diff --git a/website/canvas.html b/website/canvas.html
index a29a08c..61e3c8d 100644
--- a/website/canvas.html
+++ b/website/canvas.html
@@ -4470,10 +4470,9 @@
 
 			canvas.addEventListener("pointerdown", (e) => {
 				if (isTouchPanning) return; // two-finger gesture owns the canvas
-				if (e.target !== canvas && e.target !== canvasContent) return;
-				if (connectMode) return;
 
-				// Click-to-place: if a pending tool is set, place it at the click position
+				// Click-to-place: pendingTool takes priority over all other interactions
+				// (must run before the target gate so clicks on existing shapes still place)
 				if (pendingTool) {
 					e.preventDefault();
 					e.stopPropagation();
@@ -4490,6 +4489,9 @@
 					return;
 				}
 
+				if (e.target !== canvas && e.target !== canvasContent) return;
+				if (connectMode) return;
+
 				// Whiteboard tool active → don't select or pan
 				if (wbTool) return;