diff --git a/crates/doc/src/node/ops.rs b/crates/doc/src/node/ops.rs
index 755cb51c4..07899196c 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/node/ops.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/node/ops.rs
@@ -185,8 +185,13 @@ impl Node {
         match &self.kind {
             NodeKind::Path { path, .. } => Some(path.to_bezpath()),
             NodeKind::Compound { children, .. } => {
-                let mut bp = vectorcraft_geom::BezPath::new();
-                children.iter().filter_map(|c| c.path_data()).for_each(|pd| bp.extend(pd.to_bezpath()));
+                // Sized up front: grown by doubling, the path of a compound path of hundreds of
+                // thousands of anchors is copied into ever larger buffers, up to tens of MB, on
+                // every call.
+                let subpaths = || children.iter().filter_map(|c| c.path_data()).flat_map(|pd| &pd.subpaths);
+                let elements = subpaths().filter(|sp| !sp.anchors.is_empty()).map(|sp| 1 + sp.segment_count() + usize::from(sp.closed)).sum();
+                let mut bp = vectorcraft_geom::BezPath::from_vec(Vec::with_capacity(elements));
+                subpaths().for_each(|sp| sp.to_bezpath_into(&mut bp));
                 Some(bp)
             }
             _ => None,
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/node/tests.rs b/crates/doc/src/node/tests.rs
index 882018e1d..1669de1a2 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/node/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/node/tests.rs
@@ -546,3 +546,23 @@ fn fields_before_the_type_are_buffered_within_the_value_budget() {
     assert!(with_buffered_value_budget(0, || read(&written)).is_ok(), "a saved object buffers nothing: {written}");
     assert!(read(reordered).is_ok(), "no budget outside a read");
 }
+
+/// A compound path's path is its members' paths one after another, open and closed, empty
+/// members and single anchors included.
+#[test]
+fn compound_stroke_path_is_its_members_in_order() {
+    use vectorcraft_geom::{Anchor, PathData, SubPath};
+    let open = PathData::single(SubPath::new([(0.0, 0.0), (5.0, 1.0), (9.0, 7.0)].map(|(x, y)| Anchor::corner(Point::new(x, y))).to_vec(), false));
+    let lone = PathData::single(SubPath::new(vec![Anchor::corner(Point::new(3.0, 3.0))], false));
+    let members =
+        [shapes::rectangle(Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, 4.0, 2.0)), open, PathData::default(), lone, shapes::ellipse(Rect::new(10.0, 10.0, 20.0, 16.0))];
+    let mut expected = vectorcraft_geom::BezPath::new();
+    for pd in &members {
+        expected.extend(pd.to_bezpath());
+    }
+    let children = members.iter().enumerate().map(|(i, pd)| Arc::new(Node::path(NodeId(i as u64 + 1), pd.clone(), Appearance::default()))).collect();
+    let n = Node::new(NodeId(99), NodeKind::Compound { children, rule: vectorcraft_geom::FillRule::EvenOdd });
+    let bp = n.stroke_path().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(bp.elements(), expected.elements());
+    assert!(!bp.elements().is_empty());
+}
diff --git a/crates/render/src/renderer.rs b/crates/render/src/renderer.rs
index 218ef0620..4d619e045 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/renderer.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/renderer.rs
@@ -172,9 +172,11 @@ impl Renderer {
     /// so the nodes they hold go with them).
     fn end_frame(&mut self) {
         let g = self.stamp;
-        if self.geom.len() > 1024 {
-            self.geom.retain(|_, e| g - e.stamp <= 3);
-        }
+        // Swept however few the entries: each keeps its node alive, and an object dragged or
+        // edited makes a new node (with its layer) in every frame. Kept until there were 1,024 of
+        // them, a drag left up to that many old copies of the object alive, each with all its
+        // members (and, for a compound path, its assembled path).
+        self.geom.retain(|_, e| g - e.stamp <= 3);
         if self.strokes.len() > 1024 {
             self.strokes.retain(|_, e| g - e.stamp <= 3);
         }
diff --git a/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs b/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
index 25f626091..79455cd75 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/renderer/nodes.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,16 @@ impl Renderer {
     /// The cached path of path or compound path `n` ([`Self::path_of`]) when the frame is in
     /// Outline view and `n` is `fx_owner`, else `None`.
     fn outline_path(&mut self, f: &Frame, n: &Node) -> Option<Arc<BezPath>> {
-        let owner = self.fx_owner.as_ref().filter(|o| f.opts.outline && std::ptr::eq(&***o, n)).cloned()?;
+        if !f.opts.outline {
+            return None;
+        }
+        self.owner_path(f, n)
+    }
+
+    /// The cached path of path or compound path `n` ([`Self::path_of`]) when `n` is `fx_owner`,
+    /// else `None`.
+    fn owner_path(&mut self, f: &Frame, n: &Node) -> Option<Arc<BezPath>> {
+        let owner = self.fx_owner.as_ref().filter(|o| std::ptr::eq(&***o, n)).cloned()?;
         self.path_of(f.symbols, &owner)
     }
 
@@ -470,17 +479,13 @@ impl Renderer {
                     self.draw_shape(ctx, f, n, &bp, *rule);
                 }
             }
-            NodeKind::Compound { children, rule } => {
-                if let Some(bp) = self.outline_path(f, n) {
-                    return self.draw_shape(ctx, f, n, &bp, *rule);
+            NodeKind::Compound { rule, .. } => {
+                // Its members assembled once and kept with the node in `geom`, as plain paths are
+                // (`path_of`): a compound path of thousands of members is not assembled again in
+                // every frame.
+                if let Some(bp) = self.owner_path(f, n).or_else(|| n.stroke_path().map(Arc::new)) {
+                    self.draw_shape(ctx, f, n, &bp, *rule);
                 }
-                let mut bp = BezPath::new();
-                for c in children {
-                    if let Some(p) = c.path_data() {
-                        bp.extend(p.to_bezpath());
-                    }
-                }
-                self.draw_shape(ctx, f, n, &bp, *rule);
             }
             NodeKind::Text(t) => self.draw_text(ctx, f, n, t),
             NodeKind::Image(im) => self.draw_image_in(ctx, f, im, None, images::image_tint(n, f.ink), n.extras().pixelated),
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests/memory.rs b/crates/render/src/tests/memory.rs
index 8b3648604..f0c4b40e1 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/tests/memory.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests/memory.rs
@@ -2378,3 +2378,47 @@ fn text_runs_draw_their_own_glyphs_from_the_shared_outlines() {
     }
     assert!(g.run(7).elements().is_empty());
 }
+
+/// A compound path is drawn from the path the renderer keeps for it, as a plain path is: the next
+/// frame draws the same path, and draws what a new renderer draws.
+/// Once the compound path changes (each frame of a drag makes a new one), the entries of the old
+/// one, which keep it alive, go after a few frames, however few entries the renderer holds.
+#[test]
+fn compound_paths_draw_from_kept_paths_and_let_old_ones_go() {
+    let _fonts = fonts_steady();
+    let mut d = Document::new(100.0, 100.0);
+    let layer = d.layers[0].id;
+    let members: Vec<Arc<Node>> = (0..30)
+        .map(|i| {
+            let x = f64::from(i % 6) * 15.0;
+            let y = f64::from(i / 6) * 15.0;
+            let p = vectorcraft_geom::shapes::ellipse(Rect::new(x, y, x + 10.0, y + 10.0));
+            Arc::new(Node::path(d.alloc_id(), p, vectorcraft_doc::Appearance::default()))
+        })
+        .collect();
+    let id = d.alloc_id();
+    let mut compound = Node::new(id, NodeKind::Compound { children: members, rule: vectorcraft_geom::FillRule::EvenOdd });
+    compound.appearance = vectorcraft_doc::Appearance::basic(Paint::solid(Color::BLACK), Paint::None, 0.0).into();
+    d.insert(Some(layer), 0, compound).unwrap();
+    let opts = RenderOptions::default();
+    let kept = |r: &Renderer, d: &Document| {
+        let n = d.layers[0].children().unwrap()[0].clone();
+        r.geom.get(&(Arc::as_ptr(&n) as usize)).and_then(|e| e.path.clone())
+    };
+    let mut r = Renderer::new();
+    let first = r.render(&d, 100, 100, Affine::IDENTITY, &opts).pixels;
+    let path = kept(&r, &d).expect("the compound path's path is kept");
+    assert!(r.render(&d, 100, 100, Affine::IDENTITY, &opts).pixels == first);
+    assert!(kept(&r, &d).is_some_and(|p| Arc::ptr_eq(&p, &path)), "the second frame draws the kept path");
+    assert!(first == Renderer::new().render(&d, 100, 100, Affine::IDENTITY, &opts).pixels);
+    // Moved: a new compound path (and layer) in each frame.
+    let old = d.layers[0].children().unwrap()[0].clone();
+    let mut moved = d.clone();
+    for _ in 0..5 {
+        moved.node_mut(id).unwrap().transform(Affine::translate((1.0, 0.0)), false);
+        r.render(&moved, 100, 100, Affine::IDENTITY, &opts);
+    }
+    drop(d);
+    assert!(r.geom.len() < 1024);
+    assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&old), 1, "the renderer no longer keeps the compound path drawn before the move");
+}
diff --git a/docs/gaps.md b/docs/gaps.md
index dc081640d..783dc9711 100644
--- a/docs/gaps.md
+++ b/docs/gaps.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Gaps
 
-> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-03 · **Change:** minor (G15: clicks on paths and compound paths are culled by their control points; estimate unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
+> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-03 · **Change:** minor (G15: a compound path's assembled path is kept between frames; estimate unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
 
 ## Feature submission evidence
 
@@ -619,6 +619,11 @@ from G14 and the budget run of G15: **~170–270 h** one agent, ~50–80 h wall
 
 ## G15 Performance budgets and a GPU renderer
 
+- **Improved (2026-11-02):** the renderer keeps a compound path's assembled path with the node, as it keeps a plain
+  path's, instead of assembling its members again in every frame; the path is assembled into a buffer sized up front.
+  Unused geometry entries are dropped after a few frames however few there are (before, only past 1,024 entries), so
+  the copies a drag makes in every frame no longer stay alive with all their members
+  (`crates/render/src/tests/memory.rs`, `crates/doc/src/node/tests.rs`). Not timed; `vectorcraft-cli perf` not rerun.
 - **Improved (2026-11-02):** a click or hover culls paths and compound paths by the box of their control points
   (grown by their strokes' reach) instead of measuring along their curves, and tests a compound path's outline and
   fill against only the members whose control box, grown by the tolerance, holds the point; painted strokes are
@@ -724,6 +729,7 @@ trap, and the defaults (0.25 pt, 100%, 40%) are VectorCraft's own, the pages giv
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-11-02 | minor | G15: the renderer keeps a compound path's assembled path between frames and drops unused geometry entries after a few frames however few there are. Estimate unchanged. |
 | 2026-11-02 | minor | G15: hit testing culls paths and compound paths by their control points' box and tests a compound path's outline and fill against only its members near the click; the same objects are hit. Estimate unchanged. |
 | 2026-11-03 | minor | Symbol editing shows draggable 9-slice guides within the artwork (#5280). Guides outside the artwork remain unsupported. The G5 estimate remains 14–24 h. |
 | 2026-10-31 | minor | G12: Units › East Asian Type acts (#394): Q and Ha (a quarter of a millimetre each) are units that preference offers; 4 Preferences options remain stored but not acted on. Estimate unchanged. |