diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
index da5c6d410..98c3be6bc 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
@@ -316,6 +316,14 @@ fn caret_kerning(app: &VectorcraftApp, ui: &Ui) -> Option<(f64, bool)> {
     Some((value, true))
 }
 
+/// The check marks of the Kerning menu's Auto and Optical entries for the selection's kerning
+/// `mode` (Optical on, manual value). A selection that mixes modes checks neither, and the menu
+/// still lists both.
+fn kerning_methods(mode: Option<(bool, Option<f64>)>) -> (Option<bool>, Option<bool>) {
+    let (automatic, optical) = mode.map_or((false, false), |(optical, manual)| (!optical && manual.is_none(), optical));
+    (Some(automatic), Some(optical))
+}
+
 /// The faces Type › Bold and Type › Italic switch to.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum Face {
@@ -756,8 +764,7 @@ pub(crate) fn metrics_grid(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui, id: &str, s: &
             let caret = text_editing(app).is_some_and(|(_, a, b)| a == b);
             let at_caret = if caret { caret_kerning(app, ui) } else { None };
             let kerning = at_caret.map(|(v, _)| v).or_else(|| mode.map(|(_, manual)| manual.unwrap_or(0.0)));
-            let automatic = mode.map(|(optical, manual)| !optical && manual.is_none());
-            let optical = mode.map(|(optical, _)| optical);
+            let (automatic, optical) = kerning_methods(mode);
             match widgets::spin_kerning(
                 ui,
                 "ch-kern",
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character/tests.rs
index 7716c3bb4..7cdfddad3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character/tests.rs
@@ -258,6 +258,26 @@ fn character_kerning_setter_and_automatic_pair_value() {
     assert_eq!(shared(&app, |s| (s.optical_kerning, s.kerning)), None, "a mixed range shows a blank Kerning field");
 }
 
+/// The Kerning menu lists Auto and Optical for a selection that mixes kerning modes, with
+/// neither checked, so one mode can be set on all of it.
+#[test]
+fn kerning_menu_lists_auto_and_optical_for_mixed_modes() {
+    let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Default::default());
+    app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 300, "height": 200})).unwrap();
+    let a = app.run("text.create", json!({"x": 20, "y": 50, "text": "AV", "size": 12})).unwrap()["id"].clone();
+    let b = app.run("text.create", json!({"x": 20, "y": 90, "text": "AV", "size": 12})).unwrap()["id"].clone();
+    app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [b.clone()]})).unwrap();
+    app.run("text.setFormat", json!({"kerning": "optical"})).unwrap();
+    app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [a.clone()]})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(kerning_methods(shared(&app, |s| (s.optical_kerning, s.kerning))), (Some(true), Some(false)), "Auto");
+    app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [b.clone()]})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(kerning_methods(shared(&app, |s| (s.optical_kerning, s.kerning))), (Some(false), Some(true)), "Optical");
+    app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [a, b]})).unwrap();
+    let mode = shared(&app, |s| (s.optical_kerning, s.kerning));
+    assert_eq!(mode, None, "the selection mixes Auto and Optical");
+    assert_eq!(kerning_methods(mode), (Some(false), Some(false)), "both entries are listed, neither checked");
+}
+
 /// Highlight Kerning and Highlight Tracking show the Character panel and give its field the
 /// keyboard focus with the value selected: what is typed replaces it, and Enter applies it.
 /// Highlight Font Name opens the font family menu with its search field focused. Without