--- a/sway/input/cursor.c
+++ b/sway/input/cursor.c
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <math.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <libevdev/libevdev.h>
 #include <linux/input-event-codes.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -58,6 +60,17 @@
 	}
 
 	if (scene_node) {
+        /* WHY: one sampled motion must distinguish saved node from live surface.
+         * CONTRACT: passive private trace; no seat, scene or hit result changes.
+         * INVARIANT: log borrowed identities only during this lookup. */
+        struct timespec hit_ts;
+        clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &hit_ts);
+        if (getenv("SAVED_HIT_TRACE")) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "TARGET_HIT ns=%lld point=%.2f,%.2f node=%p saved=%d\n",
+                (long long)hit_ts.tv_sec * 1000000000LL + hit_ts.tv_nsec,
+                lx, ly, (void *)scene_node,
+                scene_descriptor_try_get(scene_node, SWAY_SCENE_DESC_SAVED_BUFFER) != NULL);
+        }
 		// determine what wlr_surface we clicked on
 		if (scene_node->type == WLR_SCENE_NODE_BUFFER) {
 			struct wlr_scene_buffer *scene_buffer =
@@ -68,6 +81,10 @@
 			if (scene_surface) {
 				*surface = scene_surface->surface;
 			}
+            if (getenv("SAVED_HIT_TRACE")) {
+                fprintf(stderr, "TARGET_HIT_SURFACE node=%p surface=%p\n",
+                    (void *)scene_node, scene_surface ? (void *)scene_surface->surface : NULL);
+            }
 		}
 
 		// determine what container we clicked on