diff --git a/headless/README.md b/headless/README.md
index 20d3938..cd0da58 100644
--- a/headless/README.md
+++ b/headless/README.md
@@ -892,3 +892,8 @@ valid ACK. Unknown fields/components/versions, unresolved requests and run/asset
 receipts stay raw. Existing stored raw receipts are not migrated by this policy.
 The recovery envelope remains unchanged: receipts are opaque JSON, and the
 adapter-local summary has its own version and explicit replay rejection.
+
+The application's initial loading fit targets the current canvas's direct node
+members, including partition entries. Expanded descendant cards remain rendered
+and pannable but cannot move their parent entry outside the initial viewport.
+The manual fit control keeps its existing whole-scene behavior.
diff --git a/src/components/canvas/headless-graph-canvas.tsx b/src/components/canvas/headless-graph-canvas.tsx
index e7e4a13..60c9ed6 100644
--- a/src/components/canvas/headless-graph-canvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/canvas/headless-graph-canvas.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,14 @@ function CanvasView({ engine, board, viewId, renderers,fitLoading=true }: { engi
   if (liveView) lastView.current = liveView;
   const view = liveView ?? lastView.current!, flow = useReactFlow<ProjectionNode>();
   const canCreate=!loading||loading.version>=4&&engine.editor.getQueries(root.document).coverage.completeCanvasIds.includes(view.canvasId);
-  useEffect(()=>{if(!needsLoadingFit.current||!flow.viewportInitialized||!root.document.elements.size)return;needsLoadingFit.current=false;void flow.fitView({padding:.2,maxZoom:1});},[flow,root.document]);
+  useEffect(()=>{
+    if(!needsLoadingFit.current||!flow.viewportInitialized||!root.document.canvases.has(view.canvasId))return;
+    // Expanded descendants can extend far beyond their partition entry. Initial
+    // framing belongs to the direct members of this canvas.
+    const nodes=engine.editor.getQueries(root.document).members(view.canvasId).filter(id=>root.document.elements.get(id)?.structure==='node').map(id=>({id}));
+    if(!nodes.length)return;
+    needsLoadingFit.current=false;void flow.fitView({nodes,padding:.2,maxZoom:1});
+  },[engine,flow,root.document,view.canvasId]);
   const preparingCopy = [...(root.runtime.imports?.values() ?? [])].some(job => job.status === 'preparing' && job.source?.targetCanvasId === view.canvasId);
   const [editorFocused, setEditorFocused] = useState(false), focusEpoch = useRef(0);
   useEffect(() => { focusEpoch.current++; setEditorFocused(false); return () => { focusEpoch.current++; }; }, [engine,viewId]);