diff --git a/src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts b/src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts
index 7c17946b..ab7a77c5 100644
--- a/src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts
+++ b/src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ export class GraphCanvas extends Widget {
   private nodeUnder(globalX: number, globalY: number): string | null {
     for (const view of this.topDownViews()) {
       const p = view.toLocal({ x: globalX, y: globalY });
-      if (p.x >= 0 && p.x <= view.w && p.y >= 0 && p.y <= view.h) return view.node.id;
+      if (view.containsLocal(p.x, p.y)) return view.node.id;
     }
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts b/src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts
index 8c1a7530..9d22a198 100644
--- a/src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts
+++ b/src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts
@@ -137,6 +137,15 @@ export class NodeView extends Widget {
     this.hitArea = new Rectangle(-PORT_HIT_RADIUS, 0, w + PORT_HIT_RADIUS * 2, h);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Whether a local point is on this node, by the same area its pointer events use. An input port
+   * sits at exactly x = 0, and rounding a global point back can land a hair outside it – which made
+   * a drop on such a port count as a drop on empty canvas and opened the palette.
+   */
+  containsLocal(x: number, y: number): boolean {
+    return this.hitArea?.contains(x, y) ?? false;
+  }
+
   /** `project` resolves asset references (Spawn, Is asset). */
   sync(
     node: GraphNode,
diff --git a/tools/e2e/06-graph.mjs b/tools/e2e/06-graph.mjs
index cf4d4870..9caeeafa 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/06-graph.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/06-graph.mjs
@@ -128,9 +128,13 @@ export async function graph(t) {
   );
   const dataPort = await json(`__gm.graph.portAt(${JSON.stringify(newNode.id)}, 'message', false)`);
   await drag(fromPort.x, fromPort.y, dataPort.x, dataPort.y, 16);
+  // Released on the port itself, which sits at the node's very edge: that is a drop on the node, not
+  // on empty canvas. An open palette here swallows every later click – it did, for four checks.
   check(
-    'incompatible ports are rejected',
-    (await graphCounts()).edges === before13.edges + 1 && s.mode === 'edit',
+    'incompatible ports are rejected without taking the drop for empty canvas',
+    (await graphCounts()).edges === before13.edges + 1 &&
+      (await state()).mode === 'edit' &&
+      !(await evaluate(`__gm.locate('Search nodes…')`)),
   );
   await shot('18-connected');