await expect(page.getByRole('navigation').getByRole('link', { name: 'Documents' })).toBeVisible();
 		await expect(page.getByRole('navigation').getByRole('link', { name: 'Persons' })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
 	test('language choice persists after navigation', async ({ page }) => {
 		await page.goto('/');
-		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN' }).click();
+		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN', exact: true }).click();
 		await page.goto('/persons');
 		await expect(page.getByRole('navigation').getByRole('link', { name: 'Documents' })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
 	test('switching back to DE restores German', async ({ page }) => {
 		await page.goto('/');
-		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN' }).click();
-		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE' }).click();
+		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'EN', exact: true }).click();
+		await page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE', exact: true }).click();
 		await expect(page.getByRole('navigation').getByRole('link', { name: 'Dokumente' })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
 	test('active language button is visually highlighted', async ({ page }) => {
 		await page.goto('/');
-		const deBtn = page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE' });
+		const deBtn = page.getByRole('banner').getByRole('button', { name: 'DE', exact: true });
 		await expect(deBtn).toHaveClass(/font-bold/);
 	});
 });
diff --git a/frontend/playwright.config.ts b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
index c065bb3a..20bd2fcb 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
 
 	use: {
 		baseURL: process.env.E2E_BASE_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000',
+		locale: 'de-DE', // ensures Accept-Language: de is sent so locale detection defaults to German
 		screenshot: 'on', // always capture screenshots
 		video: 'retain-on-failure',
 		trace: 'retain-on-failure'
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
index 3b8d234b..a22c2881 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/conversations/+page.svelte
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
         if (fromDate) params.set('from', fromDate);
         if (toDate) params.set('to', toDate);
         params.set('dir', sortDir);
-        goto(`?${params.toString()}`, { keepFocus: true });
+        goto(`/conversations?${params.toString()}`, { keepFocus: true });
     }
 
     function toggleSort() {