diff --git a/demo/smoke_resize_labels.mjs b/demo/smoke_resize_labels.mjs
index 6f9fc8db..1f2941c3 100644
--- a/demo/smoke_resize_labels.mjs
+++ b/demo/smoke_resize_labels.mjs
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ const result = await page.evaluate(async () => {
   card._resize.reset();
   await update();
 
-  // #645: place the left room's session-only gear beside the live area label.
-  // Resize must use this rendered centre, not the old pole-of-inaccessibility.
-  card._editorRuntime.roomGear.positions.set(`${space.id}\u0000label-left`, [292, 300]);
+  // #645: move the left room's session-only gear away from the live area
+  // label. The old automatic centre still collides and would add a tangent
+  // offset, so this distinguishes the rendered centre from the stale one.
+  card._editorRuntime.roomGear.positions.set(`${space.id}\u0000label-left`, [292, 140]);
   await update();
 
   const handle = [...card.renderRoot.querySelectorAll('.rszhandle')]
@@ -98,9 +99,9 @@ const result = await page.evaluate(async () => {
     return a.right <= b.left || a.left >= b.right || a.bottom <= b.top || a.top >= b.bottom;
   });
   out.tangentAvoidanceUsed = areas.some((label) => Math.abs(label.placement.tangentOffsetPx) > 0);
-  out.movedGearDrivesResizePlacement = Math.abs(
-    areas.find((label) => label.roomId === 'label-left')?.placement.tangentOffsetPx || 0,
-  ) > 0;
+  out.movedGearDrivesResizePlacement = (
+    areas.find((label) => label.roomId === 'label-left')?.placement.tangentOffsetPx
+  ) === 0;
 
   dispatch('pointerup', tx, sy);
   await update();