diff --git a/crates/doc/src/edit.rs b/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
index 7b2168e30..f24e72992 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/edit.rs
@@ -587,6 +587,30 @@ pub fn item_hit(it: &Item, p: Point, tol: f64) -> bool {
     designcraft_geom::hit::stroke_contains(&bp, it.stroke.weight.max(1.0), tol + reach, inner)
 }
 
+/// The frontmost descendant of `it` under `p` that `want` accepts, looking inside nested groups;
+/// `it` itself when nothing inside it matches and `want` accepts it. `p` is in the space `it`
+/// sits in, as [`item_hit`] takes it.
+///
+/// Children are tried front to back and a hidden one is skipped, so of several that `want`
+/// accepts the answer is the one in front. Objects `want` rejects do not hide the ones behind
+/// them: a text frame under a rectangle in the same group is still found.
+pub fn hit_descendant(it: &Item, p: Point, tol: f64, want: &dyn Fn(&Item) -> bool) -> Option<ItemId> {
+    if !item_hit(it, p, tol) {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let inner = it.xf.inverse() * p;
+    let children: Vec<&Arc<Item>> = it.shown_children().collect();
+    for c in children.into_iter().rev() {
+        if c.hidden {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if let Some(id) = hit_descendant(c, inner, tol, want) {
+            return Some(id);
+        }
+    }
+    want(it).then_some(it.id)
+}
+
 /// How far from its path type on a path is hit (points): about a cap height of 12–18 pt type,
 /// either side (the type may sit on or under the path).
 const PATH_TYPE_REACH: f64 = 12.0;
diff --git a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
index c0fdc8fe2..3bcbe1a83 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/lib.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub use datamerge::{
 };
 pub use designcraft_color as color;
 pub use designcraft_geom as geom;
-pub use edit::{ItemLoc, ItemPath, SpreadRef, item_hit as edit_hit};
+pub use edit::{ItemLoc, ItemPath, SpreadRef, hit_descendant, item_hit as edit_hit};
 pub use endnotes::{ENDNOTE_REF, EditorialNote, EndnoteOptions, NOTE_MARK};
 pub use flex::{FlexAlign, FlexDirection, FlexJustify, FlexLayout, FlexSize};
 pub use ids::*;
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
index 3f042d4a0..6ce0be596 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
@@ -232,6 +232,19 @@ impl ToolContext<'_> {
         self.doc.hit_item(si, sp, self.tol(4.0)).map(|id| (sr, id))
     }
 
+    /// The frontmost text frame under `p`, looking inside groups. [`Self::hit`] stops at the
+    /// group, so a loaded text cursor over a text frame in a group found nothing to thread into
+    /// (gaps 27); InDesign threads into it.
+    pub fn hit_text_frame(&self, p: Point) -> Option<(SpreadRef, ItemId)> {
+        let (sr, id) = self.hit(p)?;
+        let it = self.doc.item(id)?;
+        if it.is_text_frame() {
+            return Some((sr, id));
+        }
+        let (_, sp) = self.layout.spread_at(p)?;
+        designcraft_doc::hit_descendant(it, sp, self.tol(4.0), &|c| c.is_text_frame()).map(|f| (sr, f))
+    }
+
     /// The parent item showing (not yet overridden) on the document page under `p`:
     /// (absolute page, parent item).
     pub fn hit_parent_on_page(&self, p: Point) -> Option<(usize, ItemId)> {
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/tests.rs b/crates/tools/src/tests.rs
index aacfb8d3f..9e76e8a8b 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/tests.rs
@@ -1252,7 +1252,8 @@ fn eyedropper_ignores_inactive_states_of_a_multi_state_object() {
     // Children [vector, raster] with the raster on top: it samples only while it is the active state.
     for (active, samples) in [(1, true), (0, false)] {
         let mut group = Item::new(ItemId(d.alloc()), lid, Shape::Rectangle, shapes::rectangle(area));
-        group.content = Content::Group { items: vec![std::sync::Arc::new(vector.clone()), std::sync::Arc::new(raster.clone())] };
+        group.content =
+            designcraft_doc::item::Content::Group { items: vec![std::sync::Arc::new(vector.clone()), std::sync::Arc::new(raster.clone())] };
         group.states = vec!["a".into(), "b".into()];
         group.active_state = active;
         let mut d2 = d.clone();
@@ -1314,3 +1315,52 @@ fn anchor_tools_show_pen_state_cursors() {
     assert_eq!(cursor("deleteAnchor"), Cursor::PenDelete);
     assert_eq!(cursor("convertDirection"), Cursor::PenConvert);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn loaded_text_cursor_threads_into_a_frame_inside_a_group() {
+    // `hit` stops at the group, so the loaded cursor showed NotAllowed over a text frame inside
+    // one and a click did nothing. InDesign threads into it (gaps 27).
+    let mut td = thread_doc();
+    let lid = td.d.default_layer();
+    let rect = Rect::new(600.0, 100.0, 700.0, 200.0);
+    // The frame, then the same frame moved inside a group. Both transforms are the identity, so
+    // the child's coordinates stay the spread's.
+    let (inner, _) = td.d.add_text_frame(SpreadRef::Doc(0), rect, lid, "", ParaFormat::default()).unwrap();
+    let frame_item = td.d.item(inner).cloned().unwrap();
+    td.d.remove_item(inner).unwrap();
+    let gid = ItemId(td.d.alloc());
+    let mut group = Item::new(gid, lid, Shape::Group, shapes::rectangle(rect));
+    group.content = designcraft_doc::item::Content::Group { items: vec![std::sync::Arc::new(frame_item)] };
+    td.d.insert_item(SpreadRef::Doc(0), group, None).unwrap();
+    td.l = CanvasLayout::new(&td.d, false);
+
+    let mut t = create("selection");
+    let cx = td.cx();
+    click(&mut t, &cx, td.port(td.a, true), Mods::default());
+    let p = td.at(650.0, 150.0);
+
+    // Selection still reaches the group, which is what a plain click there should pick.
+    assert_eq!(cx.hit(p).map(|(_, i)| i), Some(gid));
+    // The loaded text cursor reaches the frame inside it.
+    assert_eq!(cx.hit_text_frame(p).map(|(_, i)| i), Some(inner), "the frame in the group");
+    assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, p, Mods::default()), Cursor::ThreadLink);
+    // And the click threads to that frame, not to the group.
+    assert_eq!(click(&mut t, &cx, p, Mods::default()), thread_exec(serde_json::json!({"from": td.a.0, "to": inner.0})));
+
+    // A group with nothing threadable in it still says no.
+    let mut td2 = thread_doc();
+    let r2 = Rect::new(600.0, 300.0, 700.0, 400.0);
+    let plain = ItemId(td2.d.alloc());
+    let child = Item::new(plain, lid, Shape::Rectangle, shapes::rectangle(r2));
+    let g2 = ItemId(td2.d.alloc());
+    let mut group2 = Item::new(g2, lid, Shape::Group, shapes::rectangle(r2));
+    group2.content = designcraft_doc::item::Content::Group { items: vec![std::sync::Arc::new(child)] };
+    td2.d.insert_item(SpreadRef::Doc(0), group2, None).unwrap();
+    td2.l = CanvasLayout::new(&td2.d, false);
+    let cx2 = td2.cx();
+    let mut t2 = create("selection");
+    click(&mut t2, &cx2, td2.port(td2.a, true), Mods::default());
+    let q = td2.at(650.0, 350.0);
+    assert_eq!(cx2.hit_text_frame(q).map(|(_, i)| i), None, "no text frame in that group");
+    assert_eq!(t2.cursor(&cx2, q, Mods::default()), Cursor::NotAllowed);
+}
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/thread.rs b/crates/tools/src/thread.rs
index 0a1d69f9e..977524659 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/thread.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/thread.rs
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@ impl Loaded {
     }
 
     pub fn target(self, cx: &ToolContext, p: Point) -> Target {
-        let Some((_, id)) = cx.hit(p) else { return Target::Empty };
+        // A text frame inside a group is the frame the click means, not the group (gaps 27).
+        let Some((_, id)) = cx.hit_text_frame(p).or_else(|| cx.hit(p)) else { return Target::Empty };
         if Some(id) == self.neighbour(cx.doc) {
             return Target::Unthread;
         }