diff --git a/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
index 4659a597..a7a4d1d7 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs
@@ -221,3 +221,15 @@ fn canvas_stacking_paints_and_exports_the_first_child_on_top() {
     s.undo().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(pixel(&s, f, 40, 10), [0, 0, 255, 255]);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn a_size_given_with_a_new_path_fixes_that_axis() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    let f = al_frame(&mut s, json!({}));
+    let v = id(s.execute("node.create", &json!({"type": "vector", "path": "M0 0 L10 10", "closed": false, "parent": f})).unwrap());
+    set(&mut s, v, json!({"sizingH": "fill"}));
+    assert_eq!(sizing(&s, v).0, Sizing::Fill);
+    set(&mut s, v, json!({"path": "M0 0 L20 5", "width": 30}));
+    assert_eq!(sizing(&s, v).0, Sizing::Fixed);
+    assert!((size(&s, v).0 - 30.0).abs() < 1e-6, "{:?}", size(&s, v));
+}
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
index d0e95f80..b5889d8c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/props.rs
@@ -393,6 +393,18 @@ fn apply_order(k: &str) -> u8 {
     }
 }
 
+/// An explicit width (`is_w`) or height makes hugging or filling on that axis fixed, like typing
+/// into W or H.
+fn fix_axis(doc: &mut Document, id: NodeId, is_w: bool) -> Result<()> {
+    let n = doc.get_mut(id)?;
+    if is_w {
+        n.child_layout.sizing_h = Sizing::Fixed;
+    } else {
+        n.child_layout.sizing_v = Sizing::Fixed;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Apply a property map to one node. `x`/`y` are relative to the parent.
 pub fn apply(cmd: &str, doc: &mut Document, id: NodeId, props: &Map<String, Value>) -> Result<()> {
     let mut unknown = Vec::new();
@@ -404,8 +416,9 @@ pub fn apply(cmd: &str, doc: &mut Document, id: NodeId, props: &Map<String, Valu
         let k = k.as_str();
         match k {
             "path" => path_offset = set_path(cmd, doc, id, v, props)?,
-            // A new path takes the size asked for as its scale (`set_path`).
-            "width" | "height" | "w" | "h" if props.contains_key("path") => {}
+            // A new path takes the size asked for as its scale (`set_path`); the size still fixes
+            // its auto layout axis.
+            "width" | "height" | "w" | "h" if props.contains_key("path") => fix_axis(doc, id, k.starts_with('w'))?,
             "x" | "y" => {
                 let val = f64_of(v).ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, format!("`{k}` must be a number")))?;
                 let val = val + if k == "x" { path_offset.0 } else { path_offset.1 };
@@ -450,13 +463,7 @@ pub fn apply(cmd: &str, doc: &mut Document, id: NodeId, props: &Map<String, Valu
                         TextAutoResize::None
                     };
                 }
-                // Explicit width/height makes hugging/filling fixed (like typing into W/H).
-                let n = doc.get_mut(id)?;
-                if is_w {
-                    n.child_layout.sizing_h = Sizing::Fixed;
-                } else {
-                    n.child_layout.sizing_v = Sizing::Fixed;
-                }
+                fix_axis(doc, id, is_w)?;
             }
             "rotation" => {
                 let deg = f64_of(v).ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "`rotation` must be degrees"))?;