diff --git a/crates/tools/src/cursors.toml b/crates/tools/src/cursors.toml
index f68f44616..9777db652 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/cursors.toml
+++ b/crates/tools/src/cursors.toml
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ look = "Crosshair with a minus badge."
 [[cursor]]
 id = "Pencil"
 group = "Drawing and editing tools"
-shown_when = ["The Pencil tool: draws a freeform path; starting near the end of a selected open path continues it; Shift or Alt held at the press draws a straight line; Alt pressed after the drag starts closes the path."]
+shown_when = ["The Pencil tool: draws a freeform path; starting near the end of a selected open path continues it; Shift held at the press, or Alt held at the press when Alt key toggles to Smooth Tool is off, draws a straight line; Alt pressed after the drag starts, when that option is off, closes the path; when it is on, Alt held at the press gives the Smooth tool."]
 hotspot = "The lead tip."
 
 [[cursor]]
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ look = "The Pencil cursor with a ring badge (closing the loop), like PenClose."
 [[cursor]]
 id = "PencilStraight"
 group = "Drawing and editing tools"
-shown_when = ["The Pencil tool with Shift held before a press, except with Alt also held when Alt key toggles to Smooth Tool is on: the press draws a straight line at 45° steps from the Constrain Angle."]
+shown_when = ["The Pencil tool with Shift or Alt held before a press, except with Alt held when Alt key toggles to Smooth Tool is on: the press draws a straight line, at 45° steps from the Constrain Angle when Shift is held and at any angle with Alt alone."]
 hotspot = "The lead tip."
 look = "The Pencil cursor with a short straight-line badge, where PencilClose has its ring."
 
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/draw2/gesture.rs b/crates/tools/src/draw2/gesture.rs
index a20870d1b..daca68d6a 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/draw2/gesture.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/draw2/gesture.rs
@@ -137,10 +137,10 @@ impl GestureTool {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Would a press with `m` held draw a straight Pencil line? Shift held, unless Alt lends the
-    /// Smooth tool: the rule `PointerKind::Down` sets `straight` by.
+    /// Would a press with `m` held draw a straight Pencil line? Shift or Alt held, unless Alt lends
+    /// the Smooth tool: the rule `PointerKind::Down` sets `straight` by.
     fn straight_at_press(&self, m: Mods) -> bool {
-        self.id == "pencil" && !(self.alt_smooth && m.alt) && m.shift
+        self.id == "pencil" && !(self.alt_smooth && m.alt) && (m.shift || m.alt)
     }
 
     /// Where the stroke takes a pointer at `p`. For the Blob Brush with Shift held, that is the
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     /// Holding Alt shows the Paintbrush's closing cursor before the press, and the Pencil's and the
-    /// Paintbrush's while drawing (before a press, Alt gives the Pencil a straight line); a release
+    /// Paintbrush's while drawing (before a press, Alt gives the Pencil its straight-line cursor); a release
     /// with Alt still held closes the path, and Alt let go before the release leaves it open.
     #[test]
     fn alt_shows_the_closing_cursor_and_a_release_with_alt_closes() {
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ mod tests {
         {
             let mut t = GestureTool::new(id);
             assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, Mods::default()), own, "{id}");
-            assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, alt), if id == "pencil" { own } else { closing }, "{id}");
+            assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, alt), if id == "pencil" { Cursor::PencilStraight } else { closing }, "{id}");
             for alt_at_release in [true, false] {
                 t.pointer(&cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Down, 0.0, 0.0));
                 t.pointer(&cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Drag, 10.0, 5.0).with_mods(alt));
@@ -859,6 +859,7 @@ mod tests {
         cx.smart_guides = false;
         let at = Point::new(0.0, 0.0);
         let shift = Mods { shift: true, ..Default::default() };
+        let alt = Mods { alt: true, ..Default::default() };
         let shift_alt = Mods { shift: true, alt: true, ..Default::default() };
         // The last drag's preview: two points for a line, all three for a freehand stroke, none
         // for a smoothing drag.
@@ -866,7 +867,7 @@ mod tests {
             acts[acts.len() - 2].iter().any(|a| matches!(a, Action::Preview(_, v) if v["points"].as_array().is_some_and(|q| q.len() == 2)))
         };
         for alt_smooth in [false, true] {
-            for m in [Mods::default(), shift, shift_alt] {
+            for m in [Mods::default(), shift, alt, shift_alt] {
                 let mut t = GestureTool::new("pencil");
                 t.set_option("altSmooth", &json!(alt_smooth));
                 let shown = t.cursor(&cx, at, m) == Cursor::PencilStraight;
@@ -877,6 +878,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut t = GestureTool::new("pencil");
         assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, Mods::default()), Cursor::Pencil);
         assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, shift), Cursor::PencilStraight);
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, alt), Cursor::PencilStraight, "Alt alone draws a line at any angle");
         assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, at, shift_alt), Cursor::PencilStraight, "Alt at the release leaves a straight line open");
         // While the line is drawn, the Pencil's own cursor; after the release, Shift shows it again.
         t.pointer(&cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Down, 0.0, 0.0).with_mods(shift));
@@ -990,7 +992,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let wavy = [(0.0, 0.0), (30.0, -10.0), (50.0, -60.0), (100.0, -84.0)];
         let mut t = GestureTool::new("pencil");
-        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(0.0, 0.0), alt), Cursor::Pencil, "before the press");
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(0.0, 0.0), alt), Cursor::PencilStraight, "before the press");
         let acts = drag_held(&mut t, &cx, &wavy, alt);
         let all = pts(&acts);
         assert_eq!(all.len(), 4, "{all:?}");
@@ -1203,7 +1205,7 @@ mod tests {
         t.set_option("altSmooth", &json!(false));
         assert_eq!(t.options()["altSmooth"], json!(false));
         // Before a press, Alt gives a straight line rather than a closed path.
-        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(50.0, 50.0), alt_mod), Cursor::Pencil);
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(50.0, 50.0), alt_mod), Cursor::PencilStraight);
 
         // A drag released with Alt held draws a closed pencil path.
         let empty_sel = Selection::default();
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
index bbdeb99ba..d06e9a2da 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ pub enum Cursor {
     /// releasing the mouse button with Alt still held closes the path. A drag started with Shift or
     /// Alt held draws an open straight line instead. A crosshair with a ring.
     PencilClose,
-    /// The Pencil tool before a press that draws a straight line (Shift held). A crosshair with a
+    /// The Pencil tool before a press that draws a straight line (Shift or Alt held). A crosshair with a
     /// short straight line.
     PencilStraight,
     /// The Paintbrush tool.