diff --git a/src/editor/song/songEdit.ts b/src/editor/song/songEdit.ts
index 93fd6b72..66a103d5 100644
--- a/src/editor/song/songEdit.ts
+++ b/src/editor/song/songEdit.ts
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ export type PeriodOf = (item: SongItem) => number | null;
 
 /**
  * How far the start edge of the grabbed item moves when it is dragged to a tick: to the grid line or
- * the start of a round nearest the pointer. Held so that no picked item gets shorter than a tick or
+ * the start of a round nearest the pointer, but never on to its own end – then to the last grid line
+ * before it, if that is not before its start. Held so that no picked item gets shorter than a tick or
  * starts before 0. One whose round is known goes on left as far as that, repeating what it plays;
  * one whose round is not stops at the beginning of what it plays.
  */
@@ -139,7 +140,9 @@ export function trimDelta(
   periodOf: PeriodOf = () => null,
 ): number {
   const rounds = roundsOf(anchor, periodOf(anchor), tempo);
-  const start = Math.round(free ? pointerTick : snapEdge(pointerTick, grid, rounds));
+  const end = itemEnd(anchor);
+  let start = Math.round(free ? pointerTick : snapEdge(pointerTick, grid, rounds));
+  if (!free && start >= end) start = Math.max(anchor.tick, Math.ceil(end / grid) * grid - grid);
   let by = start - anchor.tick;
   for (const item of items) {
     if (!picked.has(item.id)) continue;
diff --git a/tests/editor/song-edit.test.ts b/tests/editor/song-edit.test.ts
index 85a1982d..3c7cd673 100644
--- a/tests/editor/song-edit.test.ts
+++ b/tests/editor/song-edit.test.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ describe('moving and sizing items (#334)', () => {
     const picked = new Set(['s']);
     // 0.25 s at 120 BPM is 240 ticks: that is as far back as the left end goes.
     expect(trimDelta([sound], picked, sound, 0, 120, false, 120)).toBe(-240);
-    expect(trimDelta([sound], picked, sound, 5 * BAR, 120, false, 120)).toBe(BAR - 1);
+    // Past its own end the left end stops on the last grid line before it.
+    expect(trimDelta([sound], picked, sound, 5 * BAR, 120, false, 120)).toBe(BAR - 120);
+    expect(trimDelta([sound], picked, sound, 5 * BAR, 120, true, 120)).toBe(BAR - 1);
     const [cut] = trimmed([sound], picked, 480, 120);
     expect([cut!.tick, cut!.length, cut!.offset]).toEqual([BAR + 480, BAR - 480, 0.75]);
     const pattern = item('p', 't1', BAR, BAR, { offset: 120 });
@@ -125,6 +127,10 @@ describe('moving and sizing items (#334)', () => {
     const by = trimDelta([cut], picked, cut, BAR + 705, 480, false, 120, () => 700.4);
     expect(by).toBe(600);
     expect(trimmed([cut], picked, by, 120, () => 700.4)[0]!.offset).toBe(secondsOfTicks(700.4, 120));
+    // A start dragged right up to a round that is its own end does not snap there, it would leave a
+    // tick: it takes the grid line before.
+    const two = item('t', 't1', BAR, 1400, { kind: 'sound', offset: 0 });
+    expect(trimDelta([two], new Set(['t']), two, BAR + 1390, 480, false, 120, () => 700)).toBe(960);
     // An offset a whole pattern in stays so: the pattern may grow later.
     const far = item('f', 't1', BAR, 2 * BAR);
     expect(trimmed([far], new Set(['f']), BAR, 120, () => BAR)[0]!.offset).toBe(BAR);