diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
index a00f90952..3427e23f1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
@@ -813,11 +813,13 @@ fn paste_clip(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, mode: PasteMode, clip: &Clipboard, cho
         && (st.doc.paste_remembers_layers || boards.is_some())
         && parent.is_some_and(|p| st.doc.node(p).is_some_and(Node::is_layer));
     // Front/back: relative to the selection (top-most / bottom-most selected object); with
-    // nothing selected, the top / bottom of the current layer.
+    // nothing selected, the top / bottom of the current layer. Art other than paths goes beside
+    // the compound path that holds the selected object, not into it.
     let anchor = if front || back {
         let order = st.selection.in_paint_order(&st.doc);
         let a = if front { order.last() } else { order.first() };
-        a.and_then(|id| st.doc.position(*id))
+        let paths_only = clip.nodes.iter().all(|n| matches!(n.kind, vectorcraft_doc::NodeKind::Path { .. }));
+        a.map(|id| paste_anchor(&st.doc, *id, paths_only)).and_then(|id| st.doc.position(id))
     } else {
         None
     };
@@ -900,6 +902,15 @@ fn paste_clip(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, mode: PasteMode, clip: &Clipboard, cho
     }))
 }
 
+/// What pasted art goes beside: `id`, or the compound path holding it when the art isn't only
+/// paths (a compound path holds paths only).
+fn paste_anchor(doc: &Document, id: NodeId, paths_only: bool) -> NodeId {
+    match doc.parent_of(id) {
+        Some(p) if !paths_only && doc.node(p).is_some_and(|n| matches!(n.kind, vectorcraft_doc::NodeKind::Compound { .. })) => p,
+        _ => id,
+    }
+}
+
 /// The first unlocked layer or sublayer called `name` (topmost first), or a new top layer.
 fn layer_named(d: &mut Document, name: &str) -> NodeId {
     let mut found = None;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/clipboard.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/clipboard.rs
index 410a828b9..3336d384e 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/clipboard.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/clipboard.rs
@@ -563,6 +563,42 @@ fn front_and_back_without_a_selection_use_the_current_layers_ends() {
     assert_eq!(&l[i - 2..i], &below[..]);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn front_and_back_beside_a_compound_paths_member_go_beside_the_compound_path() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let a = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 10.0, 10.0);
+    let b = rect(&mut s, 20.0, 0.0, 10.0, 10.0);
+    sel(&mut s, &[a, b]);
+    let c = NodeId(s.execute("object.compoundPath.make", &json!({})).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    let members = |s: &Session| doc(s).node(c).unwrap().children().unwrap().iter().map(|n| n.id).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let before = members(&s);
+    let layer = |s: &Session| doc(s).layers[0].children().unwrap().iter().map(|n| n.id).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    // A compound path and a group, each pasted with one of the compound path's members selected.
+    let other = rect(&mut s, 40.0, 0.0, 10.0, 10.0);
+    sel(&mut s, &[other]);
+    let group = NodeId(s.execute("object.group", &json!({})).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    for copied in [c, group] {
+        copy(&mut s, &[copied]);
+        sel(&mut s, &[before[0]]);
+        let above = ids_of(&s.execute("edit.pasteInFront", &json!({})).unwrap());
+        let l = layer(&s);
+        let i = l.iter().position(|id| *id == c).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(&l[i + 1..i + 2], &above[..], "right above the compound path");
+        sel(&mut s, &[before[1]]);
+        let below = ids_of(&s.execute("edit.pasteInBack", &json!({})).unwrap());
+        let l = layer(&s);
+        let i = l.iter().position(|id| *id == c).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(&l[i - 1..i], &below[..], "right below the compound path");
+        assert_eq!(members(&s), before, "the compound path keeps its own members");
+    }
+    // A path still goes in front of the member, inside the compound path.
+    let loose = rect(&mut s, 60.0, 0.0, 10.0, 10.0);
+    copy(&mut s, &[loose]);
+    sel(&mut s, &[before[0]]);
+    let path = ids_of(&s.execute("edit.pasteInFront", &json!({})).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(members(&s), [before[0], path[0], before[1]]);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn paste_on_all_artboards_keeps_the_offset_to_the_source_artboard() {
     let mut s = Session::new();