diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer_params.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer_params.rs
index af67bf36e7..c5abca3d7a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer_params.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/layer_params.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ pub(crate) fn explicit_layer(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Option<LayerId>>
                 .map(|(_, _, l)| Some(l.id))
                 .ok_or_else(|| EngineError::Other(format!("no layer named \"{name}\"; {}", layer_listing(&d.doc))))
         }
-        Some(v @ Value::Object(fields)) if fields.contains_key("index") || fields.contains_key("ordinal") => super::recorded_layer(s, v),
+        // A group end is no layer: fail rather than fall back to the selection.
+        Some(v @ Value::Object(fields)) if fields.contains_key("index") || fields.contains_key("ordinal") => {
+            super::recorded_layer(s, v)?.map(Some).ok_or_else(|| EngineError::Other("a group end is not a layer".into()))
+        }
         Some(Value::Null) | None => Ok(None),
         Some(other) => Err(EngineError::Other(format!("`layer` must be an id or a name, not {other}"))),
     }
@@ -52,7 +55,6 @@ pub(crate) fn layer_listing(doc: &Document) -> String {
 pub(crate) fn layer_param(s: &Session, p: &Value) -> Result<LayerId> {
     match explicit_layer(s, p)? {
         Some(id) => Ok(id),
-        None if p.get("layer").is_some_and(Value::is_object) => Err(EngineError::Other("a group end is not a layer".into())),
         None => s.active().and_then(|d| d.active_layer).ok_or(EngineError::Other("no active layer".into())),
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/session/execute.rs b/crates/engine/src/session/execute.rs
index b939e73271..1a57be0981 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/session/execute.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/session/execute.rs
@@ -189,7 +189,13 @@ impl Session {
         let d = self.active_mut()?;
         d.doc.layer(target)?;
         let active = d.active_layer.replace(target);
-        let r = self.precondition(spec, params);
+        // The checks see the resolved id: a relative ordinal (`Frwr`, `Bckw`) would otherwise
+        // resolve again from the swapped-in active layer and land one layer further.
+        let mut resolved = params.clone();
+        if let Some(fields) = resolved.as_object_mut() {
+            fields.insert("layer".into(), Value::from(target.0));
+        }
+        let r = self.precondition(spec, &resolved);
         if let Some(d) = self.active_mut() {
             d.active_layer = active;
         }
diff --git a/crates/engine/tests/it/atn_reference_forms.rs b/crates/engine/tests/it/atn_reference_forms.rs
index bc92415156..0e35280eb7 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tests/it/atn_reference_forms.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tests/it/atn_reference_forms.rs
@@ -470,3 +470,42 @@ fn empty_comp_list_index_is_noop() {
         assert!(s.execute("layerComp.apply", params).is_err());
     }
 }
+
+/// A group-end index names no layer, so a command acting on a layer fails and changes nothing
+/// rather than falling back to the selected layers.
+#[test]
+fn group_end_index_never_targets_the_selection() {
+    let mut s = scene(true);
+    s.execute("layer.select", json!({"layer":layer(&s,"L1")})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("layer.select", json!({"layer":layer(&s,"L2"),"mode":"add"})).unwrap();
+    let past = s.active().unwrap().history.past_len();
+    let doc = s.active().unwrap().doc.clone();
+    assert!(s.execute("layer.translate", json!({"layer":{"index":3},"dx":1,"dy":0})).is_err());
+    let offset = Descriptor::new("Ofst").with("Hrzn", D::UnitFloat { unit: *b"#Pxl", value: 1.0 }).with("Vrtc", D::UnitFloat { unit: *b"#Pxl", value: 0.0 });
+    let action =
+        imported(AtnEvent::Code(*b"move"), Descriptor::new("null").with("null", D::Reference(vec![index("Lyr ", 3)])).with("T   ", D::Descriptor(offset)));
+    s.actions.list = vec![action];
+    let result = s.execute("actions.play", json!({"action":"Select"})).unwrap();
+    assert!(result.get("failed").is_some(), "{result}");
+    assert_eq!(s.active().unwrap().history.past_len(), past);
+    assert_eq!(s.active().unwrap().doc, doc);
+}
+
+/// A relative ordinal is resolved once: the precondition checked on the named layer sees that
+/// layer, not the one past it (here a type layer that would refuse a colour-channel edit).
+#[test]
+fn forward_ordinal_precondition_checks_the_resolved_layer() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("file.new", json!({"width":4,"height":4,"background":"transparent"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("layer.renameLayer", json!({"name":"A"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("layer.new.layer", json!({"name":"B"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("edit.fill", json!({"contents":"color","color":"#000000"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("type.create", json!({"text":"C","size":2})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("layer.renameLayer", json!({"name":"C"})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("layer.select", json!({"layer":layer(&s,"A")})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("channel.target", json!({"colors":[0]})).unwrap();
+    let b = photocraft_doc::LayerId(layer(&s, "B"));
+    let before = s.active().unwrap().doc.layer(b).cloned();
+    s.execute("edit.clear", json!({"layer":{"ordinal":"Frwr"}})).unwrap();
+    assert_ne!(s.active().unwrap().doc.layer(b).cloned(), before);
+}