diff --git a/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageInteraction.swift b/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageInteraction.swift
index 97f78f8f4..f8b30fc42 100644
--- a/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageInteraction.swift
+++ b/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageInteraction.swift
@@ -157,12 +157,17 @@ extension KeyboardStageScene {
         copy.keys = keys.map { key in
             let pressLevel = interaction.pressed[key.keyCode] ?? 0
             let holdLevel = interaction.held[key.keyCode] ?? 0
-            let level = max(pressLevel, holdLevel)
-            guard abs(level) > 0.001 else { return key }
+            // Gate on the signed components, not their collapsed max: during
+            // the rebound a plain tap has pressLevel slightly negative and no
+            // hold level, and max(negative, 0) would discard exactly the
+            // frames the above-rest lift exists for.
+            guard abs(pressLevel) > 0.001 || abs(holdLevel) > 0.001 else {
+                return key
+            }
 
             var responsiveKey = key
             responsiveKey.opacity = max(responsiveKey.opacity, 0.98)
-            responsiveKey.interactionLevel = max(0, level)
+            responsiveKey.interactionLevel = max(0, max(pressLevel, holdLevel))
             let positivePress = max(0, pressLevel)
             let positiveHold = max(0, holdLevel)
             // The sub-linear press term makes the glow linger behind the
diff --git a/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneBuilder.swift b/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneBuilder.swift
index 1a04aeacc..5cf2ee35c 100644
--- a/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneBuilder.swift
+++ b/Sources/KeyPathAppKit/UI/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneBuilder.swift
@@ -124,11 +124,15 @@ enum KeyboardStageSceneBuilder {
                 dim(keys: &keys, except: [capsKeyID], opacity: 0.88)
                 keys[capsIndex].role = .escape
                 keys[capsIndex].pressure = 0.12
-                keys[capsIndex].translation.y = 0.12 * 0.023
                 keys[capsIndex].glow = 0.85
                 keys[capsIndex].opacity = 1
                 keys[capsIndex].scale = 0.78
-                keys[capsIndex].translation = KeyboardStagePoint(x: -0.48, y: -0.52)
+                // The authored transform pose owns the base translation; the
+                // physical press travel is applied on top of it.
+                keys[capsIndex].translation = KeyboardStagePoint(
+                    x: -0.48,
+                    y: -0.52 + 0.12 * 0.023
+                )
                 keys[capsIndex].legend = KeyboardStageLegend(
                     primary: "esc",
                     previous: "caps lock",
diff --git a/Tests/KeyPathTests/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneTests.swift b/Tests/KeyPathTests/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneTests.swift
index f44029f24..1aa530b5c 100644
--- a/Tests/KeyPathTests/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/KeyPathTests/KeyboardStage/KeyboardStageSceneTests.swift
@@ -521,6 +521,21 @@ final class KeyboardStageSceneTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertEqual(otherKey, originalOtherKey)
     }
 
+    func testReleaseReboundLiftsTheCapAboveRest() throws {
+        let scene = makeScene(moment: .capsInstalled)
+        let responsiveScene = scene.applyingInteraction(
+            KeyboardStageInteractionLevels(pressed: [57: -0.025], held: [:])
+        )
+        let caps = try capsKey(in: responsiveScene)
+        let baseCaps = try capsKey(in: scene)
+
+        // The underdamped release dips slightly negative; the cap must rise
+        // a hair above its rest position, with no residual press styling.
+        XCTAssertLessThan(caps.translation.y, baseCaps.translation.y)
+        XCTAssertEqual(caps.interactionLevel, 0)
+        XCTAssertEqual(caps.pressure, baseCaps.pressure)
+    }
+
     func testLivePressRespondsOnANeutralNonCapsKey() throws {
         let scene = makeScene(moment: .capsInstalled)
         let neutral = try XCTUnwrap(scene.keys.first { key in