diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/space_hand.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/space_hand.rs
index bd905e183..a02f2ac84 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/space_hand.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/space_hand.rs
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ pub(crate) fn begin(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> bool {
 /// zoom as it ends.
 pub(crate) fn tick(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     let Some(mut hand) = app.space_hand else { return };
-    let (held, pointer, now) = ctx.input(|i| (i.key_down(Key::Space), i.pointer.any_down(), i.time));
-    hand.used |= pointer;
+    let (held, pointer, pressed, now) = ctx.input(|i| (i.key_down(Key::Space), i.pointer.any_down(), i.pointer.any_pressed(), i.time));
+    // a quick click can go down and up within one frame: no button is down then, but it pressed
+    hand.used |= pointer || pressed;
     let tool = tool_owns_pointer(app) && app.ui.dialog.is_none();
     // held, or let go in the middle of a pan: the hand stays until the button is up
     if tool && (held || pointer) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_space_hand.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_space_hand.rs
index 8bf3ba992..701408e34 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_space_hand.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_space_hand.rs
@@ -158,6 +158,26 @@ fn space_held_click_zooms_to_the_point_clicked_and_back() {
     assert_eq!(develop(&h).spots.len(), spots, "a click painted a spot");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn a_click_down_and_up_within_one_frame_is_not_a_tap() {
+    // a real mouse can deliver the press and the release in the same frame: no button is down
+    // then, yet the click zoomed, and letting go of Space quickly must not zoom back
+    let mut h = detail(Some("panel.remove"));
+    space(&mut h, "down");
+    pointer(&mut h, json!([{"kind": "move", "x": 0.25, "y": 0.3}]));
+    let img = h.app.image_rect.unwrap();
+    let pos = egui::pos2(img.left() + 0.25 * img.width(), img.top() + 0.3 * img.height());
+    for pressed in [true, false] {
+        h.events.push(egui::Event::PointerButton { pos, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed, modifiers: egui::Modifiers::NONE });
+    }
+    h.step();
+    let zoomed = Zoom::Percent(h.app.ui.click_zoom as f32);
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.zoom, zoomed, "the click did not zoom");
+    space(&mut h, "up");
+    assert!(h.app.space_hand.is_none());
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.zoom, zoomed, "the release toggled the zoom back");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn a_tap_over_a_tool_toggles_on_release_and_a_long_hold_does_not() {
     let mut h = detail(Some("panel.remove"));