diff --git a/src/host.rs b/src/host.rs
index 7a0bd7e..488f761 100644
--- a/src/host.rs
+++ b/src/host.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use std::collections::BTreeSet;
 use std::io::{ErrorKind, Read, Write};
 use std::os::unix::net::{UnixListener, UnixStream};
-use std::path::Path;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ pub struct Host {
 /// The drag-out in progress. Dropping the source cancels the drag.
 struct Drag {
     thumb: u64,
+    /// Kept here so the drop still delivers if the thumbnail goes away.
+    path: PathBuf,
     source: DragSource,
     icon: WlSurface,
     icon_viewport: WpViewport,
@@ -172,7 +174,9 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
         .run(Duration::from_millis(500), &mut state, |state| {
             let host = state.preview.as_mut().expect("host state");
             host.tidy();
-            let busy = host.thumbs.len() + host.writers.load(Ordering::SeqCst);
+            let busy = host.thumbs.len()
+                + host.writers.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
+                + usize::from(host.drag.is_some());
             if host.core.should_exit(busy, Instant::now()) {
                 signal.stop();
             }
@@ -281,10 +285,7 @@ impl Host {
         let Some(drag) = self.drag.as_ref().filter(|d| d.source.inner() == source) else {
             return;
         };
-        let Some(thumb) = self.thumbs.iter().find(|t| t.id == drag.thumb) else {
-            return;
-        };
-        let path = thumb.path.clone();
+        let path = drag.path.clone();
         let writers = Arc::clone(&self.writers);
         writers.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
         std::thread::spawn(move || {
@@ -394,6 +395,7 @@ fn start_drag(state: &mut State, i: usize, start: DragStart, qh: &QueueHandle<St
     tracing::info!("drag-out started for {}", thumb.path.display());
     host.drag = Some(Drag {
         thumb: thumb.id,
+        path: thumb.path.clone(),
         source,
         icon,
         icon_viewport,
@@ -469,8 +471,9 @@ fn add(state: &mut State, path: &Path, output_name: &str) -> Result<()> {
     let open: Vec<usize> = (0..host.thumbs.len())
         .filter(|&i| host.thumbs[i].output == output.geom.name && !host.thumbs[i].is_closing())
         .collect();
-    for &i in open.iter().take(stack::excess(open.len())) {
-        host.thumbs[i].slide_out(&qh);
+    let dragging: Vec<bool> = open.iter().map(|&i| host.thumbs[i].is_dragging()).collect();
+    for k in stack::evictions(&dragging) {
+        host.thumbs[open[k]].slide_out(&qh);
     }
     host.restack();
 
diff --git a/src/stack.rs b/src/stack.rs
index 0f5d25b..a378004 100644
--- a/src/stack.rs
+++ b/src/stack.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ pub fn excess(count: usize) -> usize {
     count.saturating_sub(MAX)
 }
 
+/// Which thumbnails to evict, given whether each open one (oldest first) is
+/// being dragged. A dragged one is skipped: evicting it would leave the drop
+/// with nothing to deliver.
+pub fn evictions(dragging_oldest_first: &[bool]) -> Vec<usize> {
+    let count = excess(dragging_oldest_first.len());
+    (0..dragging_oldest_first.len())
+        .filter(|&i| !dragging_oldest_first[i])
+        .take(count)
+        .collect()
+}
+
 /// What a pointer release on a thumbnail means.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum Release {
@@ -191,6 +202,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(bottom_margins(&[124, 124, 220]), vec![16, 152, 288]);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn eviction_skips_a_dragged_thumbnail() {
+        // Oldest first; `true` = being dragged.
+        let none = [false; 6];
+        assert_eq!(evictions(&none), vec![0]);
+        let oldest_dragged = [true, false, false, false, false, false];
+        assert_eq!(evictions(&oldest_dragged), vec![1]);
+        assert_eq!(evictions(&[false; 5]), Vec::<usize>::new());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn eviction_beyond_five() {
         assert_eq!(excess(5), 0);
diff --git a/src/thumbnail.rs b/src/thumbnail.rs
index 332e5ea..71ca960 100644
--- a/src/thumbnail.rs
+++ b/src/thumbnail.rs
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ impl Thumbnail {
         self.closing && (!self.visible() || anim_over(self.anim, Instant::now()))
     }
 
+    pub fn is_dragging(&self) -> bool {
+        self.dragging
+    }
+
     fn visible(&self) -> bool {
         !self.hidden && !self.dragging
     }