diff --git a/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.spec.ts b/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.spec.ts
index 3b37cfe..d806eba 100644
--- a/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_NODE_CAPABILITIES, RESOURCE_NODE_CAPABILITIES } from '@models/f
 import { HFNode } from '@models/nodes';
 import { vi } from 'vitest';
 
-import { isResourceNode, resolveNodeCapabilities, ReteRuntimeContext, syncResourceLinkPresentation } from './rete-editor';
+import { isResourceNode, refreshLoopMarkers, resolveNodeCapabilities, ReteRuntimeContext, syncResourceLinkPresentation } from './rete-editor';
 
 function makeNode(typeName: string, nodeFamily: 'block' | 'container' | 'resource'): HFNode {
   return { data: { typeName, nodeFamily } } as unknown as HFNode;
@@ -87,6 +87,39 @@ describe('isResourceNode', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('loop route placement', () => {
+  it('starts 48px above its highest endpoint, irrespective of a higher node between them', async () => {
+    const start = { id: 'start', data: { typeName: 'Start', nodeFamily: 'block' } } as any;
+    const router = { id: 'router', data: { typeName: 'Router', nodeFamily: 'block' } } as any;
+    const intermediate = { id: 'intermediate', data: { typeName: 'Step', nodeFamily: 'block' } } as any;
+    const forward = { id: 'forward', source: 'start', sourceOutput: 'out', target: 'router', targetInput: 'in' } as any;
+    const loop = { id: 'loop', source: 'router', sourceOutput: 'out', target: 'start', targetInput: 'in', loop: {} } as any;
+    const editor = {
+      getNodes: () => [start, router, intermediate],
+      getConnections: () => [forward, loop]
+    } as any;
+    const area = {
+      nodeViews: new Map([
+        ['start', { position: { x: 0, y: 500 }, element: { offsetWidth: 100 } }],
+        ['router', { position: { x: 400, y: 400 }, element: { offsetWidth: 100 } }],
+        ['intermediate', { position: { x: 200, y: 100 }, element: { offsetWidth: 100 } }]
+      ]),
+      update: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    } as any;
+    const runtime = makeRuntime({
+      blocksService: {
+        peekBlockType: vi.fn().mockImplementation((type: string) =>
+          type === 'Router' ? { capabilities: { ...DEFAULT_NODE_CAPABILITIES, routesExclusively: true } } : null)
+      } as any
+    });
+
+    await refreshLoopMarkers(editor, area, runtime);
+
+    expect(loop.__loopBack).toBe(true);
+    expect(loop.__loopTop).toBe(352);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('the link between a resource and a step that uses it', () => {
   it('replaces an S3 operation choice with PostgreSQL choices when its resource changes', async () => {
     const { NodeEditor, ClassicPreset } = await import('rete');
diff --git a/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.ts b/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.ts
index 648bce6..7db4779 100644
--- a/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.ts
+++ b/src/app/utilities/rete-editor.ts
@@ -977,21 +977,15 @@ export async function refreshLoopMarkers(
 }
 
 /**
- * The initial route of a loop: above the nodes it has to avoid when the loop is first established.
+ * The initial route of a loop: 48px above its highest endpoint. Nodes in between are deliberately
+ * ignored, since they may subsequently be moved across this fixed route.
  */
 function loopTop(area: AreaPlugin<HFSchemes, AreaExtra>, connection: LoopAwareConnection): number | undefined {
   const ends = [connection.source, connection.target]
     .map((id) => area.nodeViews.get(id))
     .filter((view): view is NonNullable<typeof view> => view != null);
   if (!ends.length) return undefined;
-  // The way back runs across everything between its two ends, so it has to clear the tallest of
-  // those nodes too - the loop's own steps usually sit there - not only the two it connects.
-  const left = Math.min(...ends.map((view) => view.position.x));
-  const right = Math.max(...ends.map((view) => view.position.x + view.element.offsetWidth));
-  const tops = [...area.nodeViews.values()]
-    .filter((view) => view.position.x + view.element.offsetWidth >= left && view.position.x <= right)
-    .map((view) => view.position.y);
-  return Math.min(...tops, ...ends.map((view) => view.position.y)) - 48;
+  return Math.min(...ends.map((view) => view.position.y)) - 48;
 }
 
 /**