diff --git a/crates/engine/src/filters.rs b/crates/engine/src/filters.rs
index 2ccc999b40..40b51189e2 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/filters.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/filters.rs
@@ -185,7 +185,10 @@ pub fn apply_filter_to_surface(
     if id == crate::plugin_cmds::RUN {
         return crate::plugin_cmds::apply_to_surface(id, params, surf, selection, canvas);
     }
-    let fp = params_for(id, params)?;
+    let mut fp = params_for(id, params)?;
+    // A map that can no longer be read (moved or deleted since) leaves the pixels alone, like an
+    // unknown filter; the command itself already refused an unreadable map when it was added.
+    crate::filters_ext::resolve_map_path(&mut fp, params).ok()?;
     let sel_bounds = selection.map(photocraft_raster::Surface::content_bounds);
     let content = surf.content_bounds();
     let area = algo::output_area(&fp, content, bounds, sel_bounds);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/filters_ext.rs b/crates/engine/src/filters_ext.rs
index bf1656cae7..f1787fd1e3 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/filters_ext.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/filters_ext.rs
@@ -435,10 +435,8 @@ pub(crate) fn resolve(s: &Session, fp: &mut FilterParams, p: &Value) -> Result<(
         return Ok(());
     }
     let layer = p.get("mapLayer").and_then(Value::as_u64);
-    let img = if let Some(path) = p.get("mapPath").and_then(Value::as_str).filter(|p| !p.is_empty()) {
-        let bytes = std::fs::read(path).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("cannot read displacement map `{path}`: {e}")))?;
-        let imported = crate::file_cmds::import(path, &bytes).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("cannot open displacement map `{path}`: {e}")))?;
-        map_from_document(&imported, layer)
+    let img = if let Some(path) = map_path(p) {
+        map_from_path(path, layer)?
     } else if let Some(d) = p.get("mapDocument") {
         let docs = s.documents();
         let found = match d {
@@ -454,6 +452,30 @@ pub(crate) fn resolve(s: &Session, fp: &mut FilterParams, p: &Value) -> Result<(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn map_path(p: &Value) -> Option<&str> {
+    p.get("mapPath").and_then(Value::as_str).filter(|p| !p.is_empty())
+}
+
+/// Displace's map read from a file (flattened, or its `mapLayer`).
+fn map_from_path(path: &str, layer: Option<u64>) -> Result<Option<algo::Image>> {
+    let bytes = std::fs::read(path).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("cannot read displacement map `{path}`: {e}")))?;
+    let imported = crate::file_cmds::import(path, &bytes).map_err(|e| EngineError::Other(format!("cannot open displacement map `{path}`: {e}")))?;
+    Ok(map_from_document(&imported, layer))
+}
+
+/// The session-free part of [`resolve`]: Displace's `mapPath`. Smart filters record params, not
+/// the map, so their re-render reads the map again here; without it the filter passed the pixels
+/// through. `mapDocument` needs the session and is left unresolved.
+pub(crate) fn resolve_map_path(fp: &mut FilterParams, p: &Value) -> Result<()> {
+    if let FilterParams::Displace { map, .. } = fp
+        && map.is_none()
+        && let Some(path) = map_path(p)
+    {
+        *map = map_from_path(path, p.get("mapLayer").and_then(Value::as_u64))?.map(Arc::new);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Resolves inputs read from the target layer itself: the layer mask as Lens Blur depth.
 pub(crate) fn resolve_in_layer(fp: &mut FilterParams, layer: &Layer, bounds: Rect) {
     if let FilterParams::LensBlur { depth: DepthSource::LayerMask, depth_map, .. } = fp
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/smart_cmds/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/smart_cmds/tests.rs
index 2ee54322bf..90bb325a2c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/smart_cmds/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/smart_cmds/tests.rs
@@ -977,3 +977,33 @@ fn inspect_reports_the_smart_source() {
     assert_eq!(source(&s)["kind"], "embedded");
     assert!(source(&s)["fileName"].is_string());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn displace_smart_filter_reads_its_map_path_on_re_render() {
+    let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("pcraft-displace-{}", std::process::id()));
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+    // A white map displaces by the full scale; mid-grey would not move anything.
+    let white = Document::with_background(
+        "map",
+        Size::new(W as u32, H as u32),
+        photocraft_color::ColorMode::Rgb,
+        photocraft_color::SampleType::U8,
+        photocraft_color::Color::rgba(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
+    );
+    let map = dir.join("white.png");
+    std::fs::write(&map, photocraft_io::export(&white, "png", &Default::default()).unwrap().bytes).unwrap();
+    for depth in DEPTHS {
+        let mut s = session(depth);
+        paint(&mut s);
+        convert(&mut s);
+        let before = flat(&s);
+        s.execute("filter.distort.displace", json!({"horizontal": 8, "vertical": 8, "mapPath": map.to_str().unwrap()})).unwrap();
+        assert!(max_diff(&before, &flat(&s)) > 0.1, "the smart filter displaced the pixels at {depth}-bit");
+        // A later re-render (here: hide and show the filter) reads the map again.
+        s.execute("layer.smartFilter.setVisible", json!({"index": 0, "visible": false})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(max_diff(&before, &flat(&s)), 0.0, "hidden at {depth}-bit");
+        s.execute("layer.smartFilter.setVisible", json!({"index": 0, "visible": true})).unwrap();
+        assert!(max_diff(&before, &flat(&s)) > 0.1, "shown again at {depth}-bit");
+    }
+    std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir).ok();
+}