diff --git a/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
index 5d41145b..4659a597 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
@@ -182,13 +182,13 @@ fn vertical_wrap_columns_take_arrows_and_drops() {
 
 #[test]
 fn adding_auto_layout_to_a_frame_keeps_its_size() {
-    // Like the incumbent: an existing frame keeps its size (fixed); only a frame wrapped
-    // around the selection hugs it.
+    // An existing frame with content hugs it (padding inferred, so the size is preserved);
+    // an empty one keeps its size instead of collapsing to its padding.
     let mut s = Session::new();
     let f = id(s.execute("frame.create", &json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 300, "height": 200})).unwrap());
     rect(&mut s, f, 40.0, 20.0, "#FF0000");
     s.execute("layout.add", &json!({"ids": [f]})).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(sizing(&s, f), (Sizing::Fixed, Sizing::Fixed));
+    assert_eq!(sizing(&s, f), (Sizing::Hug, Sizing::Hug));
     assert_eq!(size(&s, f), (300.0, 200.0));
     // An empty frame keeps its size too.
     let e = id(s.execute("frame.create", &json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 300, "height": 200})).unwrap());
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/al_nesting_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/al_nesting_tests.rs
index e26eb846..6ebcc295 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/al_nesting_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/al_nesting_tests.rs
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ fn nest(s: &mut Session) -> Nest {
     let x = rect(s, Some(inner), 0.0, 0.0, 50.0, 50.0);
     let y = rect(s, Some(inner), 60.0, 0.0, 50.0, 50.0);
     s.execute("layout.add", &json!({"ids": [inner], "direction": "horizontal"})).unwrap();
-    set(s, inner, json!({"padding": 10, "gap": 10, "sizingH": "hug", "sizingV": "hug"}));
+    set(s, inner, json!({"padding": 10, "gap": 10}));
     s.execute("layout.add", &json!({"ids": [outer], "direction": "vertical"})).unwrap();
-    set(s, outer, json!({"padding": 10, "gap": 10, "sizingH": "fixed", "sizingV": "hug", "width": 300}));
+    set(s, outer, json!({"padding": 10, "gap": 10, "sizingH": "fixed", "width": 300}));
     s.execute("select.none", &json!({})).unwrap();
     Nest { outer, a, b, inner, x, y }
 }
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ fn fill_text_in_a_hugging_card_sets_the_height_in_one_step() {
         .execute("text.create", &json!({"text": "A fairly long line of text that has to wrap inside the card", "x": 0, "y": 0, "parent": card}))
         .unwrap());
     s.execute("layout.add", &json!({"ids": [card], "direction": "vertical"})).unwrap();
-    set(&mut s, card, json!({"padding": 10, "sizingH": "fixed", "sizingV": "hug", "width": 160}));
+    set(&mut s, card, json!({"padding": 10, "sizingH": "fixed", "width": 160}));
     set(&mut s, t, json!({"sizingH": "fill"}));
     let (tb, cb) = (bounds(&s, t), bounds(&s, card));
     assert_eq!(tb.width(), 140.0);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/structure.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/structure.rs
index 75c6360b..db795013 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/structure.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/structure.rs
@@ -477,11 +477,13 @@ fn layout_add(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             let pb = doc.node(*b).map(|n| figcraft_geom::transform_rect_bbox(n.transform, n.local_rect())).unwrap_or_default();
             if vertical { pa.y0.total_cmp(&pb.y0) } else { pa.x0.total_cmp(&pb.x0) }
         });
+        let empty = doc.node(*f).is_some_and(|n| n.children.iter().filter_map(|c| doc.node(*c)).all(|c| !c.visible || c.child_layout.absolute));
         let n = doc.get_mut(*f)?;
         n.children = kids;
         n.layout = Some(al);
-        if !all_frames {
-            // A frame wrapped around the selection hugs it; an existing frame keeps its size.
+        if !all_frames || !empty {
+            // A frame wrapped around the selection hugs it; an existing frame with no flow
+            // children keeps its size instead of collapsing to its padding.
             n.child_layout.sizing_h = Sizing::Hug;
             n.child_layout.sizing_v = Sizing::Hug;
         }