diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dock_ui.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dock_ui.rs
index 26b30601a..98951de89 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dock_ui.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dock_ui.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ impl FilmcraftApp {
             Action::Activate { panel } => Some(*panel),
             _ => None,
         };
+        // a panel closed while floating remembers where; closed while docked, it forgets (#1985)
+        let closing = match &action {
+            Action::Close { panel } => Some((*panel, self.ui.floating.iter().find(|g| g.panels.contains(panel)).map(|g| g.rect))),
+            _ => None,
+        };
         self.commit_dock(|shared| {
             crate::dock_shared::check_last_docked(shared, &action)?;
             shared.apply(action).map_err(|error| error.to_string())
@@ -104,6 +109,12 @@ impl FilmcraftApp {
         if let Some(panel) = reveal {
             self.pending_panel_raise = Some(panel);
         }
+        if let Some((panel, rect)) = closing {
+            self.ui.closed_floating.retain(|(p, _)| *p != panel);
+            if let Some(rect) = rect {
+                self.ui.closed_floating.push((panel, rect));
+            }
+        }
         if relocating
             || self.ui.keys.maximized.is_some_and(|panel| !self.ui.dock.contains(panel) && !self.ui.floating.iter().any(|group| group.panels.contains(&panel)))
         {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index e3a644ff8..b529f7dba 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -872,6 +872,16 @@ impl FilmcraftApp {
                 _ => PanelKind::Project,
             };
             self.ui.dock.open_near(p, near);
+            // closed while floating: it floats again where it was (#1985)
+            if let Some(i) = self.ui.closed_floating.iter().position(|(k, _)| *k == p) {
+                let (_, rect) = self.ui.closed_floating.remove(i);
+                if rect.iter().all(|v| v.is_finite()) {
+                    let rect = [rect[0], rect[1], rect[2].max(160.0), rect[3].max(120.0)];
+                    if let Err(e) = self.apply_dock(craft_ui::docking::Action::Float { panel: p, rect }) {
+                        log::warn!("could not float {} again: {e}", p.id());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
         }
         let _ = self.apply_dock(craft_ui::docking::Action::Activate { panel: p });
         self.ui.focused = p;
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
index f24e5fa30..e0710236c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
@@ -436,6 +436,10 @@ pub struct UiState {
     pub dock: DockNode,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub floating: Vec<crate::dock::Floating>,
+    /// Where each panel closed while floating was ([x, y, width, height]): opening it again
+    /// brings it back there, floating, instead of docked (#1985).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub closed_floating: Vec<(PanelKind, [f32; 4])>,
     /// Focused panel (blue outline, receives shortcuts).
     pub focused: PanelKind,
     pub timeline: TimelineView,
@@ -960,6 +964,7 @@ impl Default for UiState {
             mode: Mode::Edit,
             workspace: "Editing".into(),
             floating: vec![],
+            closed_floating: vec![],
             dock: crate::dock::workspace("Editing"),
             focused: PanelKind::Timeline,
             timeline: TimelineView::default(),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/shared_docking_ui.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/shared_docking_ui.rs
index 3df87b903..903355ac5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/shared_docking_ui.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/shared_docking_ui.rs
@@ -559,3 +559,25 @@ fn narration_selection_reveals_covered_floating_tts_once_without_editing_the_pro
     assert_eq!(h.state().ui.tts, draft);
     assert!(std::sync::Arc::ptr_eq(&project, &h.state().session.project));
 }
+
+/// #1985: a panel closed while floating came back docked when opened again from the Window menu;
+/// it now floats again where it was. Closed while docked, it opens docked as before.
+#[test]
+fn a_panel_closed_while_floating_reopens_floating_where_it_was() {
+    let mut app = FilmcraftApp::new(Session::default());
+    let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, "window.floatPanel", json!({"panel": "Info", "rect": [45, 65, 420, 320]})).unwrap();
+    let rect = app.ui.floating.iter().find(|g| g.panels.contains(&PanelKind::Info)).unwrap().rect;
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, "window.closePanel", json!({"panel": "Info"})).unwrap();
+    assert!(!app.ui.dock.contains(PanelKind::Info) && !app.ui.floating.iter().any(|g| g.panels.contains(&PanelKind::Info)));
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, &menus::panel_command_id(PanelKind::Info), json!({})).unwrap();
+    let back = app.ui.floating.iter().find(|g| g.panels.contains(&PanelKind::Info)).expect("Info floats again");
+    assert_eq!(back.rect, rect, "where it was");
+    assert!(!app.ui.dock.contains(PanelKind::Info));
+    // docked, then closed: it opens docked
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, "window.dockPanel", json!({"panel": "Info", "anchor": "Project"})).unwrap();
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, "window.closePanel", json!({"panel": "Info"})).unwrap();
+    menus::invoke(&mut app, &ctx, &menus::panel_command_id(PanelKind::Info), json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert!(app.ui.dock.contains(PanelKind::Info));
+    assert!(!app.ui.floating.iter().any(|g| g.panels.contains(&PanelKind::Info)));
+}