diff --git a/crates/text/src/thread.rs b/crates/text/src/thread.rs
index 0abd172bff..7850fcc717 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/thread.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/thread.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,25 @@ fn fit_bytes() -> usize {
     FIT_BYTES.get()
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+thread_local! {
+    /// The bytes of frames' own text copied on this thread to measure them ([`probe_copied`]).
+    static PROBE_COPIED: std::cell::Cell<usize> = const { std::cell::Cell::new(0) };
+}
+
+/// The bytes of frames' own text copied on this thread to measure them.
+#[cfg(test)]
+fn probe_copied() -> usize {
+    PROBE_COPIED.get()
+}
+
+/// A copy of `frame` to measure text in, its own text counted as copied ([`probe_copied`]).
+fn copy_to_measure(frame: &TextObject) -> TextObject {
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    PROBE_COPIED.set(PROBE_COPIED.get() + runs_len(&frame.runs));
+    frame.clone()
+}
+
 /// The fewest bytes of story a frame is measured with before the measured text grows.
 const MIN_MEASURE: usize = 512;
 
@@ -372,8 +391,12 @@ pub fn distribute_continuing_levels(
         let n = if i + 1 == frames.len() {
             len
         } else {
+            // The frame without its own text, copied once and then for each measurement.
+            let mut base = copy_to_measure(f);
+            base.runs = Vec::new();
+            base.paras = Vec::new();
             let probe = |runs: Vec<TextRun>| {
-                let mut probe = (*f).clone();
+                let mut probe = copy_to_measure(&base);
                 let styles = slice_paras(paras, first_para, &runs);
                 probe.runs = runs;
                 probe.set_paragraph_styles(styles);
diff --git a/crates/text/src/thread/tests.rs b/crates/text/src/thread/tests.rs
index 5ae49442fb..eac74d635f 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/thread/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/thread/tests.rs
@@ -682,6 +682,29 @@ fn many_frames_measure_about_the_text_they_take() {
     assert!(measured <= bound, "measured {measured} bytes for {placed} placed in {} frames (at most {bound})", frames.len());
 }
 
+/// Frames that already hold text and take a story over several measurements each: each frame's own
+/// text is copied once to measure it, not once for each measurement.
+#[test]
+fn frames_with_text_copy_it_once_to_measure_it() {
+    let db = FontDb::global();
+    let text = paragraphs(600);
+    let story = vec![TextRun::new(text.clone(), CharStyle::default())];
+    let mut frames: Vec<TextObject> = (0..4).map(|k| sized(400.0 * k as f64, 300.0, 600.0)).collect();
+    for f in &mut frames {
+        f.runs = vec![TextRun::new("Old text. ".repeat(500), CharStyle::default())];
+    }
+    let refs: Vec<&TextObject> = frames.iter().collect();
+    let (fit_before, copied_before) = (fit_bytes(), probe_copied());
+    let parts = distribute(db, &refs, &story, &[]);
+    let (measured, copied) = (fit_bytes() - fit_before, probe_copied() - copied_before);
+    let joined: String = parts.iter().flat_map(|p| &p.runs).map(|r| r.text.as_str()).collect();
+    assert_eq!(joined, text, "no character lost or duplicated");
+    let first = runs_len(&parts[0].runs);
+    assert!(measured > 2 * first, "the first frame is measured more than once: {measured} bytes for {first}");
+    let own: usize = frames[..frames.len() - 1].iter().map(|f| runs_len(&f.runs)).sum();
+    assert_eq!(copied, own, "each frame before the last copies its own text once to measure it");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn short_story_leaves_later_frames_empty_with_a_style() {
     let db = FontDb::global();