diff --git a/assets/stylesheets/modules/summarization/desktop/ai-summary.scss b/assets/stylesheets/modules/summarization/desktop/ai-summary.scss
index 9026771c..432baf94 100644
--- a/assets/stylesheets/modules/summarization/desktop/ai-summary.scss
+++ b/assets/stylesheets/modules/summarization/desktop/ai-summary.scss
@@ -23,5 +23,5 @@ html.scrollable-modal {
 }
 
 .ai-summary-modal + .d-modal__backdrop {
-  display: none;
+  background: transparent; // allows for reading, but still triggers clickoutside event
 }