diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/page.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/page.rs
index 8fccd607..0064ffe0 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/page.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/page.rs
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             let id = id(p, "id").unwrap_or(s.page()?);
             let k = req_num("page.move", p, "index")?.max(0.0) as usize;
             let doc = s.doc_mut()?;
+            if !doc.pages.contains(&id) {
+                return Err(bad("page.move", format!("{id} is not a page")));
+            }
             doc.pages.retain(|x| *x != id);
             let k = k.min(doc.pages.len());
             doc.pages.insert(k, id);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/panels_behaviour_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/panels_behaviour_tests.rs
index c1016c29..3866d592 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/panels_behaviour_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/panels_behaviour_tests.rs
@@ -337,6 +337,17 @@ fn pages_by_the_documented_rules() {
     assert_ne!(s.page().unwrap(), div, "deleting the open page opens a page, never a divider");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn page_move_refuses_what_is_not_a_page() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    let r = rect(&mut s, "r", 30.0, 40.0, None);
+    let before = pages(&mut s);
+    assert!(s.execute("page.move", &json!({"id": r, "index": 0})).is_err(), "a layer id is not a page");
+    assert!(s.execute("page.move", &json!({"id": 999999, "index": 0})).is_err(), "a page that isn't there is not a page");
+    assert_eq!(pages(&mut s), before, "the page list is untouched");
+    assert!(s.doc().unwrap().validate().is_empty(), "the document still checks out");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn page_select_and_doc_switch_refuse_negative_or_fractional_indexes() {
     let mut s = Session::new();