diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html
index 20882e8..8d29dfe 100644
--- a/templates/index.html
+++ b/templates/index.html
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
     /* ── state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
     let viewYear  = TODAY.getFullYear();
     let viewMonth = TODAY.getMonth();   // 0-based
-    let outDate   = new Date(TODAY);    // default: today selected
+    let outDate   = new Date(TODAY);    // default for single journeys
     let retDate   = null;
     let hoverDate = null;
     let isReturn  = false;
@@ -409,12 +409,12 @@
           ? 'Date: <strong>' + dispDate(outDate) + '</strong>'
           : '<span class="cal-cta">Select a travel date</span>';
       } else if (!outDate) {
-        el.innerHTML = '<span class="cal-cta">Select departure date</span>';
+        el.innerHTML = '<span class="cal-cta">Select outbound date</span>';
       } else if (retPhase) {
-        el.innerHTML = 'Depart: <strong>' + dispDate(outDate) +
+        el.innerHTML = 'Outbound: <strong>' + dispDate(outDate) +
           '</strong> &nbsp;&middot;&nbsp; <span class="cal-cta">Now select return date</span>';
       } else {
-        el.innerHTML = 'Depart: <strong>' + dispDate(outDate) +
+        el.innerHTML = 'Outbound: <strong>' + dispDate(outDate) +
           '</strong> &nbsp;&middot;&nbsp; Return: <strong>' + dispDate(retDate) + '</strong>';
       }
     }
@@ -439,9 +439,11 @@
         var wasReturn = isReturn;
         isReturn = this.value === 'return';
         if (isReturn && !wasReturn) {
+          outDate  = null;
           retDate  = null;
-          retPhase = outDate !== null;
+          retPhase = false;
         } else if (!isReturn) {
+          if (!outDate) outDate = new Date(TODAY);
           retDate  = null;
           retPhase = false;
         }
diff --git a/tests/test_playwright_return_fares.py b/tests/test_playwright_return_fares.py
index ee4eeae..01205ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_playwright_return_fares.py
+++ b/tests/test_playwright_return_fares.py
@@ -506,6 +506,32 @@ def test_return_advance_first_standard_premier_totals(local_server: str) -> None
         browser.close()
 
 
+def test_return_calendar_selects_outbound_before_return(local_server: str) -> None:
+    with sync_playwright() as p:
+        browser = _launch_browser(p)
+        page = browser.new_page()
+        page.goto(f"{local_server}/", wait_until="domcontentloaded")
+
+        page.locator("#journey-return").check(force=True)
+        assert page.locator("#cal-hint").inner_text() == "Select outbound date"
+        assert page.locator("#travel_date").input_value() == ""
+        assert page.locator("#return_date").input_value() == ""
+
+        page.get_by_role("button", name="10 June 2026").click()
+        assert page.locator("#travel_date").input_value() == "2026-06-10"
+        assert page.locator("#return_date").input_value() == ""
+        assert "Now select return date" in page.locator("#cal-hint").inner_text()
+
+        page.get_by_role("button", name="17 June 2026").click()
+        assert page.locator("#travel_date").input_value() == "2026-06-10"
+        assert page.locator("#return_date").input_value() == "2026-06-17"
+        assert "Return: Wed 17 Jun" in page.locator("#cal-hint").inner_text()
+
+        page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click()
+        page.wait_for_url("**/results/BRI/paris/2026-06-10/return/2026-06-17", timeout=10000)
+        browser.close()
+
+
 def test_return_advance_first_standard_premier_totals_on_initial_url(
     local_server: str,
 ) -> None: