diff --git a/vis-plugins/node-table-visualizer.js b/vis-plugins/node-table-visualizer.js
index 17fb4b0..d5b1ea6 100644
--- a/vis-plugins/node-table-visualizer.js
+++ b/vis-plugins/node-table-visualizer.js
@@ -124,6 +124,62 @@ module.exports = function (register, lib) {
 		return positions;
 	}
 
+	// ---- hard rectangle-overlap resolution ----
+	// Repulsion/gravity alone only balance to *some* equilibrium distance;
+	// nothing about that equilibrium accounts for box size, and node boxes
+	// vary a lot in height (one row vs. MAX_VISIBLE_ROWS). So two boxes can
+	// settle closer than their combined half-heights and visibly overlap.
+	// This runs every simulation step and directly separates any pair of
+	// visible boxes whose padded bounding rects intersect, along whichever
+	// axis needs the smaller push -- a standard AABB de-overlap pass on top
+	// of the physics, not a replacement for it. Returns the total remaining
+	// overlap so callers can tell the simulation hasn't truly settled even
+	// if velocities alone look calm.
+	function resolveCollisions(nodeList, isVisible) {
+		var totalOverlap = 0;
+		for (var i = 0; i < nodeList.length; i++) {
+			for (var j = i + 1; j < nodeList.length; j++) {
+				var a = nodeList[i];
+				var b = nodeList[j];
+				if (!isVisible(a.id) || !isVisible(b.id)) continue;
+				if (a.fixed && b.fixed) continue;
+
+				var minDX = NODE_WIDTH + H_GAP;
+				var minDY = (a.height + b.height) / 2 + V_GAP;
+				var dx = b.x - a.x;
+				var dy = b.y - a.y;
+				var overlapX = minDX - Math.abs(dx);
+				var overlapY = minDY - Math.abs(dy);
+				if (overlapX <= 0 || overlapY <= 0) continue;
+
+				totalOverlap += Math.min(overlapX, overlapY);
+
+				var pushX = 0, pushY = 0;
+				if (dx === 0 && dy === 0) {
+					pushX = minDX; // exactly coincident: nudge apart deterministically
+				} else if (overlapX < overlapY) {
+					pushX = (dx < 0 ? -1 : 1) * overlapX;
+				} else {
+					pushY = (dy < 0 ? -1 : 1) * overlapY;
+				}
+
+				if (a.fixed) {
+					b.x += pushX;
+					b.y += pushY;
+				} else if (b.fixed) {
+					a.x -= pushX;
+					a.y -= pushY;
+				} else {
+					a.x -= pushX / 2;
+					a.y -= pushY / 2;
+					b.x += pushX / 2;
+					b.y += pushY / 2;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return totalOverlap;
+	}
+
 	// ---- simple O(n^2) force-directed layout, vis-network-style ----
 	// isVisible(id) lets collapsed-subtree nodes sit out of the simulation
 	// entirely (frozen, not just hidden) so they don't invisibly shove
@@ -200,7 +256,12 @@ module.exports = function (register, lib) {
 				n.y += n.vy;
 				kinetic += n.vx * n.vx + n.vy * n.vy;
 			});
-			return kinetic;
+
+			// Folded into the same "settled" signal as velocity: as long as
+			// boxes still overlap, the simulation isn't done, even if forces
+			// alone have gone quiet.
+			var overlap = resolveCollisions(nodeList, isVisible);
+			return kinetic + overlap;
 		}
 
 		return { nodes: nodeList, byId: byId, step: step };