diff --git a/src/game/level-links.ts b/src/game/level-links.ts
index 9ddd762..b7b8b63 100644
--- a/src/game/level-links.ts
+++ b/src/game/level-links.ts
@@ -394,7 +394,8 @@ export function seamArrivalSpot(
   const step = inwardStep(side)
   const targetX = x + step.x * (SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES + 3)
   const targetY = y + step.y * (SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES + 3)
-  for (let radius = 0; radius <= 32; radius += 1) {
+  const maxRadius = Math.max(grid.gridWidth, grid.gridHeight, 64)
+  for (let radius = 0; radius <= maxRadius; radius += 1) {
     for (let dy = -radius; dy <= radius; dy += 1) {
       for (let dx = -radius; dx <= radius; dx += 1) {
         if (Math.max(Math.abs(dx), Math.abs(dy)) !== radius) continue
@@ -406,7 +407,14 @@ export function seamArrivalSpot(
       }
     }
   }
-  return nearestWalkable(grid, targetX, targetY, 32, region) ?? { x, y }
+  // Never place the player directly back on or inside the trigger box around (x, y),
+  // which would trigger an immediate bounce back in an infinite ping-pong loop.
+  const clampedX = Math.max(0, Math.min(grid.gridWidth - 1, targetX))
+  const clampedY = Math.max(0, Math.min(grid.gridHeight - 1, targetY))
+  if (Math.abs(clampedX - x) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES && Math.abs(clampedY - y) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES) {
+    return { x: targetX, y: targetY }
+  }
+  return { x: clampedX, y: clampedY }
 }
 
 /** Where an edge of a level opens, and how convincing the opening is. */
diff --git a/tests/world-graph.test.ts b/tests/world-graph.test.ts
index 55ce4f9..efe14ac 100644
--- a/tests/world-graph.test.ts
+++ b/tests/world-graph.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ import {
   DROPPED_VIS_EDGES,
 } from '../src/game/world-graph.ts'
 import type { Side } from '../src/game/world-graph.ts'
+import {
+  seamArrivalSpot,
+  SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES,
+  type LinkGrid,
+} from '../src/game/level-links.ts'
 
 /**
  * Build a `Levels.txt`-shaped table from sparse overrides.
@@ -376,3 +381,66 @@ describe('parseWarpGeometry', () => {
     expect(findWarpGeometry(parseWarpGeometry(lvlwarp), 71)?.id).toBe(71)
   })
 })
+
+describe('seamArrivalSpot', () => {
+  function makeGrid(width: number, height: number, blockedIndices: Set<number> = new Set()): LinkGrid {
+    const blocked = new Uint8Array(width * height)
+    for (const idx of blockedIndices) {
+      blocked[idx] = 1
+    }
+    return {
+      cellsX: Math.ceil(width / 5),
+      cellsY: Math.ceil(height / 5),
+      gridWidth: width,
+      gridHeight: height,
+      blocked,
+    }
+  }
+
+  it('places arrival strictly outside trigger box on all 4 sides', () => {
+    const grid = makeGrid(50, 50)
+    const sides: Side[] = ['north', 'south', 'east', 'west']
+    const x = 25
+    const y = 25
+
+    for (const side of sides) {
+      const spot = seamArrivalSpot(grid, x, y, side)
+      const insideTriggerBox =
+        Math.abs(spot.x - x) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES &&
+        Math.abs(spot.y - y) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES
+      expect(insideTriggerBox).toBe(false)
+      expect(spot).not.toEqual({ x, y })
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('never bounces back to trigger tile (x, y) even when completely blocked', () => {
+    // A grid where every single tile is impassable
+    const blockedSet = new Set<number>()
+    for (let i = 0; i < 50 * 50; i++) blockedSet.add(i)
+    const grid = makeGrid(50, 50, blockedSet)
+
+    const spot = seamArrivalSpot(grid, 20, 0, 'north')
+    // Must never fall back to trigger tile (20, 0)
+    expect(spot).not.toEqual({ x: 20, y: 0 })
+    const insideTriggerBox =
+      Math.abs(spot.x - 20) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES &&
+      Math.abs(spot.y - 0) <= SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES
+    expect(insideTriggerBox).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('ignores walkable tiles inside trigger radius and finds the nearest valid tile outside', () => {
+    // Only the trigger tile itself and its immediate neighbors (radius 2) are walkable
+    const blockedSet = new Set<number>()
+    for (let i = 0; i < 50 * 50; i++) blockedSet.add(i)
+    // Clear trigger tile and one tile far inward
+    blockedSet.delete(0 * 50 + 20) // trigger (20, 0)
+    blockedSet.delete(1 * 50 + 20) // (20, 1) inside trigger box
+    blockedSet.delete(10 * 50 + 20) // (20, 10) valid outside trigger box
+
+    const grid = makeGrid(50, 50, blockedSet)
+    const spot = seamArrivalSpot(grid, 20, 0, 'north')
+
+    expect(spot).toEqual({ x: 20, y: 10 })
+    expect(Math.abs(spot.y - 0)).toBeGreaterThan(SEAM_TRIGGER_SUBTILES)
+  })
+})