diff --git a/tests/drift.rs b/tests/drift.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe2059b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drift.rs
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+//! What a retained drawing costs in accuracy when it is moved instead of made
+//! again. A subtree's stored regions are the only record of where it is, so a
+//! move that works from the last answer rather than from the box it is now in
+//! integrates its own rounding, and nothing later recomputes it. Re-expressing
+//! each part as the same fraction of the new box is what keeps a long-lived
+//! layout on the one a cold start produces.
+
+use iris::harness::Harness;
+use iris::prelude::*;
+
+/// A row of a fixed height under a bar, so changing the bar's height moves the
+/// row without changing the box it is given: the move path, repeatedly.
+fn plant(h: &mut Harness, bar_height: f32) -> (WeakWidget<SetSize>, WeakWidget<Rect>) {
+    let bar = rect(Color::RED).height(bar_height).add(&mut h.rsc);
+    let inner = rect(Color::BLUE).add(&mut h.rsc);
+    let row = (inner, rect(Color::GREEN)).span(Dir::RIGHT).height(100);
+    h.set_root((bar, row).span(Dir::DOWN));
+    (bar, inner)
+}
+
+/// Enough moves to pass the 0.05 physical pixels layout treats as the same
+/// place, for a move that adds an offset to the last answer. Measured on this
+/// fixture on 2026-09-15: adding the offset to both ends of a span shortened
+/// the row by 0.071 over this many moves and by 0.712 over ten times as many,
+/// growing with the count rather than settling. Placing the far end from the
+/// near one instead left 0.069, because the length is re-derived either way.
+const MOVES: usize = 20_000;
+
+#[test]
+fn a_subtree_moved_many_times_stays_where_a_cold_layout_puts_it() {
+    let mut warm = Harness::new((640, 900));
+    let (bar, inner) = plant(&mut warm, 40.0);
+    let mut height = 40.0;
+    for step in 0..MOVES {
+        height = 40.0 + (step % 300) as f32 * 0.37;
+        warm.rsc[bar].y = Some(Len::px(height));
+        warm.frame();
+    }
+
+    let mut cold = Harness::new((640, 900));
+    let (_, cold_inner) = plant(&mut cold, height);
+    cold.frame();
+
+    assert_eq!(warm.region(&inner), cold.region(&cold_inner));
+}