diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
index 246084cc1..474023cdc 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ pub(crate) fn bar_color(label: Color32, selected: bool) -> Color32 {
 const TRIM_OUTSIDE: f32 = 4.0;
 const TRIM_INSIDE: f32 = 5.0;
 
+/// A middle-drag in the timeline pans it (`hand_tool_pan`, #2854): a middle press here starts no
+/// drag, so it can't move a bar or a key. A widget that takes a drag on press was given it this frame,
+/// before anything here ran. Handing that drag to an id nothing uses and ending it means no
+/// widget sees it start or stop.
+fn ignore_middle_press(ui: &egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
+    if ui.rect_contains_pointer(rect) && ui.input(|i| i.pointer.button_pressed(egui::PointerButton::Middle) && !i.pointer.primary_down()) {
+        ui.ctx().set_dragged_id(egui::Id::unique("tl-middle-press"));
+        ui.ctx().stop_dragging();
+    }
+}
+
 /// A layer bar's body (drag to move) and its In/Out trim zones. Short bars keep their middle
 /// third as body; a bar too short for that is all trim zones (the Out one on top).
 fn trim_zones(bar: Rect) -> (Rect, Rect, Rect) {
@@ -1850,6 +1861,7 @@ fn begin_rows(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, tl: Tl) -> Rw {
 /// open rows and the drags in progress) lives in
 /// `app.ui.timeline` and egui's temp data.
 pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
+    ignore_middle_press(ui, rect);
     let Some(cid) = app.session.active_comp_id() else {
         empty_timeline(app, ui, rect);
         return;
@@ -4835,7 +4847,7 @@ fn comp_markers_ui(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, g: &Rw) {
     super::markers_ui::marker_bin(app, ui, &comp, tm, bin, mstrip);
 }
 
-/// Spacebar held: the Hand tool.
+/// Spacebar held: the Hand tool. A middle-drag begun in the rows, layer list included, pans too.
 fn hand_tool_pan(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, g: &Rw) {
     let rect = g.tl.rect;
     let graph_x0 = g.tl.graph_x0;
@@ -4847,6 +4859,7 @@ fn hand_tool_pan(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, g: &Rw) {
     let max_scroll = g.tl.max_scroll;
     let ctx = g.tl.ctx.clone();
     let comp = g.tl.comp.clone();
+    let mut pan = ui.input(|i| i.pointer.middle_down() && !i.pointer.primary_down() && i.pointer.press_origin().is_some_and(|p| rows_rect.contains(p)));
     if super::space_hand(&ctx) {
         let area = Rect::from_min_max(pos2(graph_x0, ruler.min.y), pos2(rect.max.x, rows_rect.max.y));
         let hand = ui.interact(area, egui::Id::unique("tl-hand"), Sense::drag());
@@ -4854,14 +4867,15 @@ fn hand_tool_pan(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, g: &Rw) {
         if hand.hovered() || hand.dragged() {
             ctx.set_cursor_icon(if hand.dragged() { egui::CursorIcon::Grabbing } else { egui::CursorIcon::Grab });
         }
-        if hand.dragged() {
-            let dy = ui.input(|i| i.pointer.delta().y);
-            app.ui.timeline.scroll_y = (app.ui.timeline.scroll_y - dy).clamp(0.0, max_scroll);
-            if app.ui.timeline.pps.is_some() {
-                let start = app.ui.timeline.start;
-                let last = (comp.duration.seconds() - (tm.t(graph_x1) - tm.start)).max(start).max(0.0);
-                app.ui.timeline.start = (start - hand.drag_delta().x as f64 / pps).clamp(0.0, last);
-            }
+        pan |= hand.dragged();
+    }
+    if pan {
+        let delta = ui.input(|i| i.pointer.delta());
+        app.ui.timeline.scroll_y = (app.ui.timeline.scroll_y - delta.y).clamp(0.0, max_scroll);
+        if app.ui.timeline.pps.is_some() {
+            let start = app.ui.timeline.start;
+            let last = (comp.duration.seconds() - (tm.t(graph_x1) - tm.start)).max(start).max(0.0);
+            app.ui.timeline.start = (start - delta.x as f64 / pps).clamp(0.0, last);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
index bb7b2d075..70c6d12d5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
@@ -216,11 +216,13 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     let resp = phase_menu(app, ui, &ectx, &mut v);
     phase_hover(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
     phase_press(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
-    phase_dragstart(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
-    phase_drag(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
-    phase_stopped(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
-    phase_clicked(app, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
-    phase_dblclick(app, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+    if !middle_pan(app, ui, &resp, &v) {
+        phase_dragstart(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+        phase_drag(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+        phase_stopped(app, ui, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+        phase_clicked(app, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+        phase_dblclick(app, &ectx, &resp, &mut v);
+    }
     phase_tail(app, ui, &ectx, &mut v);
 }
 
@@ -1064,6 +1066,24 @@ fn phase_press(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, ectx: &EvalCtx, resp
     v.text_owns = text_owns;
 }
 
+/// A middle-drag pans with any tool and doesn't enter the gesture phases, so nothing else can
+/// happen under it (#2854). A left-button gesture already running keeps going until it ends.
+fn middle_pan(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &egui::Ui, resp: &egui::Response, v: &Vw<'_>) -> bool {
+    let (middle, primary) = ui.input(|i| (i.pointer.middle_down(), i.pointer.primary_down() || i.pointer.primary_released()));
+    if !middle || !resp.is_pointer_button_down_on() || (primary && ui.data(|d| d.get_temp::<Gesture>(v.gid)).is_some()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    // No left button: a stored gesture is one whose release the viewer missed.
+    ui.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<Gesture>(v.gid));
+    // Movement from before the press (in its frame) is not part of the drag.
+    let d = ui.input(|i| if i.pointer.button_pressed(egui::PointerButton::Middle) { egui::Vec2::ZERO } else { i.pointer.delta() });
+    if d != egui::Vec2::ZERO && d.x.is_finite() && d.y.is_finite() {
+        app.ui.viewer.pan = [app.ui.viewer.pan[0] + d.x, app.ui.viewer.pan[1] + d.y];
+    }
+    v.ctx.set_cursor_icon(egui::CursorIcon::Grabbing);
+    true
+}
+
 fn phase_dragstart(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, ectx: &EvalCtx, resp: &egui::Response, v: &mut Vw<'_>) {
     let comp_rect = v.comp_rect;
     let zoom = v.zoom;
@@ -1100,7 +1120,7 @@ fn phase_dragstart(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, ectx: &EvalCtx,
     {
         let cpt = map.to_comp(pos);
         let press = ui.input(|i| i.pointer.press_origin()).unwrap_or(pos);
-        let tool = if space_pan || resp.dragged_by(egui::PointerButton::Middle) { Tool::Hand } else { app.ui.tool };
+        let tool = if space_pan { Tool::Hand } else { app.ui.tool };
         let g = match tool {
             Tool::Hand => Some(Gesture::Pan { start_pan: app.ui.viewer.pan }),
             // Region of Interest armed: the drag draws it.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_keyframes.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_keyframes.rs
index b137a06fc..d8cce232d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_keyframes.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_keyframes.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,47 @@ fn keys(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, uid: u64) -> Vec<Pos2> {
     ks
 }
 
+/// #2854: a middle-drag on a key, a layer bar, its trim edge or the marker bin edits nothing and
+/// adds no undo step; it only pans.
+#[test]
+fn middle_drag_on_a_key_or_layer_bar_changes_nothing() {
+    let (mut h, id, uid) = harness();
+    let center = |h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, name: String| {
+        let e = h.state().auto.find(&name).unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("no {name}")).clone();
+        pos2(e.rect[0] + e.rect[2] / 2.0, e.rect[1] + e.rect[3] / 2.0)
+    };
+    let bar = center(&h, format!("timeline.layer.{}.bar", id.0));
+    let trim = center(&h, format!("timeline.layer.{}.bar.in", id.0));
+    let bin = center(&h, "timeline.markerBin".to_string());
+    let key = keys(&h, uid)[1];
+    let state = |h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>| {
+        let comp = h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap();
+        let l = comp.layer(id).unwrap();
+        (l.in_point, l.out_point, l.start_time, comp.markers.len(), key_times(h, id), h.state().session.history.undo.len())
+    };
+    h.state_mut().session.execute("edit.deselectAll", json!({})).unwrap();
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    let before = state(&h);
+    for from in [key, bar, trim, bin] {
+        let to = from + egui::vec2(90.0, 0.0);
+        h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from));
+        h.step();
+        h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: from, button: egui::PointerButton::Middle, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });
+        h.step();
+        for i in 1..=8 {
+            h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from + (to - from) * (i as f32 / 8.0)));
+            h.step();
+        }
+        h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: to, button: egui::PointerButton::Middle, pressed: false, modifiers: Default::default() });
+        h.run_steps(2);
+        assert_eq!(state(&h), before, "from {from:?}");
+        assert!(h.state().session.state.selected_layers.is_empty(), "from {from:?}: the press selects nothing");
+    }
+    // The left button still drags the key.
+    drag(&mut h, key, key + egui::vec2(90.0, 0.0), egui::Modifiers::NONE);
+    assert_ne!(key_times(&h, id), before.4);
+}
+
 /// Press at `from`, move to `to` in small steps (a real drag), release.
 fn drag(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, from: Pos2, to: Pos2, modifiers: egui::Modifiers) {
     h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_timeline_pan.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_timeline_pan.rs
index 8523ded30..56bbd8a45 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_timeline_pan.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_timeline_pan.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Spacebar-drag panning in the Timeline: the Hand tool scrolls the layer rows vertically as well
-//! as the time graph horizontally (#2083).
+//! as the time graph horizontally (#2083). A middle-drag does the same, from the layer list too
+//! (#2854).
 
 use effectcraft_engine::Session;
 use effectcraft_ui_egui::EffectcraftApp;
@@ -28,18 +29,49 @@ fn space(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, pressed: bool) {
 }
 
 fn drag(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, from: Pos2, to: Pos2) {
+    drag_with(h, egui::PointerButton::Primary, from, to);
+}
+
+fn drag_with(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, button: egui::PointerButton, from: Pos2, to: Pos2) {
     h.event(Event::PointerMoved(from));
     h.step();
-    h.event(Event::PointerButton { pos: from, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: true, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE });
+    h.event(Event::PointerButton { pos: from, button, pressed: true, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE });
     h.step();
     for k in 1..=10 {
         h.event(Event::PointerMoved(from + (to - from) * (k as f32 / 10.0)));
         h.step();
     }
-    h.event(Event::PointerButton { pos: to, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: false, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE });
+    h.event(Event::PointerButton { pos: to, button, pressed: false, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE });
     h.run_steps(3);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn middle_drag_pans_from_the_layer_list_and_the_bars() {
+    let (mut h, layer) = harness();
+    h.state_mut().ui.timeline.pps = Some(400.0);
+    h.state_mut().ui.timeline.start = 1.0;
+    h.run_steps(3);
+    let order = |h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>| h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap().layers.iter().map(|l| l.id).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let before = order(&h);
+    let center = |r: [f32; 4]| pos2(r[0] + r[2] / 2.0, r[1] + r[3] / 2.0);
+    let row = center(h.state().auto.find(&format!("timeline.layer.{layer}.row")).expect("layer row").rect);
+    drag_with(&mut h, egui::PointerButton::Middle, row, row - vec2(0.0, 180.0));
+    let y = h.state().ui.timeline.scroll_y;
+    assert!(y > 100.0, "the list scrolled: {y}");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().ui.timeline.start, 1.0, "a vertical drag leaves time alone");
+    assert_eq!(order(&h), before, "the layers stay in order");
+    assert!(h.state().session.state.selected_layers.is_empty(), "the press selects nothing");
+    // In the time graph, just right of the row, whatever the zoom has left of its bar.
+    h.state_mut().ui.timeline.scroll_y = 0.0;
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    let r = h.state().auto.find(&format!("timeline.layer.{layer}.row")).expect("layer row").rect;
+    let graph = pos2(r[0] + r[2] + 100.0, r[1] + r[3] / 2.0);
+    drag_with(&mut h, egui::PointerButton::Middle, graph, graph - vec2(80.0, 0.0));
+    let start = h.state().ui.timeline.start;
+    assert!(start > 1.1, "time panned: {start}");
+    assert_eq!(order(&h), before);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn spacebar_drag_pans_the_rows_vertically() {
     let (mut h, layer) = harness();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_viewer.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_viewer.rs
index f0086d28a..afb8a78de 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_viewer.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_viewer.rs
@@ -1771,6 +1771,66 @@ fn middle_and_hand_drags_pan_the_viewer_and_the_pan_stays_after_release() {
     assert!((end[0] - after[0] + 50.0).abs() < 1.0 && (end[1] - after[1] + 30.0).abs() < 1.0, "{after:?} → {end:?}");
 }
 
+/// #2854: a middle-drag over a layer pans the view and leaves the layer alone, selected or not,
+/// with any tool, and adds no undo step.
+#[test]
+fn middle_drag_over_a_layer_pans_and_leaves_the_layer_where_it_is() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let id = layer_named(&h, "Box");
+    let c = rect(&h, "viewer.comp").center();
+    for (select, tool) in [(false, Tool::Selection), (true, Tool::Selection), (true, Tool::Rotate), (true, Tool::Type)] {
+        let selection = if select { json!({"layers": [id.0]}) } else { json!({"layers": []}) };
+        h.state_mut().session.execute("layer.select", selection).unwrap();
+        h.state_mut().ui.tool = tool;
+        h.state_mut().ui.viewer.pan = [0.0, 0.0];
+        h.run_steps(2);
+        let (p0, steps) = (position_of(&h, id), h.state().session.history.undo.len());
+        drag_with(&mut h, egui::PointerButton::Middle, c, c + vec2(120.0, 60.0));
+        let pan = h.state().ui.viewer.pan;
+        assert!((pan[0] - 120.0).abs() < 1.0 && (pan[1] - 60.0).abs() < 1.0, "{select} {tool:?}: {pan:?}");
+        assert_eq!(position_of(&h, id), p0, "{select} {tool:?}: the layer stays");
+        assert_eq!(h.state().session.history.undo.len(), steps, "{select} {tool:?}: no undo step");
+    }
+}
+
+/// #2854: a left drag whose release the viewer never saw (the panel wasn't drawn on that frame)
+/// leaves its move gesture stored. A middle press must not run it.
+#[test]
+fn middle_drag_does_not_run_a_gesture_left_over_from_a_missed_release() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let id = layer_named(&h, "Box");
+    h.state_mut().session.execute("layer.select", json!({"layers": [id.0]})).unwrap();
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    let c = rect(&h, "viewer.comp").center();
+    let p = egui::PointerButton::Primary;
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(c));
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: c, button: p, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.step();
+    for i in 1..=4 {
+        h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(c + vec2(10.0 * i as f32, 0.0)));
+        h.step();
+    }
+    let ctx = h.ctx.clone();
+    effectcraft_ui_egui::menus::invoke(h.state_mut(), &ctx, "layer.openLayer", json!({"layer": id.0})).unwrap();
+    h.step();
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: c + vec2(40.0, 0.0), button: p, pressed: false, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    h.state_mut().show_panel(effectcraft_ui_egui::dock::PanelKind::Composition);
+    h.run_steps(3);
+    let c = rect(&h, "viewer.comp").center();
+    let p0 = position_of(&h, id);
+    drag_with(&mut h, egui::PointerButton::Middle, c, c + vec2(120.0, 60.0));
+    assert_eq!(position_of(&h, id), p0, "the stored move didn't run");
+}
+
+fn layer_named(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, name: &str) -> LayerId {
+    h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap().layers.iter().find(|l| l.name == name).unwrap().id
+}
+
+fn position_of(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, id: LayerId) -> [f64; 3] {
+    h.state().session.active_comp().unwrap().layer(id).unwrap().props.prop("transform/position").unwrap().value.as_vec3()
+}
+
 /// A Spacebar press or release (`repeat`: the keyboard's auto-repeat while it is held).
 fn space(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, pressed: bool, repeat: bool) {
     h.input_mut().events.push(Event::Key { key: egui::Key::Space, physical_key: None, pressed, repeat, modifiers: Default::default() });