diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
index c83707ee5..465e02b45 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
@@ -1174,7 +1174,7 @@ fn set_glyph_alternate(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     // The glyph the character is drawn with when it holds no choice, drawn alone in its face: a
     // feature of its style (`salt`, a stylistic set) can draw another glyph than the default one.
     // The default glyph is then kept as a choice, so that it is drawn. A character that is not laid
-    // out (overflowing text) is shaped alone in its style. A character that starts a longer
+    // out (overflowing text) is shaped alone in its style and writing direction. A character that starts a longer
     // grapheme (a letter and its combining marks) is drawn in the grapheme's cluster, and is shaped
     // with the grapheme. Of a cluster of several glyphs (a mark, a vowel sign drawn before the
     // letter), the character's glyph is its default glyph or one of its alternates.
@@ -1205,7 +1205,8 @@ fn set_glyph_alternate(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             let db = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global();
             alone_in_face(&vectorcraft_text::layout(db, &probe)).unwrap_or_else(|| {
                 let st = CharStyle { glyph_alternate: None, ..run.style.clone() };
-                let single = TextObject::point(Point::ZERO, &grapheme, st);
+                let mut single = TextObject::point(Point::ZERO, &grapheme, st);
+                single.vertical = t.vertical;
                 own_glyph(&vectorcraft_text::layout(db, &single), 0)
             })
         }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
index 8e0b072cc..923cd1d12 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/textedit.rs
@@ -2536,6 +2536,31 @@ fn the_glyph_drawn_for_a_character_with_a_combining_mark_is_reported() {
     assert_eq!(r["gid"], json!(g('b')), "the overflowing a is shaped with its mark");
 }
 
+/// Vertical type draws `vert` glyphs (the test font's `vert` draws ！ as I). A character of
+/// vertical type that overflows its area is shaped as vertical type, so choosing its default glyph
+/// keeps the choice.
+#[test]
+fn the_default_glyph_chosen_in_overflowing_vertical_type_is_kept() {
+    use vectorcraft_text::test_fonts::{VERTICAL_PUNCTUATION_FAMILY, vertical_punctuation_font};
+    let _fonts = crate::adding_fonts();
+    let db = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global();
+    db.add_font(vertical_punctuation_font(true).expect("the test font builds"));
+    let face = db.face(VERTICAL_PUNCTUATION_FAMILY, "Regular").expect("the test face");
+    let g = |c| face.glyph_for(c);
+    let mut s = session();
+    let text = |area: Value| json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "text": "！！", "size": 20, "font": VERTICAL_PUNCTUATION_FAMILY, "vertical": true, "area": area});
+    let open = NodeId(s.execute("text.create", &text(json!({"width": 200, "height": 200}))).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    let gids: Vec<_> = vectorcraft_text::layout(db, &obj(&s, open)).glyphs.iter().map(|g| g.gid).collect();
+    assert_eq!(gids, [g('I'), g('I')], "vert draws each ！ as I");
+
+    let boxed = NodeId(s.execute("text.create", &text(json!({"width": 4, "height": 4}))).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    assert!(vectorcraft_text::layout(db, &obj(&s, boxed)).glyphs.is_empty(), "the text overflows");
+    let r = s.execute("text.setGlyphAlternate", &json!({"id": boxed.0, "start": 0, "gid": g('！')})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r["gid"], json!(g('！')));
+    let held: Vec<_> = obj(&s, boxed).runs.iter().filter_map(|r| r.style.glyph_alternate.as_ref().map(|c| c.gid)).collect();
+    assert_eq!(held, [g('！')], "the default glyph is kept as the choice");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn glyph_alternates_query_reports_the_fallback_glyph_that_is_drawn() {
     use vectorcraft_text::test_fonts::{alternates_family, alternates_font};