diff --git a/sras_viewer.py b/sras_viewer.py
index ea9a663..df1bb0b 100644
--- a/sras_viewer.py
+++ b/sras_viewer.py
@@ -2540,16 +2540,19 @@ class SrasViewerWindow(QMainWindow):
         ref_idx = 0
         threshold_mv = self.spin_threshold_mv.value()
         seed: dict[int, ManualAngleParams] = {}
-        if (self._alignment_result is not None
-                and self._alignment_result.ref_angle_idx == ref_idx):
-            seed = {a: ManualAngleParams(t.rotation_deg, t.shift_mm)
-                   for a, t in self._alignment_result.per_angle.items()}
-            threshold_mv = self._alignment_result.dc_threshold_mv
-        else:
-            sidecar = load_manual_alignment(self._sras)
-            if sidecar is not None and sidecar.ref_angle_idx == ref_idx:
-                seed = dict(sidecar.per_angle)
-                threshold_mv = sidecar.dc_threshold_mv
+        # Seed only from a previously *saved manual* alignment (this dialog's
+        # own Save also writes this sidecar) -- never from self._alignment_result
+        # when it holds the automatic Fusion -> Angle Alignment's output. That
+        # path's translation comes from FFT phase correlation, which is the
+        # very thing manual mode exists to work around; inheriting it here
+        # would silently reintroduce the same bad translations under a
+        # "manual" label, on top of the (correct) analytic rotation, which is
+        # exactly what makes manual mode look like it "still does the same
+        # thing" the automatic one does.
+        sidecar = load_manual_alignment(self._sras)
+        if sidecar is not None and sidecar.ref_angle_idx == ref_idx:
+            seed = dict(sidecar.per_angle)
+            threshold_mv = sidecar.dc_threshold_mv
 
         cached_dc4 = {a: img for (a, ch), img in self._dc_cache.items() if ch == CH4_IDX}
         dlg = ManualAlignmentDialog(
diff --git a/tools/test_gui.py b/tools/test_gui.py
index 83a0366..4fd705f 100644
--- a/tools/test_gui.py
+++ b/tools/test_gui.py
@@ -278,20 +278,21 @@ def main():
                          -(float(s.angles_deg[a]) - float(s.angles_deg[0])))
               for a in range(s.n_angles)))
 
-    # --- Open, seeding from the still-live automatic AlignmentResult --------
+    # --- Open: must NOT seed from the still-live automatic AlignmentResult --
+    # The automatic result's translation comes from FFT phase correlation --
+    # the very thing manual mode exists to work around -- so manual mode
+    # must start from identity (centroids coincide, zero shift) regardless
+    # of whatever the automatic run last computed. Only a previously *saved
+    # manual* alignment (sidecar) should ever seed this dialog.
     win._on_manual_alignment()
     check("dialog opened", win._manual_align_dialog is not None)
     dlg = win._manual_align_dialog
     check("mask prep needed no background worker (already DC-cached)",
           not win._job_running("manual_align_masks"))
-    r = win._alignment_result   # still the automatic result from the block above
-    if r is not None:
-        check("seeded rotation matches the automatic result",
-              all(dlg._angle_params[a].rotation_deg == r.per_angle[a].rotation_deg
-                  for a in range(s.n_angles)))
-        check("seeded shift matches the automatic result",
-              all(dlg._angle_params[a].shift_mm == r.per_angle[a].shift_mm
-                  for a in range(s.n_angles)))
+    check("no manual sidecar yet -> dialog starts at identity, not the "
+          "automatic result",
+          all(dlg._angle_params[a] == compute.ManualAngleParams()
+              for a in range(s.n_angles)))
 
     # --- Reference angle is locked -------------------------------------------
     dlg.combo_active_angle.setCurrentIndex(dlg._ref_angle_idx)