diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
index beb88cc87..da2a03737 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
@@ -1805,8 +1805,10 @@ pub fn document_area(app: &mut PdfCraftApp, index: usize, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
                         }
                     }
                 }
-                // Annotation hover shows the comment, as Acrobat's popups do.
-                let gesturing = view.comments.gesture.is_some();
+                // Annotation hover shows the comment, as Acrobat's popups do; not while drawing
+                // freehand, where it would cover the next stroke (#429).
+                let freehand = matches!(tool, QuickTool::Comment(comments::CommentTool::Ink | comments::CommentTool::Eraser));
+                let gesturing = view.comments.gesture.is_some() || freehand;
                 for a in info.annotations.iter().filter(|a| a.page == i && a.in_reply_to.is_none() && !gesturing) {
                     let sr = xf.user_rect(info, i, a.rect);
                     if sr.contains(p) && hover_text.is_none() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/editing.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/editing.rs
index 57c2fef20..fe1736b13 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/editing.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/editing.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,14 @@ impl PdfCraftApp {
                     }
                     Edit::InsertBlankPage { at, .. } => view.select_pages(&[at.min(info.pages.len() - 1)]),
                     Edit::DeletePages { .. } => view.select_pages(&[]),
+                    // A stroke drawn with the pen stays unselected, so the selection box and
+                    // author popup don't sit over the next stroke (#429).
+                    Edit::AddAnnotation(a)
+                        if matches!(a.shape, pdfcraft_engine::Shape::Ink { .. })
+                            && self.quick_tool == crate::QuickTool::Comment(crate::comments::CommentTool::Ink) =>
+                    {
+                        view.comments.selected = None;
+                    }
                     Edit::AddAnnotation(a) => {
                         // Select the new comment (appended last among the page's comments).
                         let newest = info.annotations.iter().filter(|x| x.page == a.page && x.in_reply_to.is_none()).map(|x| x.index).max();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/comments.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/comments.rs
index cb1dc9a3f..ad36b6f4a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/comments.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/comments.rs
@@ -171,6 +171,30 @@ fn shapes_and_ink_are_drawn_by_dragging() {
     assert!((r[0] - 40.0).abs() < 3.0 && (r[1] - 40.0).abs() < 3.0 && (r[2] - 140.0).abs() < 3.0 && (r[3] - 100.0).abs() < 3.0, "{r:?}");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn pen_strokes_stay_unselected_so_writing_continues() {
+    let mut h = harness(|app| app.set_option("quick", "ink").unwrap());
+    // No Comments panel: the author's name should only show in a hover popup.
+    h.state_mut().set_option("panel", "none").unwrap();
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    drag_pt(&mut h, (40.0, 100.0), (140.0, 60.0));
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].comments.selected, None, "the first stroke isn't selected");
+    // The pointer still rests on the stroke: no author popup covers it.
+    h.hover_at(at(&h, 140.0, 60.0));
+    h.run_steps(3);
+    assert!(h.query_by_label_contains("Tester").is_none(), "no author popup while drawing");
+    drag_pt(&mut h, (60.0, 100.0), (160.0, 60.0));
+    let c = comments(&h);
+    let kinds: Vec<&str> = c.iter().map(|a| a.subtype.as_str()).collect();
+    assert_eq!(kinds, ["Ink", "Ink"], "{c:?}");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].comments.selected, None, "nothing is selected after drawing");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().quick_tool, QuickTool::Comment(pdfcraft_ui_egui::comments::CommentTool::Ink), "the pen stays on");
+    // Other drawn shapes are still selected when made.
+    h.state_mut().set_option("quick", "square").unwrap();
+    drag_pt(&mut h, (180.0, 100.0), (260.0, 40.0));
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].comments.selected, Some((0, 2)));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn sticky_note_composer_posts_and_returns_to_select() {
     let mut h = harness(|app| app.set_option("quick", "note").unwrap());