diff --git a/BuildController.gd b/BuildController.gd
index aaf3d08..2568c06 100644
--- a/BuildController.gd
+++ b/BuildController.gd
@@ -905,8 +905,8 @@ func _refresh_lab() -> void:
 		var this_vessel: String = [GameState.VESSEL_INTERCEPTOR, GameState.VESSEL_SHIELD,
 			GameState.VESSEL_TRANSPORTER][i]
 		lab_vessel_buttons[i].enabled = true
-		lab_vessel_buttons[i].glow_color = Color(0.45, 0.9, 0.55) if this_vessel == lab_vessel \
-			else _vessel_colour(this_vessel)
+		lab_vessel_buttons[i].glow_color = _vessel_colour(this_vessel)
+		lab_vessel_buttons[i].highlighted = this_vessel == lab_vessel
 		lab_vessel_buttons[i].queue_redraw()
 	lab_vessel_label.text = "%s research" % GameState.VESSEL_NAMES.get(lab_vessel, lab_vessel)
 
@@ -925,7 +925,8 @@ func _refresh_lab() -> void:
 			GameState.upgrade_level(option.id), int(GameState.upgrade_def(option.id).max_level)]
 		lab_upgrade_labels[i].text = "%s%s\n%s" % [option.name, level_note, price_text]
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].icon = _upgrade_icon(option)
-		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].glow_color = Color(1.0, 0.85, 0.4) if i == lab_choice else _vessel_colour(lab_vessel)
+		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].glow_color = _vessel_colour(lab_vessel)
+		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].highlighted = i == lab_choice
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].enabled = true
 		lab_upgrade_buttons[i].queue_redraw()
 	if options.is_empty():
diff --git a/IconButton.gd b/IconButton.gd
index 767faf8..d89a0a7 100644
--- a/IconButton.gd
+++ b/IconButton.gd
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ const REFERENCE_SIZE: float = 56.0
 
 @export var icon: int = Icon.MAP
 @export var glow_color: Color = Color(0.25, 0.85, 1.0)
+# Selection is an additional frame, never a recolour. It lets menus retain
+# semantic colours (vessel class, danger, cargo) while still making the
+# active choice unmistakable.
+@export var highlighted: bool = false: set = set_highlighted
 # Colour of the bright core stroke. Defaults to near-white, which reads well
 # on the dark space background; scenes drawing over a bright backdrop (the
 # lunar surface) override this with a dark colour so the button doesn't wash
@@ -56,6 +60,13 @@ func set_enabled(value: bool) -> void:
 	queue_redraw()
 
 
+func set_highlighted(value: bool) -> void:
+	if highlighted == value:
+		return
+	highlighted = value
+	queue_redraw()
+
+
 func _ready() -> void:
 	queue_redraw()
 
@@ -126,6 +137,16 @@ func _draw() -> void:
 		Vector2(margin, rect_size.y - margin),
 	])
 	NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, square, _active_color(), pulse, core_color)
+	if highlighted:
+		# The inset frame reads as a selection focus ring. It deliberately uses
+		# the bright core rather than the button's glow colour, so selecting a
+		# blue shield or pink transporter does not change what that colour means.
+		var inset: float = 10.0 * s
+		var focus: PackedVector2Array = PackedVector2Array([
+			Vector2(inset, inset), Vector2(rect_size.x - inset, inset),
+			Vector2(rect_size.x - inset, rect_size.y - inset), Vector2(inset, rect_size.y - inset),
+		])
+		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, focus, core_color, 1.0, core_color, 0.72 * s)
 
 	var center: Vector2 = rect_size / 2.0
 	match icon:
diff --git a/tests/test_ship_lab.gd b/tests/test_ship_lab.gd
index cf879ea..df2c168 100644
--- a/tests/test_ship_lab.gd
+++ b/tests/test_ship_lab.gd
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 			var lab_menu: Control = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu")
 			var lab_card_0: Control = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/Upgrade0")
 			var lab_card_1: Control = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/Upgrade1")
+			var lab_card_2: Control = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/Upgrade2")
 			var lab_card_3: Control = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/Upgrade3")
 			var lab_detail: Label = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/DetailLabel")
 			var lab_buy: IconButton = controller.get_node("../UI/LabMenu/BuyButton")
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 				quit(1)
 				return true
 			controller.call("_on_lab_upgrade", 2)
-			if not "Targeting Array" in lab_detail.text:
+			if not "Targeting Array" in lab_detail.text or not lab_card_2.highlighted or lab_card_0.highlighted:
 				print("TEST_SHIP_LAB: FAIL (tapping an upgrade did not update its detail)")
 				quit(1)
 				return true