diff --git a/crates/xlsx/src/drawing.rs b/crates/xlsx/src/drawing.rs
index 8cd1d353c..ebda1e8f3 100644
--- a/crates/xlsx/src/drawing.rs
+++ b/crates/xlsx/src/drawing.rs
@@ -221,8 +221,9 @@ fn read_shape(obj: &El, anchor: Anchor) -> Option<Shape> {
     let tx_box = obj.path(&["nvSpPr", "cNvSpPr"]).is_some_and(|c| c.flag("txBox", false));
     let ln = sp.child("ln");
     let arrow = ln.is_some_and(|l| l.child("tailEnd").or_else(|| l.child("headEnd")).is_some_and(|t| t.attr("type").is_some_and(|v| v != "none")));
-    // WordArt: a text body carrying a text warp (`a:bodyPr/a:prstTxWarp`).
-    let word_art = obj.path(&["txBody", "bodyPr", "prstTxWarp"]).is_some();
+    // WordArt: our marker, a text body with the non-warping text warp `textNoShape`. Any other warp
+    // (Excel puts one on ordinary filled shapes too) leaves the shape what its geometry says.
+    let word_art = obj.path(&["txBody", "bodyPr", "prstTxWarp"]).is_some_and(|w| w.attr("prst") == Some("textNoShape"));
     let kind = match prst {
         _ if word_art => ShapeKind::WordArt,
         _ if tx_box => ShapeKind::TextBox,
@@ -554,7 +555,8 @@ pub fn write_drawing(sheet: &Sheet, theme: &Theme, objs: &[Obj<'_>]) -> String {
                     s.push_str("</a:ln>");
                 }
                 s.push_str("</xdr:spPr>");
-                if !sh.text.is_empty() {
+                // A WordArt with no text still writes its body, which carries the WordArt marker.
+                if !sh.text.is_empty() || sh.kind == ShapeKind::WordArt {
                     let f = &sh.format;
                     let anchor = match f.anchor {
                         Some(ShapeTextAnchor::Top) => " anchor=\"t\"",
diff --git a/crates/xlsx/src/tests/shape_text_rtl.rs b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/shape_text_rtl.rs
index 0b9e5b10b..0ec5944bb 100644
--- a/crates/xlsx/src/tests/shape_text_rtl.rs
+++ b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/shape_text_rtl.rs
@@ -100,3 +100,24 @@ fn word_art_keeps_right_to_left_paragraphs() {
     assert_eq!(shape.format.align, Some(ShapeTextAlign::Right));
     assert_eq!(shape.text, "مرحبا\nبالعالم");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn word_art_with_empty_text_keeps_its_kind() {
+    let mut wb = text_box("", ShapeFormat::default());
+    wb.sheet_mut(0).unwrap().shapes[0].kind = ShapeKind::WordArt;
+    let (reopened, _) = read_xlsx(&write_xlsx(&wb).unwrap()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(reopened.sheet(0).unwrap().shapes[0].kind, ShapeKind::WordArt);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_text_warp_on_a_filled_ellipse_does_not_make_it_word_art() {
+    let drawing = ARABIC_TEXT_BOX
+        .replace(r#"<xdr:cNvSpPr txBox="1"/>"#, "<xdr:cNvSpPr/>")
+        .replace(r#"prst="rect""#, r#"prst="ellipse""#)
+        .replace(r#"anchor="t"/>"#, r#"anchor="t"><a:prstTxWarp prst="textTriangle"><a:avLst/></a:prstTxWarp></a:bodyPr>"#);
+    let wb = read_drawing(&drawing);
+    assert_eq!(wb.sheet(0).unwrap().shapes[0].kind, ShapeKind::Ellipse);
+    // The marker the writer uses still reads back as WordArt.
+    let marked = drawing.replace("textTriangle", "textNoShape");
+    assert_eq!(read_drawing(&marked).sheet(0).unwrap().shapes[0].kind, ShapeKind::WordArt);
+}