diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_appearance.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_appearance.rs
index 4abb4be5d..1fee26cc6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_appearance.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_appearance.rs
@@ -1013,6 +1013,25 @@ fn after_a_row_click_delete_reaches_the_layers_panel_not_edit_clear() {
     assert!(d.node(rect).is_some(), "the rectangle on Layer 1 stays");
 }
 
+/// A tool that claims Delete and Backspace (the Artboard tool's active artboard) leaves them to a
+/// clicked Layers row.
+#[test]
+fn after_a_row_click_delete_reaches_the_layers_panel_not_the_artboard_tool() {
+    for key in [egui::Key::Delete, egui::Key::Backspace] {
+        let ctx = drop_ctx();
+        let mut app = app_with_rect();
+        run(&mut app, "layer.new", json!({}));
+        run(&mut app, "artboard.new", json!({"width": 200, "height": 100}));
+        app.select_tool("artboard");
+        let texts = frame_events(&ctx, &mut app, vec![], boxed_layers);
+        let row = text_rect(&texts, "Layer 2").center();
+        app_click(&ctx, &mut app, row, boxed_layers);
+        app_key(&ctx, &mut app, key, boxed_layers);
+        let d = &app.session.active().unwrap().doc;
+        assert_eq!((d.layers.len(), d.artboards.len()), (1, 2), "{key:?}: Layer 2 is deleted, both artboards stay");
+    }
+}
+
 /// "Opacity:" is a link to the Transparency panel ("Click to edit"), whatever modifiers are held: on
 /// a stroke's Opacity row it makes that stroke the active row first; on the object's own Opacity row
 /// no fill/stroke is active.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
index 4bbb75fbe..0d4023963 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
@@ -325,14 +325,14 @@ pub fn handle(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
         busy_tool_keys(app, ctx, view);
         return;
     }
-    if claimed_tool_keys(app, ctx, view) {
+    // A plain Delete or Backspace after a click on a Layers or Appearance row is that panel's (it
+    // removes the highlighted rows), not a tool's (the Artboard tool's) or Edit › Clear's.
+    let rows_keys = crate::panels::rows_take_delete(ctx);
+    if claimed_tool_keys(app, ctx, view, rows_keys) {
         return;
     }
     // Command, panel and tool shortcuts. A bound shifted punctuation chord uses its key press;
-    // other text keys use the typed character below. A plain Delete or Backspace after a click on
-    // a Layers or Appearance row is that panel's (it removes the highlighted rows), not
-    // Edit › Clear's.
-    let rows_keys = crate::panels::rows_take_delete(ctx);
+    // other text keys use the typed character below.
     let row_key = |chord: &craft_keymap::Chord| {
         rows_keys && chord.is_plain() && !chord.mods.shift && matches!(chord.key, craft_keymap::Key::Delete | craft_keymap::Key::Backspace)
     };
@@ -657,9 +657,11 @@ fn busy_tool_keys(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, view: ViewInfo)
     }
 }
 
-/// Give keys claimed by the active tool precedence over their command shortcuts.
-fn claimed_tool_keys(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, view: ViewInfo) -> bool {
+/// Give keys claimed by the active tool precedence over their command shortcuts, except a plain
+/// Delete or Backspace while a panel's rows have them (`rows_keys`).
+fn claimed_tool_keys(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, view: ViewInfo, rows_keys: bool) -> bool {
     let m = ctx.input(|i| i.modifiers);
+    let rows_take = |k: Key| rows_keys && m.is_none() && matches!(k, Key::Delete | Key::Backspace);
     for (k, tk) in [
         (Key::Delete, ToolKey::Delete),
         (Key::Backspace, ToolKey::Backspace),
@@ -670,7 +672,7 @@ fn claimed_tool_keys(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, view: ViewIn
         // The Smart Pen Tool's Tab while it draws a path (the key otherwise hides the panels).
         (Key::Tab, ToolKey::Tab),
     ] {
-        if ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(k)) && app.session.tool_claims_key(tk, view) && ctx.input_mut(|i| i.consume_key(m, k)) {
+        if !rows_take(k) && ctx.input(|i| i.key_pressed(k)) && app.session.tool_claims_key(tk, view) && ctx.input_mut(|i| i.consume_key(m, k)) {
             let r = app.session.tool_key(tk, crate::canvas::mods(m, false), view);
             // Keyboard actions can change the Artboard tool's active board too. Keep the
             // navigator aligned with its valid survivor, as pointer dispatch does.