diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs b/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
index a5dd72a79..ca0d809f9 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/layout.rs
@@ -649,15 +649,17 @@ impl Layouter<'_> {
         if self.frames.is_empty() || !placed || y + h <= rect.bottom() + 0.01 || h > rect.h + 0.01 {
             return Ok(());
         }
-        self.break_frames()
+        self.break_frames(h)
     }
 
     /// Break the flowed subforms being laid out ([`Self::frames`]) across content areas, as
     /// another viewer breaks such a section on a synthetic form: each one's part here ends after
     /// its content and its bottom margin (the innermost first, each inside the next), the flow
     /// moves to the next content area, and each starts a new part there after its top margin
-    /// (the outermost first).
-    fn break_frames(&mut self) -> Result<(), XfaError> {
+    /// (the outermost first). The top margins take only what the `need` points of the child that
+    /// comes next leave of the new area: a child that fits a fresh area but not after the margins
+    /// would otherwise run past its bottom, out of its border.
+    fn break_frames(&mut self, need: f64) -> Result<(), XfaError> {
         let (rect, mut y, _) = self.cursor();
         let page = self.pages.len().saturating_sub(1);
         let here: Vec<bool> = self.frames.iter().map(|f| self.on_area(&f.part)).collect();
@@ -671,11 +673,15 @@ impl Layouter<'_> {
             }
         }
         self.next_area()?;
+        let (rect, y, _) = self.cursor();
+        let mut room = (rect.bottom() - y - need).max(0.0);
         for i in 0..self.frames.len() {
             let Some(mark) = self.flow_mark() else { break };
             let Some(f) = self.frames.get_mut(i) else { break };
             f.part = mark;
-            let top = f.margin.top;
+            // `max` before `min`: a NaN margin counts as none and leaves `room` a number.
+            let top = f.margin.top.max(0.0).min(room);
+            room = (room - top).max(0.0);
             self.advance(top);
         }
         Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs b/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
index f20bb94ee..2bd19ddd2 100644
--- a/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/xfa/src/tests.rs
@@ -2117,6 +2117,16 @@ fn a_flowed_subform_is_drawn_with_its_border_under_its_content() {
     assert!(form.pages.len() >= 2, "the long text runs onto another page");
     assert!(form.pages.iter().all(|p| !p.items.iter().any(|i| matches!(i, Item::Fill { .. }))), "no fill drawn");
     assert_eq!(form.warnings.iter().filter(|w| w.contains("bordered section")).count(), 1, "{:?}", form.warnings);
+    // A field that fits a fresh page (720pt) but not after the 7.2pt top margin: the margin
+    // gives way, so the field ends at the content area's bottom, inside the second part.
+    let tall = r#"<field name="tall" w="3in" h="715pt"><ui><textEdit/></ui></field>"#;
+    let form = lay(&boxed(&(field("a") + tall)));
+    assert_eq!(form.pages.len(), 2);
+    let tall = form.pages[1].items.iter().find_map(|i| if let Item::Widget(w) = i { (w.name == "tall").then_some(w.rect) } else { None }).unwrap();
+    assert!(tall.bottom() <= 756.01, "the field stays in the content area: {tall:?}");
+    let part = form.pages[1].items.iter().find_map(|i| if let Item::Fill { rect, .. } = i { Some(*rect) } else { None }).expect("the second part");
+    assert!(part.y <= tall.y + 0.01 && part.bottom() >= tall.bottom() - 0.01, "the border holds the field: {part:?} {tall:?}");
+    assert!(form.warnings.is_empty(), "{:?}", form.warnings);
 }
 
 #[test]