diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_pathops.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_pathops.rs
index 384fa6593..e4cc2218f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_pathops.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_pathops.rs
@@ -205,6 +205,44 @@ fn a_group_selected_alone_is_combined_member_by_member() {
     assert_eq!((bounds.x0, bounds.x1), (0.0, 10.0), "the back member less the front one");
 }
 
+/// #2178: Unite on separated shapes is one compound path; Release releases each subpath (Illustrator parity).
+#[test]
+fn pathfinder_unite_non_overlapping_shapes_become_compound_path_releasable() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let a = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 20.0, 20.0);
+    let b = rect(&mut s, 30.0, 0.0, 20.0, 20.0);
+    let layer = s.doc().unwrap().doc.parent_of(a).unwrap();
+    s.execute("select.set", &json!({"ids": [a.0, b.0]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("object.pathfinder.unite", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let result = s.doc().unwrap().selection.objects[0];
+    let united = node(&s, result);
+    assert!(matches!(united.kind, NodeKind::Compound { .. }));
+    assert_eq!(united.children().unwrap().len(), 2);
+    s.execute("object.compoundPath.release", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let d = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+    assert!(d.node(result).is_none());
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().selection.len(), 2);
+    for id in &s.doc().unwrap().selection.objects {
+        assert_eq!(d.parent_of(*id), Some(layer));
+    }
+}
+
+/// #2178: Unite keeps disjoint geometry in one compound path (not a group of separate path objects).
+#[test]
+fn pathfinder_unite_disjoint_islands_stay_one_compound_path() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let outer = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 40.0, 40.0);
+    let hole = rect(&mut s, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0, 10.0);
+    s.execute("select.set", &json!({"ids": [outer.0, hole.0]})).unwrap();
+    let ring = NodeId(s.execute("object.compoundPath.make", &json!({})).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    let separate = rect(&mut s, 60.0, 0.0, 20.0, 20.0);
+    s.execute("select.set", &json!({"ids": [ring.0, separate.0]})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("object.pathfinder.unite", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    let result = s.doc().unwrap().selection.objects[0];
+    assert!(matches!(node(&s, result).kind, NodeKind::Compound { .. }));
+    assert_eq!(path_of(&s, result).0.subpaths.len(), 3);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn unite_with_group() {
     let mut s = session();