diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/floating_tests.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/floating_tests.rs
index 1ecdb730..85015888 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/floating_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/floating_tests.rs
@@ -48,17 +48,25 @@ fn workspace() -> Layout<u32> {
 struct Content {
     native: bool,
     keep: Vec<u32>,
+    /// Canvas 0 accepts side splits, as an app that opens panels beside it does.
+    beside: bool,
+    drawn: Vec<u32>,
 }
 
 impl DockContent<u32> for Content {
-    fn body(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui, _: &u32) {
+    fn body(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui, panel: &u32) {
+        self.drawn.push(*panel);
         ui.label("Body");
     }
     fn logical_label(&self, panel: &u32) -> String {
         format!("Panel {panel}")
     }
     fn permissions(&self, panel: &u32) -> Permissions {
-        if *panel == 0 { Permissions::PROTECTED } else { Permissions::default() }
+        match *panel {
+            0 if self.beside => Permissions { accepts_splits: true, ..Permissions::PROTECTED },
+            0 => Permissions::PROTECTED,
+            _ => Permissions::default(),
+        }
     }
     fn allow_native(&self, _: &u32) -> bool {
         self.native
@@ -459,6 +467,19 @@ fn hide_panels_keeps_protected_panels_and_the_except_set() {
     assert_eq!(d.title(6).min, pos2(300.0, 84.0), "below the resize band");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn a_canvas_that_accepts_splits_is_still_protected() {
+    let mut d = Driver::new(workspace(), Profile::Dock);
+    d.content.beside = true;
+    d.hide = Hide::All;
+    d.step(vec![]);
+    d.content.drawn.clear();
+    d.step(vec![]);
+    assert_eq!(d.content.drawn, vec![0], "hiding every panel keeps the canvas");
+    assert!(d.tab(0).is_none());
+    assert!(d.response(DockArea::<u32>::hit_id(Id::new(AREA), &Hit::DragBar(0))).is_none());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn native_window_falls_back_in_window_when_viewports_are_embedded() {
     let mut layout = workspace();
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
index 3ca0c100..e79bf096 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
@@ -346,6 +346,12 @@ impl Permissions {
     /// uses `Permissions { accepts_splits: true, ..Permissions::PROTECTED }`.
     pub const PROTECTED: Self = Self { movable: false, floatable: false, closable: false, accepts_tabs: false, accepts_splits: false };
 
+    /// A canvas: it can neither move, close nor take tabs. `accepts_splits` and `floatable`
+    /// do not matter, so a canvas that opens panels beside it still counts.
+    pub fn is_protected(self) -> bool {
+        !self.movable && !self.closable && !self.accepts_tabs
+    }
+
     /// Lock Workspace: nothing moves, floats or closes; tab and split drops keep their policy.
     /// [`super::Workspace::apply`] applies this when the workspace is locked; an application
     /// with a global lock preference applies it in its own permissions callback.
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/frame.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/frame.rs
index 0296daf6..8b90fe99 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/frame.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/frame.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use egui::{Context, Pos2, Rect, pos2, vec2};
 
 use super::{GroupKind, Renderer, floating::StackHit, group::TabGroup};
 use crate::docking::{
-    Action, Column, DockContent, DockEvent, Floating, Group, HidePanels, Layout, Node, Permissions, Profile, Zone,
+    Action, Column, DockContent, DockEvent, Floating, Group, HidePanels, Layout, Node, Profile, Zone,
     dock_model::{Place, node_at},
 };
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub(in crate::docking) fn view<'a, P: Clone + Eq + Hash>(
     hide: HidePanels<'_, P>,
     content: &dyn DockContent<P>,
 ) -> (Cow<'a, Layout<P>>, FrameState<P>) {
-    let protected = |p: &P| content.permissions(p) == Permissions::PROTECTED;
+    let protected = |p: &P| content.permissions(p).is_protected();
     let hidden = |p: &P| match hide {
         HidePanels::None => false,
         HidePanels::All => !protected(p),
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
index 869c8d0c..3d579f67 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ impl<P: Clone + Eq + Hash + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static> Renderer<'_, P> {
 /// A lone protected or bare panel draws no tab strip and no drag bar.
 pub(in crate::docking) fn stripless<P>(panels: &[P], content: &dyn DockContent<P>) -> bool {
     match panels {
-        [panel] => content.permissions(panel) == Permissions::PROTECTED || content.bare(panel),
+        [panel] => content.permissions(panel).is_protected() || content.bare(panel),
         _ => false,
     }
 }