diff --git a/src/static/js/pad.ts b/src/static/js/pad.ts
index 8a8360d55f1..f176bddd9e6 100644
--- a/src/static/js/pad.ts
+++ b/src/static/js/pad.ts
@@ -91,10 +91,12 @@ const getParameters = [
   },
   {
     // showMenuRight accepts 'true' or 'false'. Explicit 'false' hides the
-    // right-side toolbar (import/export/timeslider/settings/share/users);
-    // explicit 'true' forces it visible, overriding the readonly
-    // auto-hide applied further down (issue #5182). Any other value is
-    // a no-op — the menu stays in its default state.
+    // right-side toolbar (import/export/timeslider/settings/embed/home/
+    // users) — useful for iframe-embedded readonly pads where the menu
+    // is just chrome (issue #5182). Explicit 'true' forces the menu
+    // visible (a no-op against the default, kept for symmetry and for
+    // overriding any future caller-applied hide). Any other value is a
+    // no-op — the menu stays in its default state.
     name: 'showMenuRight',
     checkVal: null,
     callback: (val) => {
@@ -787,14 +789,18 @@ const pad = {
       $('#chaticon').hide();
       $('#options-chatandusers').parent().hide();
       $('#options-stickychat').parent().hide();
-      // Hide the right-side toolbar on readonly pads — import/export,
-      // timeslider, settings, share, users are all noise for viewers
-      // who can't interact with the pad. Callers who need those
-      // controls visible on a readonly pad can force them back via
-      // `?showMenuRight=true`, which runs in getParameters() above.
-      if (getUrlVars().get('showMenuRight') !== 'true') {
-        $('#editbar .menu_right').hide();
-      }
+      // The right-side toolbar stays visible on readonly pads. The
+      // server-side `toolbar.menu(buttons, isReadOnly)` (see
+      // src/node/utils/toolbar.ts) already strips `savedrevision`, and
+      // `.readonly .acl-write { display: none }` hides the Import column
+      // inside the import/export popup, so the remaining controls
+      // (export, timeslider, settings, embed, home, showusers) are all
+      // safe for readonly viewers — and the userlist is the surface that
+      // plugins like ep_guest hang their "Log In" button off, so hiding
+      // it traps guests in readonly with no way out. Iframe-embed use
+      // cases that want a clean look (issue #5182) opt in to the hide
+      // via `?showMenuRight=false`, or hide the whole editbar via
+      // `?showControls=false`.
     } else if (!settings.hideChat) { $('#chaticon').show(); }
 
     $('body').addClass(window.clientVars.readonly ? 'readonly' : 'readwrite');
diff --git a/src/tests/frontend-new/specs/hide_menu_right.spec.ts b/src/tests/frontend-new/specs/hide_menu_right.spec.ts
index 5d09749a27c..8498b668b42 100644
--- a/src/tests/frontend-new/specs/hide_menu_right.spec.ts
+++ b/src/tests/frontend-new/specs/hide_menu_right.spec.ts
@@ -44,10 +44,25 @@ test.describe('showMenuRight URL parameter', function () {
     return url;
   };
 
-  test('readonly pad hides .menu_right by default', async function ({page}) {
+  test('readonly pad shows .menu_right by default', async function ({page}) {
+    // The server-side toolbar.menu(..., isReadOnly) strips `savedrevision`
+    // and `.readonly .acl-write { display: none }` hides the Import
+    // column of the import/export popup, so the remaining controls
+    // (export, timeslider, settings, embed, home, showusers) are safe
+    // for readonly viewers — and ep_guest / other auth plugins depend
+    // on the userlist being reachable to surface their Log In button.
     const readonlyUrl = await getReadonlyUrl(page);
     await page.goto(readonlyUrl);
     await page.waitForSelector('#editorcontainer.initialized');
+    await expect(page.locator('#editbar .menu_right')).toBeVisible();
+  });
+
+  test('readonly pad with showMenuRight=false hides the menu', async function ({page}) {
+    // Iframe-embed use case (issue #5182): the embedder opts in to the
+    // hide via the URL parameter when they want a clean look.
+    const readonlyUrl = await getReadonlyUrl(page);
+    await page.goto(`${readonlyUrl}?showMenuRight=false`);
+    await page.waitForSelector('#editorcontainer.initialized');
     await expect(page.locator('#editbar .menu_right')).toBeHidden();
   });