diff --git a/web/app.js b/web/app.js
index 02e86fc..e757144 100644
--- a/web/app.js
+++ b/web/app.js
@@ -1779,6 +1779,7 @@
    */
   function reserveFloatText() {
     if (!state.options.text) return;
+    openArea();
     for (const float of state.floats) {
       float.box = null;
       if (!float.featured) continue;
@@ -1798,6 +1799,9 @@
       for (const flip of [1, -1]) {
         const side = float.side * flip;
         const box = calloutBox(point, side, float.rise, float.width);
+        // Words under a panel or off the edge are words nobody reads.
+        if (box.x < open.left || box.x + box.w > open.right) continue;
+        if (box.y < open.top || box.y + box.h > open.bottom) continue;
         if (!claim(box.x, box.y, box.w, box.h)) continue;
         float.side = side;
         float.box = box;
@@ -1816,6 +1820,20 @@
     }
   }
 
+  /** The part of the screen no panel or bar covers, in screen pixels. */
+  const open = { left: 0, top: 0, right: 0, bottom: 0 };
+  const detailRoot = document.getElementById("detail-root");
+
+  /** Measures `open` for this frame. */
+  function openArea() {
+    const wide = view.width > 1100;
+    const detail = detailRoot.firstElementChild;
+    open.left = wide && detail && !detail.hidden ? 352 : 6;
+    open.top = 52;
+    open.right = view.width - (wide ? 346 : 6);
+    open.bottom = view.height - (wide ? 54 : 6);
+  }
+
   /** Callouts are set in the plate's monospace: a name over a line. */
   const CALLOUT_FONT = `12px ${Look.MONO}`;
   const CALLOUT_NAME_FONT = `600 10px ${Look.MONO}`;
@@ -2919,11 +2937,11 @@
         const point = toScreen(float.agent.rx, float.agent.ry);
         if (onScreen(point, 60)) {
           const t = age / PING_TTL;
-          const open = still ? 0.3 : 1 - (1 - t) ** 3;
+          const spread = still ? 0.3 : 1 - (1 - t) ** 3;
           ctx.strokeStyle = `rgba(255, 252, 242, ${(1 - t) ** 1.6 * 0.85 * emphasised})`;
           ctx.lineWidth = 1.25;
           ctx.beginPath();
-          ctx.arc(point.x, point.y, 6 + open * 30, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+          ctx.arc(point.x, point.y, 6 + spread * 30, 0, Math.PI * 2);
           ctx.stroke();
         }
       }