diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/live/mesh.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/live/mesh.rs
index bdba2b037..e00c074bc 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/live/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/live/mesh.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,14 @@ pub(super) fn mesh_create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             };
             let Some(mut m) = m else { continue };
             if let Some(q) = at {
-                index = m.add_lines_at(q, tol);
+                // A point the new mesh can't place its lines at leaves the object as it is.
+                match m.add_lines_at(q, tol) {
+                    Some(i) => index = Some(i),
+                    None => {
+                        refused.get_or_insert("point is outside the object");
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
             }
             let mut mn = Node::new(n.id, NodeKind::Mesh(m));
             mn.name = n.name.clone();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/live.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/live.rs
index b46e5b0d0..f500e2c39 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/live.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/live.rs
@@ -1040,6 +1040,42 @@ fn mesh_create_at_point_single_undo() {
     assert!(b.x0 > -3.0 && b.x1 < 103.0, "{b:?}");
 }
 
+/// Create Gradient Mesh with an `at` the new mesh can't place its lines at (outside the object,
+/// or past `tolerance`) is an error that leaves the path a path; within `tolerance` it adds them.
+#[test]
+fn mesh_create_at_a_point_outside_keeps_the_path() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let a = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0);
+    sel(&mut s, &[a]);
+    let n = undo_len(&s);
+    for p in [json!({"at": [300, 300]}), json!({"at": [50, 103]}), json!({"at": [50, 110], "tolerance": 3})] {
+        let r = s.execute("object.mesh.create", &p);
+        assert!(matches!(&r, Err(EngineError::BadParams { msg, .. }) if msg == "point is outside the object"), "{p}: {r:?}");
+        assert!(matches!(node(&s, a).kind, NodeKind::Path { .. }), "{p}: still a path");
+    }
+    assert_eq!(undo_len(&s), n, "nothing changed");
+    let r = s.execute("object.mesh.create", &json!({"at": [50, 102], "tolerance": 3})).unwrap();
+    let m = mesh_of(&s, a);
+    assert_eq!((m.rows, m.cols), (1, 2), "a column through the bottom edge");
+    assert!(m.points[r["index"].as_u64().unwrap() as usize].p.distance(Point::new(50.0, 100.0)) < 0.5);
+}
+
+/// With several objects selected, Create Gradient Mesh at a point turns the objects that hold the
+/// point into meshes in one undo step and leaves the others paths, without an error.
+#[test]
+fn mesh_create_at_a_point_inside_one_of_two_objects_converts_only_that_one() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let a = rect(&mut s, 0.0, 0.0, 100.0, 100.0);
+    let b = rect(&mut s, 200.0, 0.0, 300.0, 100.0);
+    sel(&mut s, &[a, b]);
+    let n = undo_len(&s);
+    let r = s.execute("object.mesh.create", &json!({"at": [50, 50]})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(r["ids"], json!([a.0]), "{r}");
+    assert!(matches!(node(&s, a).kind, NodeKind::Mesh(_)), "a holds the point");
+    assert!(matches!(node(&s, b).kind, NodeKind::Path { .. }), "b stays a path");
+    assert_eq!(undo_len(&s), n + 1, "one undo step");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn mesh_expand_to_flat_pieces() {
     let mut s = session();