diff --git a/resources/css/components/card.css b/resources/css/components/card.css
index bf6dffeb..7a1c3a4d 100644
--- a/resources/css/components/card.css
+++ b/resources/css/components/card.css
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@
  * which never morphs (M3 specifies shape morph for buttons, FABs and list items, never cards —
  * docs/audits/m3-alignment/containment.md, C-23).
  *
- * A row (`data-md-list-row`, `resources/js/list-rows.js`) renders the shared `md-state-layer` and
- * `md-focus-ring` classes (foundation/interaction.css) for its tint and its ring; this file adds
- * only what a card needs beyond them:
+ * Every card renders the shared `md-state-layer` class, and a row (`data-md-list-row`,
+ * `resources/js/list-rows.js`) `md-focus-ring` too (foundation/interaction.css), for its tint and
+ * its ring; this file adds only what a card needs beyond them:
  *
+ *   - *no layer* on a card that is neither a row nor dragged: a card that does not open anything
+ *     answers no pointer, but any card can be carried, and the application sets `data-md-dragged`
+ *     from script long after the view rendered;
  *   - per-state *elevation*, which the shared class has no opinion on: elevated 1dp rest → 2dp
  *     hover → 1dp focus/pressed; filled and outlined 0dp rest → 1dp hover → 0dp focus/pressed
  *     (the cross-check table's Hover/Focus/Pressed rows). Pressed and focus fall back to the rest
@@ -57,6 +60,10 @@
         background-color: var(--md-sys-color-surface);
     }
 
+    [data-md-card]:not([data-md-list-row], [data-md-dragged])::before {
+        display: none;
+    }
+
     [data-md-card][data-md-list-row] {
         cursor: pointer;
         transition-property: box-shadow;
@@ -157,7 +164,7 @@
         margin-inline-end: calc(-1 * var(--md-sys-measurement-space100));
     }
 
-    [data-md-card-header] [data-md-divider] {
+    [data-md-card-header] > [data-md-divider] {
         margin-top: var(--md-sys-measurement-space200);
     }
 
diff --git a/resources/views/components/card.blade.php b/resources/views/components/card.blade.php
index b898433e..816f588b 100644
--- a/resources/views/components/card.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/components/card.blade.php
@@ -22,20 +22,21 @@
      reaches the opener. Put `tabindex="-1"` on that opener so the card is the one stop, and leave
      the card's other actions as they are — they follow it in the tab order.
 
-     A row (`data-md-list-row`, `actionable` or not) renders the shared `md-state-layer` and
-     `md-focus-ring` classes (foundation/interaction.css), which draw the tint and the ring for a
-     card focused directly; resources/css/components/card.css refines their opacity when the
-     pointer or the keyboard is on one of the card's *own* buttons instead (which should light only
-     itself), and adds the `:has([data-md-list-open]:focus-visible)` ring for the non-actionable
-     row, whose focus never lands on the card itself. Elevation is separate from the tint — M3
-     gives each variant its own per-state box-shadow (elevated 1dp rest → 2dp hover → 1dp
-     focus/pressed; filled and outlined 0dp rest → 1dp hover → 0dp focus/pressed) — so it is drawn
-     directly on `[data-md-card]`, never inside the shared class. Its corner does not move, because
+     Every card renders the shared `md-state-layer` class and a row (`data-md-list-row`,
+     `actionable` or not) `md-focus-ring` too (foundation/interaction.css), which draw the tint and
+     the ring for a card focused directly; resources/css/components/card.css keeps the layer off a
+     card that is neither a row nor dragged, refines its opacity when the pointer or the keyboard is
+     on one of the card's *own* buttons instead (which should light only itself), and adds the
+     `:has([data-md-list-open]:focus-visible)` ring for the non-actionable row, whose focus never
+     lands on the card itself. Elevation is separate from the tint — M3 gives each variant its own
+     per-state box-shadow (elevated 1dp rest → 2dp hover → 1dp focus/pressed; filled and outlined
+     0dp rest → 1dp hover → 0dp focus/pressed) — so it is drawn directly on `[data-md-card]`, never
+     inside the shared class. Its corner does not move, because
      M3 gives a card one shape (docs/audits/m3-alignment/containment.md, C-13, C-23).
 
-     `data-md-dragged` is M3's dragged card: the top of a card's elevation scale — 8dp elevated,
-     6dp filled and outlined — under the shared class's own 16% dragged tint (it already reads
-     `data-md-dragged`, foundation/interaction.css). Nothing in the browser tells a card it is
+     `data-md-dragged` is M3's dragged card, row or not: the top of a card's elevation scale — 8dp
+     elevated, 6dp filled and outlined — under the shared class's own 16% dragged tint (it already
+     reads `data-md-dragged`, foundation/interaction.css). Nothing in the browser tells a card it is
      being carried, so the application sets the attribute when its drag starts and takes it off on
      drop. M3 requires a single-pointer alternative beside any drag, so keep the same reorder or
      delete actions in a menu on the card
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@
         'role' => $role,
         'aria-label' => $actionable && filled($title) ? $title : null,
     ], fn ($value): bool => $value !== null))->class([
-        'md-state-layer' => $isRow,
+        // Every card: the application sets `data-md-dragged` from script, after this renders.
+        'md-state-layer',
         'md-focus-ring' => $isRow,
     ]) }}
 >
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Components/CardTest.php b/tests/Feature/Components/CardTest.php
index cfdd7834..c7fca4d5 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Components/CardTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Components/CardTest.php
@@ -46,9 +46,13 @@ it('passes row attributes through and renders the shared interaction classes for
         ->toContain('data-md-list-row')
         ->toContain('data-md-list-open')
         ->toContain('class="md-state-layer md-focus-ring"')
+        // Any card can be carried, so each draws the shared layer, which card.css keeps off one
+        // that is neither a row nor dragged.
         ->and((string) $this->blade('<x-card title="Share">Body</x-card>'))
-        ->not->toContain('md-state-layer')
-        ->not->toContain('md-focus-ring');
+        ->toContain('class="md-state-layer"')
+        ->not->toContain('md-focus-ring')
+        ->and(ComponentStylesheet::read('card')->declarations('[data-md-card]:not([data-md-list-row], [data-md-dragged])::before'))
+        ->toBe(['display' => 'none']);
 });
 
 it('makes a directly actionable card the one tab stop, named by its title', function () {