diff --git a/crates/text/src/layout/breaking.rs b/crates/text/src/layout/breaking.rs
index 4b89f79ae6..cfe5fa0eb6 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/layout/breaking.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/layout/breaking.rs
@@ -214,18 +214,30 @@ pub(super) fn tab_advance<'t, 'g>(
 ) -> (f64, &'t str) {
     use vectorcraft_doc::TabAlign;
     let rel = x - origin;
-    let seg: Vec<&SGlyph> = rest.into_iter().take_while(|g| g.ch != '\t' && g.ch != '\u{2028}').collect();
-    let width: f64 = seg.iter().map(|g| g.adv).sum();
-    let target = |pos: f64, align: TabAlign, on: char| match align {
-        TabAlign::Left => pos,
-        TabAlign::Right => pos - width,
-        TabAlign::Center => pos - width / 2.0,
-        TabAlign::Decimal => pos - seg.iter().take_while(|g| g.ch != on).map(|g| g.adv).sum::<f64>(),
-    };
-    let explicit = tabs.iter().find_map(|t| {
-        let at = target(t.position, t.align, t.align_on);
-        (at > rel + 1e-6).then_some((at, t.leader.as_str()))
-    });
+    // The text after the tab is read only when a right, center or decimal stop is reached, since
+    // only those align it. A tab to a default or left stop reads none of it.
+    let mut rest = Some(rest);
+    let mut seg: Vec<&SGlyph> = Vec::new();
+    let mut width = 0.0;
+    let mut explicit = None;
+    for t in tabs {
+        if t.align != TabAlign::Left
+            && let Some(r) = rest.take()
+        {
+            seg = r.into_iter().take_while(|g| g.ch != '\t' && g.ch != '\u{2028}').collect();
+            width = seg.iter().map(|g| g.adv).sum();
+        }
+        let at = match t.align {
+            TabAlign::Left => t.position,
+            TabAlign::Right => t.position - width,
+            TabAlign::Center => t.position - width / 2.0,
+            TabAlign::Decimal => t.position - seg.iter().take_while(|g| g.ch != t.align_on).map(|g| g.adv).sum::<f64>(),
+        };
+        if at > rel + 1e-6 {
+            explicit = Some((at, t.leader.as_str()));
+            break;
+        }
+    }
     let (at, leader) = explicit.unwrap_or_else(|| {
         let last = tabs.iter().map(|t| t.position).fold(0.0, f64::max).max(0.0);
         let base = rel.max(last);
diff --git a/crates/text/src/layout/wrapping_tests.rs b/crates/text/src/layout/wrapping_tests.rs
index be089b4434..89d40386b5 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/layout/wrapping_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/layout/wrapping_tests.rs
@@ -745,6 +745,24 @@ fn a_tabbed_line_stepping_back_ends_at_a_final_soft_hyphen_without_a_hyphen() {
     assert_eq!(ended, (len, false));
 }
 
+/// A tab to a default or left stop does not read the text after it, which only right, center and
+/// decimal stops align: the first tab of a long paragraph does not read the paragraph to its end.
+#[test]
+fn a_tab_to_a_default_or_left_stop_reads_no_text_after_it() {
+    use vectorcraft_doc::{TabAlign, TabStop};
+    let (_, glyphs) = stepping_back_tabbed_line(2000);
+    let read = std::cell::Cell::new(0usize);
+    let rest = || glyphs[2..].iter().inspect(|_| read.set(read.get() + 1));
+    let left = [TabStop { position: 100.0, align: TabAlign::Left, leader: String::new(), align_on: '.' }];
+    assert_eq!(tab_advance(&[], 0.0, 1.0, rest()).0, 35.0);
+    assert_eq!(tab_advance(&left, 0.0, 1.0, rest()).0, 99.0);
+    assert_eq!(read.get(), 0, "read {} glyphs after the tab", read.get());
+    // A right stop reads up to the next tab and aligns that text on the stop.
+    let right = [TabStop { position: 100.0, align: TabAlign::Right, leader: String::new(), align_on: '.' }];
+    let short = synthetic_glyphs(&[(0, 1, 2.0, 'b'), (1, 1, 3.0, 'b'), (2, 1, 0.0, '\t'), (3, 1, 7.0, 'b')]);
+    assert_eq!(tab_advance(&right, 0.0, 1.0, short.iter()).0, 94.0);
+}
+
 /// A long tabbed line with a glyph that steps back ends at the latest break that fits as drawn, even
 /// where a later break than one that does not fit fits again.
 #[test]