diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/view.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/view.rs
index edcacf57d..e99a13c8f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/view.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/view.rs
@@ -232,13 +232,31 @@ fn print_area(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
 }
 
 fn print_titles(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
-    let rows = str_param(p, "rows").and_then(RangeRef::parse).map(|r| (r.start.row, r.end.row));
-    let cols = str_param(p, "cols").and_then(RangeRef::parse).map(|r| (r.start.col, r.end.col));
+    // An absent key leaves that axis alone, and an empty or null value clears it — the same
+    // reading `pageLayout.pageSetup` gives `titleRows`/`titleCols`. Assigning `None` for a
+    // key that was never sent used to wipe the other axis.
+    let axis = |key: &str, is_cols: bool| -> Result<Option<Option<(u32, u32)>>> {
+        match p.get(key) {
+            None => Ok(None),
+            Some(Json::Null) => Ok(Some(None)),
+            Some(Json::String(t)) if t.trim().is_empty() => Ok(Some(None)),
+            Some(Json::String(t)) => match RangeRef::parse(t) {
+                Some(r) => Ok(Some(Some(if is_cols { (r.start.col, r.end.col) } else { (r.start.row, r.end.row) }))),
+                None => Err(bad("pageLayout.printTitles", format!("`{key}` is not a range: `{t}`"))),
+            },
+            Some(_) => Err(bad("pageLayout.printTitles", format!("`{key}` must be text like \"1:2\" or \"A:A\""))),
+        }
+    };
+    let (rows, cols) = (axis("rows", false)?, axis("cols", true)?);
     edit(s, |cx| {
         let si = cx.sheet_index();
         let pr = &mut cx.sheet_mut(si)?.print;
-        pr.title_rows = rows;
-        pr.title_cols = cols;
+        if let Some(t) = rows {
+            pr.title_rows = t;
+        }
+        if let Some(t) = cols {
+            pr.title_cols = t;
+        }
         Ok(Json::Null)
     })
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
index 2ac290654..f7d0cec74 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
@@ -2961,6 +2961,33 @@ fn notes_comments_and_links_survive_a_json_save() {
     assert_eq!(after.cells, before.cells);
 }
 
+/// Page Layout ▸ Print Titles: naming one axis must not clear the other. `print_titles` read
+/// both `rows` and `cols` into `Option`s and assigned both unconditionally, so
+/// `{"rows":"2:2"}` silently dropped the repeated columns from every printed page.
+#[test]
+fn print_titles_keeps_the_axis_it_is_not_given() {
+    let mut s = s();
+    s.execute("pageLayout.printTitles", json!({"rows": "1:1", "cols": "A:A"})).unwrap();
+    let titles = |s: &Session| {
+        let d = s.doc().unwrap();
+        let sh = d.wb.active().unwrap();
+        (sh.print.title_rows, sh.print.title_cols)
+    };
+    assert_eq!(titles(&s), (Some((0, 0)), Some((0, 0))));
+    // Only rows: the columns stay.
+    s.execute("pageLayout.printTitles", json!({"rows": "2:2"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(titles(&s), (Some((1, 1)), Some((0, 0))), "rows alone must not clear the columns");
+    // Only columns: the rows stay.
+    s.execute("pageLayout.printTitles", json!({"cols": "B:B"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(titles(&s), (Some((1, 1)), Some((1, 1))), "columns alone must not clear the rows");
+    // An empty value clears that axis on purpose.
+    s.execute("pageLayout.printTitles", json!({"cols": ""})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(titles(&s), (Some((1, 1)), None));
+    // A bad range is an error, not a silent wipe.
+    assert!(s.execute("pageLayout.printTitles", json!({"rows": "not a range"})).is_err());
+    assert_eq!(titles(&s), (Some((1, 1)), None));
+}
+
 /// Insert › Link sorts a target as Excel's dialog does: a sheet reference, a defined name or `#…` is
 /// a place in this document, anything else an existing file or web page. A file saved as a
 /// `location` opens nothing in Excel (#800).