diff --git a/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs b/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
index 64a5e7073a..dd6446148a 100644
--- a/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
+++ b/crates/io/src/psd_export.rs
@@ -1582,26 +1582,33 @@ fn document_to_psd_nested(doc: &Document, opts: &PsdExportOptions, depth: u32, c
         ex.used_ids = used;
         // Text objects' number in the generated `Txt2` (#1348): a preserved `TySh` keeps the
         // number it already names — its `Txt2` object must sit at that slot for `apply_txt2` —
-        // and new layers get the next free number.
+        // and new layers get numbers past every kept one. Kept numbers are claimed first: a layer
+        // added below others must not take a number a layer above it keeps, or each of those
+        // would be renumbered onto its neighbour's object and take its style (#7773).
         let mut used_txt = std::collections::HashSet::new();
-        let mut next_txt = 0i32;
         ex.text_index = Default::default();
+        let mut fresh = Vec::new();
         for (_, _, l) in &walk {
             let LayerContent::Text(t) = &l.content else {
                 continue;
             };
-            let kept = t.psd_raw.as_deref().and_then(|d| photocraft_text::psd::text_index(d));
-            let index = match kept {
-                Some(i) if used_txt.insert(i) => i,
-                _ => {
-                    while used_txt.contains(&next_txt) {
-                        next_txt += 1;
-                    }
-                    used_txt.insert(next_txt);
-                    next_txt
+            match t.psd_raw.as_deref().and_then(|d| photocraft_text::psd::text_index(d)) {
+                Some(i) if used_txt.insert(i) => {
+                    ex.text_index.insert(l.id, i);
                 }
-            };
-            ex.text_index.insert(l.id, index);
+                _ => fresh.push(l.id),
+            }
+        }
+        let mut next_txt = used_txt.iter().max().map_or(0, |m| m + 1);
+        if next_txt.saturating_add(fresh.len() as i32) > photocraft_text::psd::MAX_TEXT_INDEX + 1 {
+            next_txt = 0;
+        }
+        for id in fresh {
+            while used_txt.contains(&next_txt) {
+                next_txt += 1;
+            }
+            used_txt.insert(next_txt);
+            ex.text_index.insert(id, next_txt);
         }
     }
     // Progress: one unit per layer record, then the merged composite (#3389).
diff --git a/crates/io/tests/psd_kerning.rs b/crates/io/tests/psd_kerning.rs
index b75a6542ae..99b8535f4c 100644
--- a/crates/io/tests/psd_kerning.rs
+++ b/crates/io/tests/psd_kerning.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,35 @@ fn duplicate_preserved_text_indices_get_distinct_txt2_objects() {
     }
 }
 
+/// A type layer added below preserved ones takes a number past theirs: claiming the next free
+/// number on the way up renumbered every layer above it onto its neighbour's `Txt2` object
+/// (#7773, 70 of 74 layers on the #7698 file).
+#[test]
+fn new_text_layer_below_keeps_the_preserved_text_indices() {
+    let mut doc = Document::new("k", photocraft_geom::Size::new(64, 32), photocraft_color::ColorMode::Rgb, photocraft_color::SampleType::U8);
+    for (i, text) in ["AV", "BC"].into_iter().enumerate() {
+        let mut t = layer(text, &[(2, Kerning::Optical, 0.0)]);
+        photocraft_text::TextEngine::new().render_layer(&mut t, doc.resolution_dpi, doc.pixel_format());
+        let raw = photocraft_text::psd::build_tysh(&t, doc.resolution_dpi, None);
+        t.psd_raw = Some(std::sync::Arc::new(photocraft_text::psd::set_text_index(&raw, i as i32).unwrap()));
+        doc.layers.push(Layer::new(text, LayerContent::Text(t)));
+    }
+    let mut t = layer("new", &[(3, Kerning::Metrics, 0.0)]);
+    photocraft_text::TextEngine::new().render_layer(&mut t, doc.resolution_dpi, doc.pixel_format());
+    doc.layers.insert(0, Layer::new("new", LayerContent::Text(t)));
+    let bytes = photocraft_io::export(&doc, "k.psd", &Default::default()).unwrap().bytes;
+    let back = photocraft_io::import("k.psd", &bytes).unwrap().document;
+    let indices: Vec<_> = back
+        .layers
+        .iter()
+        .map(|l| {
+            let LayerContent::Text(t) = &l.content else { panic!("not text") };
+            (l.name.as_str(), t.psd_raw.as_deref().and_then(|d| photocraft_text::psd::text_index(d)))
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(indices, [("new", Some(2)), ("AV", Some(0)), ("BC", Some(1))]);
+}
+
 /// A file-controlled `TextIndex` must not size the save: `i32::MAX` is ignored (the regenerated
 /// `Txt2` is sized by real text objects, never by a file's numbers) and the document still saves
 /// and reopens with its text.