codex app <path> launches Desktop but opens the previously used workspace instead of the requested one

What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?

26.623.42026

What subscription do you have?

Pro

What platform is your computer?

Mac

What issue are you seeing?

Environment

macOS
Codex CLI: v0.142.3
Codex Desktop: (from Codex → About Codex)

Steps to reproduce

cd ~/dev/projects/mlvest-lab
codex app "$(pwd)"

Observed

CLI prints:

Opening Codex Desktop at /Applications/Codex.app...
Opening workspace /Users/kent/dev/projects/mlvest-lab...

However, the Desktop app opens the previously used workspace (agency) instead of mlvest-lab.

Expected

The Desktop app should open the workspace specified on the command line.

Additional evidence

codex -C "$(pwd)"

opens correctly in

~/dev/projects/mlvest-lab

which suggests the CLI is correctly resolving and passing the directory, while the Desktop app is not honoring it.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

cd ~/dev/projects/mlvest-lab
codex app "$(pwd)"

What is the expected behavior?

The Desktop app should open the workspace specified on the command line.

Additional information

codex -C "$(pwd)"

opens correctly in

~/dev/projects/mlvest-lab

which suggests the CLI is correctly resolving and passing the directory, while the Desktop app is not honoring it.