diff --git a/src/bank_panel.cpp b/src/bank_panel.cpp
index 64a64c7..827e927 100644
--- a/src/bank_panel.cpp
+++ b/src/bank_panel.cpp
@@ -2584,6 +2584,13 @@ void handleClick(int x, int y) {
         g_panel.dragStartX = x;
         g_panel.dragStartY = y;
         g_panel.dragSourceRegion = reg;
+        // Capture the mouse NOW so WM_MOUSEMOVE is delivered even when the pointer leaves the
+        // panel client rect before the drag threshold is crossed. Without capture, outside moves
+        // are not delivered, so a fast straight-out drag never transitions dragArmed → dragging
+        // and the OS drag-out never fires on the first pass. The capture is released on button-up
+        // (no drag: onLBtnUp dragArmed branch; drag: OsDrag path or onLBtnUp dragging branch)
+        // and on WM_CAPTURECHANGED (stolen or external release — already calls resetDragState).
+        SetCapture(g_panel.hwnd);
         invalidatePanel();
         return;
     }
@@ -2950,7 +2957,7 @@ void onMouseMove(int x, int y) {
             }
             g_panel.hovered = Hover{};  // clear hover — the drag owns the visual feedback now
             g_panel.tooltipShown = false;  // a drag never shows a tooltip
-            SetCapture(g_panel.hwnd);
+            // SetCapture was already called at drag-arm time (handleClick); no re-capture needed.
         }
     }
     if (g_panel.dragging) {
@@ -3129,6 +3136,8 @@ void onLBtnUp(int x, int y) {
     } else if (g_panel.dragArmed) {
         // Press-release on a selected cell with no drag: treat as a plain click that
         // collapses the multi-selection to the pressed cell (standard behavior).
+        // Release capture acquired at arm time (handleClick) — drag never started.
+        if (GetCapture() == g_panel.hwnd) ReleaseCapture();
         const BankIndex* idx = indexForRegion(g_panel.focusedRegion);
         const int count = idx ? static_cast<int>(idx->size()) : 0;
         const int focus = g_panel.selection.focus;