diff --git a/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs b/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
index d3db69bb..e7e40d36 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
@@ -422,22 +422,21 @@ impl Chrome {
         ui.add_space(16.0);
         //let dark_mode = ui.ctx().style().visuals.dark_mode;
         {
-            let col_resp = columns_button(ui);
-            if col_resp.clicked() {
+            if columns_button(ui)
+                .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand)
+                .clicked()
+            {
                 self.active = 0;
-            } else if col_resp.hovered() {
-                notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
             }
         }
         ui.add_space(32.0);
 
         if let Some(dave) = self.get_dave() {
             let rect = dave_sidebar_rect(ui);
-            let dave_resp = dave_button(dave.avatar_mut(), ui, rect);
+            let dave_resp = dave_button(dave.avatar_mut(), ui, rect)
+                .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
             if dave_resp.clicked() {
                 self.switch_to_dave();
-            } else if dave_resp.hovered() {
-                notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -712,17 +711,15 @@ fn bottomup_sidebar(
 ) -> Option<ChromePanelAction> {
     ui.add_space(8.0);
 
-    let pfp_resp = pfp_button(ctx, ui);
-    let settings_resp = settings_button(ui);
+    let pfp_resp = pfp_button(ctx, ui).on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
+    let settings_resp = settings_button(ui).on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
     let theme_action = match ui.ctx().theme() {
         egui::Theme::Dark => {
             let resp = ui
                 .add(Button::new("☀").frame(false))
+                .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand)
                 .on_hover_text("Switch to light mode");
-            if resp.hovered() {
-                notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-            }
             if resp.clicked() {
                 Some(ChromePanelAction::SaveTheme(ThemePreference::Light))
             } else {
@@ -732,10 +729,8 @@ fn bottomup_sidebar(
         egui::Theme::Light => {
             let resp = ui
                 .add(Button::new("🌙").frame(false))
+                .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand)
                 .on_hover_text("Switch to dark mode");
-            if resp.hovered() {
-                notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-            }
             if resp.clicked() {
                 Some(ChromePanelAction::SaveTheme(ThemePreference::Dark))
             } else {
@@ -744,9 +739,11 @@ fn bottomup_sidebar(
         }
     };
 
-    let support_resp = support_button(ui);
+    let support_resp = support_button(ui).on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
-    let wallet_resp = ui.add(wallet_button());
+    let wallet_resp = ui
+        .add(wallet_button())
+        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
     if ctx.args.debug {
         ui.weak(format!("{}", ctx.frame_history.fps() as i32));
@@ -776,14 +773,6 @@ fn bottomup_sidebar(
         }
     }
 
-    if pfp_resp.hovered()
-        || settings_resp.hovered()
-        || support_resp.hovered()
-        || wallet_resp.hovered()
-    {
-        notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-    }
-
     if pfp_resp.clicked() {
         Some(ChromePanelAction::Account)
     } else if settings_resp.clicked() {
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
index 4410c24e..35f43440 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
@@ -604,10 +604,9 @@ fn hovering_post_button(
     let darkmode = ui.ctx().style().visuals.dark_mode;
 
     // only show the compose button on profile pages and on home
-    let compose_resp = ui.put(rect, ui::post::compose_note_button(darkmode));
-    if compose_resp.hovered() {
-        notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-    }
+    let compose_resp = ui
+        .put(rect, ui::post::compose_note_button(darkmode))
+        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
     if compose_resp.clicked() && !app.columns(app_ctx.accounts).columns().is_empty() {
         // just use the some side panel logic as the desktop
         DesktopSidePanel::perform_action(
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/column/header.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/column/header.rs
index b7382c78..4039e689 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/column/header.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/column/header.rs
@@ -76,14 +76,12 @@ impl<'a> NavTitle<'a> {
         ui.spacing_mut().item_spacing.x = item_spacing;
 
         let chev_x = 8.0;
-        let back_button_resp =
-            prev(self.routes).map(|r| self.back_button(ui, r, egui::Vec2::new(chev_x, 15.0)));
+        let back_button_resp = prev(self.routes).map(|r| {
+            self.back_button(ui, r, egui::Vec2::new(chev_x, 15.0))
+                .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand)
+        });
 
-        if let Some(back_resp) = &back_button_resp {
-            if back_resp.hovered() || back_resp.clicked() {
-                notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-            }
-        } else {
+        if back_button_resp.is_none() {
             // add some space where chevron would have been. this makes the ui
             // less bumpy when navigating
             ui.add_space(chev_x + item_spacing);
@@ -216,7 +214,9 @@ impl<'a> NavTitle<'a> {
     // returns the column index to switch to, if any
     fn move_button_section(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) -> Option<usize> {
         let cur_id = ui.id().with("move");
-        let mut move_resp = ui.add(grab_button());
+        let mut move_resp = ui
+            .add(grab_button())
+            .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
         // showing the hover text while showing the move tooltip causes some weird visuals
         if ui.data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(cur_id).is_none()) {
@@ -235,8 +235,6 @@ impl<'a> NavTitle<'a> {
                     d.insert_temp(cur_id, true);
                 }
             });
-        } else if move_resp.hovered() {
-            notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
         }
 
         ui.data(|d| d.get_temp(cur_id)).and_then(|val| {
@@ -597,11 +595,9 @@ impl<'a> NavTitle<'a> {
         top: &Route,
         pfp_size: f32,
     ) -> Option<TitleResponse> {
-        let pfp_r = self.title_pfp(ui, top, pfp_size);
-
-        if pfp_r.as_ref().is_some_and(|r| r.hovered()) {
-            notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-        }
+        let pfp_r = self
+            .title_pfp(ui, top, pfp_size)
+            .map(|r| r.on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand));
 
         self.title_label(ui, top);
 
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/side_panel.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/side_panel.rs
index 70135534..da9e2b73 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/side_panel.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/side_panel.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@ impl<'a> DesktopSidePanel<'a> {
                     //    ui.add_space(24.0);
                     //}
 
-                    let compose_resp = ui.add(crate::ui::post::compose_note_button(dark_mode));
+                    let compose_resp = ui
+                        .add(crate::ui::post::compose_note_button(dark_mode))
+                        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
                     let search_resp = ui.add(search_button());
                     let column_resp = ui.add(add_column_button());
 
@@ -129,9 +131,6 @@ impl<'a> DesktopSidePanel<'a> {
                             SidePanelAction::ComposeNote,
                             compose_resp,
                         ))
-                    } else if compose_resp.hovered() {
-                        notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
-                        None
                     } else if search_resp.clicked() {
                         Some(InnerResponse::new(SidePanelAction::Search, search_resp))
                     } else if column_resp.clicked() {
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/timeline.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/timeline.rs
index 358895be..13141641 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/ui/timeline.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use crate::timeline::{TimelineCache, TimelineKind, TimelineTab, ViewFilter};
 use notedeck::{note::root_note_id_from_selected_id, NoteAction, NoteContext, ScrollInfo};
 use notedeck_ui::{
     anim::{AnimationHelper, ICON_EXPANSION_MULTIPLE},
-    show_pointer, NoteOptions, NoteView,
+    NoteOptions, NoteView,
 };
 
 pub struct TimelineView<'a, 'd> {
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ fn timeline_ui(
             .fixed_pos(top_button_pos)
             .show(ui.ctx(), |ui| Some(ui.add(goto_top_button(top_button_pos))))
             .inner
+            .map(|r| r.on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand))
     } else {
         None
     };
@@ -143,12 +144,8 @@ fn timeline_ui(
         scroll_area = scroll_area.vertical_scroll_offset(offset);
     }
 
-    if let Some(goto_top_resp) = goto_top_resp {
-        if goto_top_resp.clicked() {
-            scroll_area = scroll_area.vertical_scroll_offset(0.0);
-        } else if goto_top_resp.hovered() {
-            show_pointer(ui);
-        }
+    if goto_top_resp.is_some_and(|r| r.clicked()) {
+        scroll_area = scroll_area.vertical_scroll_offset(0.0);
     }
 
     // chrome can ask to scroll to top as well via an app option
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/ui/dave.rs b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/ui/dave.rs
index 71cfe072..90a004a2 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_dave/src/ui/dave.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_dave/src/ui/dave.rs
@@ -468,15 +468,15 @@ fn top_buttons_ui(app_ctx: &mut AppContext, ui: &mut egui::Ui) -> Option<DaveAct
     rect.set_width(32.0);
 
     let txn = Transaction::new(app_ctx.ndb).unwrap();
-    let r = ui.put(
-        rect,
-        &mut pfp_button(&txn, app_ctx.accounts, app_ctx.img_cache, app_ctx.ndb),
-    );
+    let r = ui
+        .put(
+            rect,
+            &mut pfp_button(&txn, app_ctx.accounts, app_ctx.img_cache, app_ctx.ndb),
+        )
+        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
     if r.clicked() {
         action = Some(DaveAction::ToggleChrome);
-    } else if r.hovered() {
-        notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
     }
 
     rect = rect.translate(egui::vec2(30.0, 0.0));
@@ -484,8 +484,6 @@ fn top_buttons_ui(app_ctx: &mut AppContext, ui: &mut egui::Ui) -> Option<DaveAct
 
     if r.clicked() {
         action = Some(DaveAction::NewChat);
-    } else if r.hovered() {
-        notedeck_ui::show_pointer(ui);
     }
 
     action
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/lib.rs b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/lib.rs
index f27e901f..bc8fe393 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,3 @@ pub fn hline_with_width(ui: &egui::Ui, range: egui::Rangef) {
     let stroke = ui.style().visuals.widgets.noninteractive.bg_stroke;
     ui.painter().hline(range, resize_y, stroke);
 }
-
-pub fn show_pointer(ui: &egui::Ui) {
-    ui.ctx().set_cursor_icon(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
-}
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/mention.rs b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/mention.rs
index e6e1c6ea..ef6ba2de 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/mention.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/mention.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{show_pointer, ProfilePreview};
+use crate::ProfilePreview;
 use egui::Sense;
 use enostr::Pubkey;
 use nostrdb::{Ndb, Transaction};
@@ -75,18 +75,16 @@ fn mention_ui(
         get_display_name(profile.as_ref()).username_or_displayname()
     );
 
-    let resp = ui.add(
-        egui::Label::new(egui::RichText::new(name).color(link_color).size(size))
-            .sense(Sense::click())
-            .selectable(selectable),
-    );
+    let resp = ui
+        .add(
+            egui::Label::new(egui::RichText::new(name).color(link_color).size(size))
+                .sense(Sense::click())
+                .selectable(selectable),
+        )
+        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
     let note_action = if resp.clicked() {
-        show_pointer(ui);
         Some(NoteAction::Profile(Pubkey::new(*pk)))
-    } else if resp.hovered() {
-        show_pointer(ui);
-        None
     } else {
         None
     };
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/contents.rs b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/contents.rs
index a501139a..3aa21996 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/contents.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/contents.rs
@@ -189,12 +189,12 @@ pub fn render_note_contents(
                 },
 
                 BlockType::Hashtag => {
-                    let resp = ui.colored_label(link_color, format!("#{}", block.as_str()));
+                    let resp = ui
+                        .colored_label(link_color, format!("#{}", block.as_str()))
+                        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
                     if resp.clicked() {
                         note_action = Some(NoteAction::Hashtag(block.as_str().to_string()));
-                    } else if resp.hovered() {
-                        crate::show_pointer(ui);
                     }
                 }
 
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/mod.rs b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/mod.rs
index 8f433a2d..d0f220bf 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_ui/src/note/mod.rs
@@ -669,14 +669,12 @@ fn show_actual_pfp(
         anim_speed,
     );
 
+    let resp = resp.on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
+
     let mut pfp = ProfilePic::new(images, pic).size(size);
     let pfp_resp = ui.put(rect, &mut pfp);
     let action = pfp.action;
 
-    if resp.hovered() || resp.clicked() {
-        crate::show_pointer(ui);
-    }
-
     pfp_resp.on_hover_ui_at_pointer(|ui| {
         ui.set_max_width(300.0);
         ui.add(ProfilePreview::new(profile.as_ref().unwrap(), images));
@@ -768,20 +766,17 @@ fn render_note_actionbar(
     note_key: NoteKey,
 ) -> egui::InnerResponse<Option<NoteAction>> {
     ui.horizontal(|ui| 's: {
-        let reply_resp = reply_button(ui, note_key);
-        let quote_resp = quote_repost_button(ui, note_key);
+        let reply_resp = reply_button(ui, note_key).on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
+        let quote_resp =
+            quote_repost_button(ui, note_key).on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
         let to_noteid = |id: &[u8; 32]| NoteId::new(*id);
         if reply_resp.clicked() {
             break 's Some(NoteAction::Reply(to_noteid(note_id)));
-        } else if reply_resp.hovered() {
-            crate::show_pointer(ui);
         }
 
         if quote_resp.clicked() {
             break 's Some(NoteAction::Quote(to_noteid(note_id)));
-        } else if quote_resp.hovered() {
-            crate::show_pointer(ui);
         }
 
         let Some(Zapper { zaps, cur_acc }) = zapper else {
@@ -815,11 +810,8 @@ fn render_note_actionbar(
                     ui.add(x_button(rect)).on_hover_text(err.to_string())
                 }
             }
-        };
-
-        if zap_resp.hovered() {
-            crate::show_pointer(ui);
         }
+        .on_hover_cursor(egui::CursorIcon::PointingHand);
 
         if zap_resp.secondary_clicked() {
             break 's Some(NoteAction::Zap(ZapAction::CustomizeAmount(target)));