diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 9ba2299..d4c1a9a 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -975,21 +975,27 @@ in
                     // be left/right is top/bottom.
                     readonly property real rawTop: chrome.y + 8
                     readonly property real rawBottom: chrome.y + chrome.height - 8
-                    // A surface that comes within snapDist of a frame band is
-                    // extended 4px INTO it, so the SDF fuses the two into one
-                    // swollen shape rather than leaving a visible seam and a
-                    // stranded rounded corner. The launcher has always done
-                    // this via launchBot; this generalises it to every panel.
-                    readonly property real meltTop: Theme.frameWidth - 4
-                    readonly property real meltBot: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth + 4
+                    // How deep a surface buries itself in the band it merges
+                    // with. This MUST be >= the panel corner radius. A rounded
+                    // corner curves away from the edge over exactly panelR
+                    // pixels, so burying less than that leaves part of the
+                    // curve sticking out past the joint: the outline pinches in
+                    // where the corner turns, then the fillet bulges back out —
+                    // the "ballooned at the connection point" look. Bury the
+                    // whole corner and only straight edges reach the junction,
+                    // which is what smin is meant to fillet.
+                    readonly property real meltInto: Theme.radius
+                    readonly property real meltTop: Theme.frameWidth - meltInto
+                    readonly property real meltBot: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth + meltInto
+                    // Trigger distance is about proximity, not burial depth.
                     readonly property real snapDist: Theme.panelGap + 4
                     readonly property real panelTop: rawTop <= Theme.frameWidth + snapDist
                         ? meltTop : rawTop
                     readonly property real panelBottom: rawBottom >= bar.height - Theme.frameWidth - snapDist
                         ? meltBot : rawBottom
-                    // The panel/toast/session centre-x uses (barWidth − 4): the
-                    // surface overlaps 4px into the bar so the two melt.
-                    readonly property real surfLeftX: Theme.barWidth - 4
+                    // Left edge lands at (barWidth − meltInto): the surface
+                    // buries a full corner radius inside the bar column.
+                    readonly property real surfLeftX: Theme.barWidth - meltInto / 2
                     property vector4d cutout: Qt.vector4d(
                         (Theme.barWidth + bar.width - Theme.frameWidth) / 2,
                         bar.height / 2,
@@ -997,17 +1003,17 @@ in
                         bar.height / 2 - Theme.frameWidth)
                     property vector4d panel: chrome.visible
                         ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + chrome.width / 2, (panelTop + panelBottom) / 2,
-                                      4 + chrome.width / 2, (panelBottom - panelTop) / 2)
+                                      meltInto / 2 + chrome.width / 2, (panelBottom - panelTop) / 2)
                         : Qt.vector4d(0, 0, 0, 0)
                     // Toast sits under the top frame band and melts up into it.
                     readonly property real toastBot: toastItem.y + 8 + _toastRect.height
                     property vector4d toast: toastItem.visible && _toastRect.width > 0.5
                         ? Qt.vector4d(surfLeftX + _toastRect.width / 2, (meltTop + toastBot) / 2,
-                                      4 + _toastRect.width / 2, (toastBot - meltTop) / 2)
+                                      meltInto / 2 + _toastRect.width / 2, (toastBot - meltTop) / 2)
                         : Qt.vector4d(0, 0, 0, 0)
                     // The launcher is the one surface that stays put: it still
                     // grows from the bottom frame band at screen centre.
-                    readonly property real launchBot: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth + 4
+                    readonly property real launchBot: bar.height - Theme.frameWidth + meltInto
                     property vector4d launcher: launcherPanel.visible
                         ? Qt.vector4d(launcherPanel.x + launcherPanel.width / 2, (launcherPanel.y + launchBot) / 2,
                                       launcherPanel.width / 2, (launchBot - launcherPanel.y) / 2)
@@ -1017,7 +1023,9 @@ in
                     property vector2d res: Qt.vector2d(width, height)
                     property real cutoutR: Theme.radius
                     property real panelR: Theme.radius
-                    property real meltK: 12
+                    // Half the corner radius: the fillet scales with the
+                    // one rounding knob instead of drifting out of step.
+                    property real meltK: Theme.radius / 2
                     property real borderW: Theme.borderWidth
                     fragmentShader: "file://${chromeShader}"
                 }