diff --git a/src/core/commands/variableCommands.ts b/src/core/commands/variableCommands.ts
index 7f935c38..9a58059a 100644
--- a/src/core/commands/variableCommands.ts
+++ b/src/core/commands/variableCommands.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import { requireBehavior, requireVariableOwner } from './require';
 
 /**
  * The variable's default value is written to `props` as well. On a behavior a new variable starts
- * out kept between calls (#229).
+ * at its default every call; "Keep" is switched on by hand (#229).
  */
 export class AddVariableCommand implements Command {
   readonly label: string;
@@ -47,14 +47,12 @@ export class AddVariableCommand implements Command {
       throw new CommandError(`Variable "${this.def.key}" already exists`);
     asset.variables.push(this.def);
     asset.props[this.def.key] = this.def.default;
-    if (asset.type === 'behavior') setKeptVariable(asset, this.def.key, true);
   }
 
   undo(project: Project): void {
     const asset = requireVariableOwner(project, this.assetId);
     asset.variables = asset.variables.filter((v) => v.key !== this.def.key);
     delete asset.props[this.def.key];
-    if (asset.type === 'behavior') setKeptVariable(asset, this.def.key, false);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/model/Asset.ts b/src/core/model/Asset.ts
index 5516ff9c..30e057c8 100644
--- a/src/core/model/Asset.ts
+++ b/src/core/model/Asset.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export interface SceneAsset extends AssetBase {
  *
  * `keptVariables` names the variables a `Run behavior` call hands on to the next call from the same
  * node on the same object (#229); the others start at their default every call. Absent keeps none,
- * so a project from before the switch runs as it did – a variable added since starts out kept.
+ * so a project from before the switch runs as it did, and a new variable starts out not kept.
  */
 export interface BehaviorAsset extends AssetBase {
   type: 'behavior';
diff --git a/tests/core/keep-state.test.ts b/tests/core/keep-state.test.ts
index e1967b60..e2804b9e 100644
--- a/tests/core/keep-state.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/keep-state.test.ts
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ import {
 
 /**
  * A behavior that counts its calls in `count` and hands the new count out as `out1`. `steps`
- * counts the same way but is switched off, so it shows what an unkept variable does meanwhile.
+ * counts the same way but is left off, so it shows what an unkept variable does meanwhile.
  */
 function counter(fixture: ProjectFixture): BehaviorAsset {
   const callee = makeBehavior(fixture, 'Counter', ['count', 'steps']);
-  fixture.stack.execute(new SetVariableKeptCommand(callee.id, 'steps', false));
+  fixture.stack.execute(new SetVariableKeptCommand(callee.id, 'count', true));
   const edit = graphEditor(fixture, callee);
   const start = edit.addNode(BEHAVIOR_START);
   const end = edit.addNode(BEHAVIOR_END);
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ function threeCalls(fixture: ProjectFixture, callee: BehaviorAsset): unknown[][]
 }
 
 describe('Keep on a behavior variable (#229)', () => {
-  it('starts on for a variable added to a behavior, and off on a Variables asset', () => {
+  it('starts off for a variable added to a behavior, and on a Variables asset', () => {
     const fixture = makeProject();
     const behavior = makeBehavior(fixture, 'B', ['count']);
-    expect(behavior.keptVariables).toEqual(['count']);
+    expect('keptVariables' in behavior).toBe(false);
     const shared = new CreateAssetCommand('variables', 'Shared');
     fixture.stack.execute(shared);
     fixture.stack.execute(new AddVariableCommand(shared.asset.id, 'score', 'number'));
diff --git a/tools/e2e/19-nested-behavior.mjs b/tools/e2e/19-nested-behavior.mjs
index fd2fa946..4b30ba31 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/19-nested-behavior.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/19-nested-behavior.mjs
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ export async function nestedBehavior(t) {
   await shot('37-nested-behavior');
 
   // 19c-ii. Keep (#229) is a switch on each variable of the called behavior, not on the node: a new
-  //         variable starts kept, a click on its Keep button lets it go, and undo keeps it again.
+  //         variable starts unkept, a click on its Keep button keeps it, and undo lets it go again.
   const kept = async () => JSON.stringify((await asset('nb-double')).keptVariables ?? []);
   const nodeKeys = Object.keys((await asset('nb-caller')).graph.nodes.find((n) => n.id === 'nb-call').params);
   await t.select({ kind: 'asset', assetId: 'nb-double' });
@@ -147,13 +147,13 @@ export async function nestedBehavior(t) {
   await undo();
   await undo();
   check(
-    'a variable has a Keep switch: on when added, off by a click, on by the next, off after undo',
+    'a variable has a Keep switch: off when added, on by a click, off by the next, on after undo',
     !nodeKeys.includes('keepState') &&
-      keptAdded === '["var1"]' &&
+      keptAdded === '[]' &&
       Boolean(keepButton) &&
-      keptClicked === '[]' &&
-      keptReclicked === '["var1"]' &&
-      keptUndone === '[]' &&
+      keptClicked === '["var1"]' &&
+      keptReclicked === '[]' &&
+      keptUndone === '["var1"]' &&
       (await kept()) === '[]',
     `node=${nodeKeys} added=${keptAdded} button=${JSON.stringify(keepButton)} clicked=${keptClicked} reclicked=${keptReclicked} undone=${keptUndone} after=${await kept()}`,
   );