diff --git a/web/static/main.js b/web/static/main.js
index 34563d2..f503f6d 100644
--- a/web/static/main.js
+++ b/web/static/main.js
@@ -1557,7 +1557,7 @@ function openNewDeviceModal(geom) {
 
 /** Snap (x, y) onto the closest edge of `device`. Returns the (x_off,
  *  y_off) relative to the device's top-left + a debug-friendly edge name. */
-function snapToDeviceEdge(device, x, y) {
+function snapToDeviceEdge(device, x, y, existingPorts) {
   // Distance from the point to each of the four edges.
   const dxLeft   = Math.abs(x - device.x);
   const dxRight  = Math.abs((device.x + device.width)  - x);
@@ -1567,10 +1567,49 @@ function snapToDeviceEdge(device, x, y) {
   // Clamp the perpendicular coordinate so the port sits *on* the rect.
   const localX = Math.max(0, Math.min(device.width,  x - device.x));
   const localY = Math.max(0, Math.min(device.height, y - device.y));
-  if (min === dxLeft)   return { xOff: 0,             yOff: localY, edge: "left"   };
-  if (min === dxRight)  return { xOff: device.width,  yOff: localY, edge: "right"  };
-  if (min === dyTop)    return { xOff: localX,        yOff: 0,      edge: "top"    };
-  return                       { xOff: localX,        yOff: device.height, edge: "bottom" };
+  let snap;
+  if      (min === dxLeft)   snap = { xOff: 0,            yOff: localY, edge: "left"   };
+  else if (min === dxRight)  snap = { xOff: device.width, yOff: localY, edge: "right"  };
+  else if (min === dyTop)    snap = { xOff: localX,       yOff: 0,      edge: "top"    };
+  else                       snap = { xOff: localX,       yOff: device.height, edge: "bottom" };
+  return resolveCollision(snap, device, existingPorts);
+}
+
+// If the snap lands within 8px of another port on the same edge, slide
+// along the edge in 16px steps (alternating directions, expanding) until
+// the slot is clear or we run out of room. Prevents pixel-perfect stacks
+// when m drops two ports near the same midpoint — sherlock's secondary
+// fix for the invisible-stacking problem in +Port.
+function resolveCollision(snap, device, existingPorts) {
+  if (!existingPorts || !existingPorts.length) return snap;
+  const onSameEdge = (port) => {
+    switch (snap.edge) {
+      case "left":   return port.x_offset === 0;
+      case "right":  return port.x_offset === device.width;
+      case "top":    return port.y_offset === 0;
+      case "bottom": return port.y_offset === device.height;
+    }
+    return false;
+  };
+  const isHorizontal = snap.edge === "top" || snap.edge === "bottom";
+  const axisMax = isHorizontal ? device.width : device.height;
+  const peers = existingPorts.filter(onSameEdge).map((p) => isHorizontal ? p.x_offset : p.y_offset);
+  if (!peers.length) return snap;
+  const step = 16, tol = 8;
+  let pos = isHorizontal ? snap.xOff : snap.yOff;
+  const clear = (v) => peers.every((q) => Math.abs(v - q) >= tol);
+  if (clear(pos)) return snap;
+  // Try increasing offsets in both directions until we find a free slot.
+  for (let i = 1; i * step <= axisMax; i++) {
+    const up   = pos + i * step;
+    const down = pos - i * step;
+    if (up   <= axisMax && clear(up))   { pos = up;   break; }
+    if (down >= 0       && clear(down)) { pos = down; break; }
+  }
+  pos = Math.max(0, Math.min(axisMax, pos));
+  return isHorizontal
+    ? { xOff: pos, yOff: snap.yOff, edge: snap.edge }
+    : { xOff: snap.xOff, yOff: pos, edge: snap.edge };
 }
 
 /** Port-click flow:
@@ -1689,7 +1728,8 @@ async function placePortAt(p) {
   if (did == null || tid == null) { armTool(null); return; }
   const dev = state.devices.find((d) => d.id === did);
   if (!dev) { armTool(null); return; }
-  const snap = snapToDeviceEdge(dev, p.x, p.y);
+  const sibs = state.ports.filter((p) => p.device_id === did);
+  const snap = snapToDeviceEdge(dev, p.x, p.y, sibs);
   try {
     const port = await createPort(state.active.id, did, {
       type_id: tid,
@@ -1697,6 +1737,11 @@ async function placePortAt(p) {
       y_offset: snap.yOff,
     });
     state.ports.push(port);
+    // Select the freshly-placed port so the inspector switches to the
+    // port panel (edge dropdown / label / delete) and the .selected halo
+    // makes the new circle visually obvious — sherlock's primary fix for
+    // the "+Port feels dead" perception bug.
+    state.selection = { kind: "port", id: port.id };
     armTool(null);
     render();
   } catch (e) {
@@ -1821,7 +1866,13 @@ function startDrag(e, kind, id) {
     }
   }
 
-  e.currentTarget.classList.add("dragging");
+  // Capture the rect element NOW: by the time onUp fires async, the
+  // browser has nulled out e.currentTarget on the pointerdown event,
+  // so `e.currentTarget.classList.remove("dragging")` would throw
+  // "Cannot read properties of null". Sherlock surfaced this from the
+  // click-only path that pageerror-spammed every device click.
+  const dragTarget = /** @type {Element} */ (e.currentTarget);
+  dragTarget.classList.add("dragging");
   svg.setPointerCapture(e.pointerId);
 
   let dragged = false;
@@ -1843,7 +1894,7 @@ function startDrag(e, kind, id) {
     svg.removeEventListener("pointermove", onMove);
     svg.removeEventListener("pointerup",   onUp);
     svg.releasePointerCapture(e.pointerId);
-    e.currentTarget.classList.remove("dragging");
+    dragTarget.classList.remove("dragging");
 
     if (!dragged) { render(); return; } // click only — re-render to apply selection halo
     if (!state.active) return;