diff --git a/internal/opconst/ops.go b/internal/opconst/ops.go
index c3c20a06..ec6dca77 100644
--- a/internal/opconst/ops.go
+++ b/internal/opconst/ops.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ const (
 	TypeLinearGradient
 	TypeArea
 	TypePointerInput
-	TypePass
 	TypeClipboardRead
 	TypeClipboardWrite
 	TypeKeyInput
@@ -45,9 +44,8 @@ const (
 	TypePaintLen           = 1
 	TypeColorLen           = 1 + 4
 	TypeLinearGradientLen  = 1 + 8*2 + 4*2
-	TypeAreaLen            = 1 + 1 + 4*4
+	TypeAreaLen            = 1 + 1 + 1 + 4*4
 	TypePointerInputLen    = 1 + 1 + 1 + 2*4 + 2*4
-	TypePassLen            = 1 + 1
 	TypeClipboardReadLen   = 1
 	TypeClipboardWriteLen  = 1
 	TypeKeyInputLen        = 1 + 1
@@ -90,7 +88,6 @@ func (t OpType) Size() int {
 		TypeLinearGradientLen,
 		TypeAreaLen,
 		TypePointerInputLen,
-		TypePassLen,
 		TypeClipboardReadLen,
 		TypeClipboardWriteLen,
 		TypeKeyInputLen,
@@ -142,8 +139,6 @@ func (t OpType) String() string {
 		return "Area"
 	case TypePointerInput:
 		return "PointerInput"
-	case TypePass:
-		return "Pass"
 	case TypeClipboardRead:
 		return "ClipboardRead"
 	case TypeClipboardWrite:
diff --git a/io/pointer/doc.go b/io/pointer/doc.go
index 7243b945..559e2743 100644
--- a/io/pointer/doc.go
+++ b/io/pointer/doc.go
@@ -65,14 +65,17 @@ When determining which handlers match an Event, only handlers whose
 areas contain the event position are considered. The matching
 proceeds as follows.
 
-First, the foremost matching handler is included. If the handler
-has pass-through enabled, this step is repeated.
+First, the foremost area that contains the event is found. If no such area
+exists, matching stops.
 
-Then, all matching handlers from the current node and all parent
-nodes are included.
+Then, every handler attached to the area or an area in the area stack is
+matched with the event.
+
+Third, If the area or any area in the area stack has pass-through enabled,
+the matching repeats with the next foremost area.
 
 In the example above, all events will go to h2 only even though both
-handlers have the same area (the entire screen).
+handlers have the same area (the implicit area that fills the window).
 
 Pass-through
 
diff --git a/io/pointer/pointer.go b/io/pointer/pointer.go
index b495f06d..d592b8f5 100644
--- a/io/pointer/pointer.go
+++ b/io/pointer/pointer.go
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ type Event struct {
 // hit area and the area. The area is transformed before applying
 // it.
 type AreaOp struct {
+	// PassThrough areas and their children don't block events to siblings
+	// them.
+	PassThrough bool
+
 	kind areaKind
 	rect image.Rectangle
 }
@@ -72,11 +76,6 @@ type InputOp struct {
 	ScrollBounds image.Rectangle
 }
 
-// PassOp sets the pass-through mode.
-type PassOp struct {
-	Pass bool
-}
-
 type ID uint16
 
 // Type of an Event.
@@ -190,11 +189,14 @@ func (op AreaOp) Add(o *op.Ops) {
 	data := o.Write(opconst.TypeAreaLen)
 	data[0] = byte(opconst.TypeArea)
 	data[1] = byte(op.kind)
+	if op.PassThrough {
+		data[2] = 1
+	}
 	bo := binary.LittleEndian
-	bo.PutUint32(data[2:], uint32(op.rect.Min.X))
-	bo.PutUint32(data[6:], uint32(op.rect.Min.Y))
-	bo.PutUint32(data[10:], uint32(op.rect.Max.X))
-	bo.PutUint32(data[14:], uint32(op.rect.Max.Y))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[3:], uint32(op.rect.Min.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[7:], uint32(op.rect.Min.Y))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[11:], uint32(op.rect.Max.X))
+	bo.PutUint32(data[15:], uint32(op.rect.Max.Y))
 }
 
 func (op CursorNameOp) Add(o *op.Ops) {
@@ -223,14 +225,6 @@ func (op InputOp) Add(o *op.Ops) {
 	bo.PutUint32(data[15:], uint32(op.ScrollBounds.Max.Y))
 }
 
-func (op PassOp) Add(o *op.Ops) {
-	data := o.Write(opconst.TypePassLen)
-	data[0] = byte(opconst.TypePass)
-	if op.Pass {
-		data[1] = 1
-	}
-}
-
 func (t Type) String() string {
 	switch t {
 	case Press:
diff --git a/io/router/pointer.go b/io/router/pointer.go
index 229960ba..579e6e42 100644
--- a/io/router/pointer.go
+++ b/io/router/pointer.go
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ type pointerQueue struct {
 type hitNode struct {
 	next int
 	area int
-	// Pass tracks the most recent PassOp mode.
-	pass bool
 
 	// For handler nodes.
 	tag event.Tag
@@ -65,6 +63,7 @@ type pointerHandler struct {
 }
 
 type areaOp struct {
+	pass bool
 	kind areaKind
 	rect f32.Rectangle
 }
@@ -73,6 +72,7 @@ type areaNode struct {
 	trans f32.Affine2D
 	next  int
 	area  areaOp
+	pass  bool
 }
 
 type areaKind uint8
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ type areaKind uint8
 type collectState struct {
 	t    f32.Affine2D
 	node int
-	pass bool
 }
 
 const (
@@ -115,20 +114,18 @@ func (q *pointerQueue) collectHandlers(r *ops.Reader, events *handlerEvents) {
 			if mask&^opconst.TransformState != 0 {
 				state = s
 			}
-		case opconst.TypePass:
-			state.pass = encOp.Data[1] != 0
 		case opconst.TypeArea:
 			var op areaOp
 			op.Decode(encOp.Data)
 			area := -1
-			if n := state.node; n != -1 {
-				area = q.hitTree[n].area
+			if i := state.node; i != -1 {
+				n := q.hitTree[i]
+				area = n.area
 			}
-			q.areas = append(q.areas, areaNode{trans: state.t, next: area, area: op})
+			q.areas = append(q.areas, areaNode{trans: state.t, next: area, area: op, pass: op.pass})
 			q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{
 				next: state.node,
 				area: len(q.areas) - 1,
-				pass: state.pass,
 			})
 			state.node = len(q.hitTree) - 1
 		case opconst.TypeTransform:
@@ -141,13 +138,13 @@ func (q *pointerQueue) collectHandlers(r *ops.Reader, events *handlerEvents) {
 				Types: pointer.Type(encOp.Data[2]),
 			}
 			area := -1
-			if n := state.node; n != -1 {
-				area = q.hitTree[n].area
+			if i := state.node; i != -1 {
+				n := q.hitTree[i]
+				area = n.area
 			}
 			q.hitTree = append(q.hitTree, hitNode{
 				next: state.node,
 				area: area,
-				pass: state.pass,
 				tag:  op.Tag,
 			})
 			state.node = len(q.hitTree) - 1
@@ -189,11 +186,12 @@ func (q *pointerQueue) opHit(handlers *[]event.Tag, pos f32.Point) {
 	idx := len(q.hitTree) - 1
 	for idx >= 0 {
 		n := &q.hitTree[idx]
-		if !q.hit(n.area, pos) {
+		hit, areaPass := q.hit(n.area, pos)
+		if !hit {
 			idx--
 			continue
 		}
-		pass = pass && n.pass
+		pass = pass && areaPass
 		if pass {
 			idx--
 		} else {
@@ -214,16 +212,18 @@ func (q *pointerQueue) invTransform(areaIdx int, p f32.Point) f32.Point {
 	return q.areas[areaIdx].trans.Invert().Transform(p)
 }
 
-func (q *pointerQueue) hit(areaIdx int, p f32.Point) bool {
+func (q *pointerQueue) hit(areaIdx int, p f32.Point) (bool, bool) {
+	pass := false
 	for areaIdx != -1 {
 		a := &q.areas[areaIdx]
 		p := a.trans.Invert().Transform(p)
 		if !a.area.Hit(p) {
-			return false
+			return false, false
 		}
 		areaIdx = a.next
+		pass = pass || a.pass
 	}
-	return true
+	return true, pass
 }
 
 func (q *pointerQueue) reset() {
@@ -466,17 +466,18 @@ func (op *areaOp) Decode(d []byte) {
 	}
 	rect := f32.Rectangle{
 		Min: f32.Point{
-			X: opDecodeFloat32(d[2:]),
-			Y: opDecodeFloat32(d[6:]),
+			X: opDecodeFloat32(d[3:]),
+			Y: opDecodeFloat32(d[7:]),
 		},
 		Max: f32.Point{
-			X: opDecodeFloat32(d[10:]),
-			Y: opDecodeFloat32(d[14:]),
+			X: opDecodeFloat32(d[11:]),
+			Y: opDecodeFloat32(d[15:]),
 		},
 	}
 	*op = areaOp{
 		kind: areaKind(d[1]),
 		rect: rect,
+		pass: d[2] != 0,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/widget/example_test.go b/widget/example_test.go
index 185643b1..7cda7ca1 100644
--- a/widget/example_test.go
+++ b/widget/example_test.go
@@ -28,11 +28,12 @@ func ExampleClickable_passthrough() {
 
 	// widget lays out two buttons on top of each other.
 	widget := func() {
-		// button2 completely covers button1, but PassOp allows pointer
-		// events to pass through to button1.
 		button1.Layout(gtx)
-		// PassOp is applied to the area defined by button1.
-		pointer.PassOp{Pass: true}.Add(gtx.Ops)
+		area := pointer.Rect(image.Rectangle{Max: gtx.Constraints.Max})
+		// button2 completely covers button1, but pass-through allows pointer
+		// events to pass through to button1.
+		area.PassThrough = true
+		area.Add(gtx.Ops)
 		button2.Layout(gtx)
 	}
 
diff --git a/widget/material/list.go b/widget/material/list.go
index 281c77b9..2037bbaa 100644
--- a/widget/material/list.go
+++ b/widget/material/list.go
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func (s ScrollbarStyle) layout(gtx layout.Context, axis layout.Axis, viewportSta
 			// Stack a normal clickable area on top of the draggable area
 			// to capture non-dragging clicks.
 			saved := op.Save(gtx.Ops)
-			pointer.PassOp{Pass: true}.Add(gtx.Ops)
+			pointerArea.PassThrough = true
 			pointerArea.Add(gtx.Ops)
 			s.Scrollbar.AddTrack(gtx.Ops)
 			saved.Load()
@@ -208,8 +208,9 @@ func (s ScrollbarStyle) layout(gtx layout.Context, axis layout.Axis, viewportSta
 				}.Op(gtx.Ops))
 
 				// Add the indicator pointer hit area.
-				pointer.PassOp{Pass: true}.Add(gtx.Ops)
-				pointer.Rect(image.Rectangle{Max: indicatorDims}).Add(gtx.Ops)
+				area := pointer.Rect(image.Rectangle{Max: indicatorDims})
+				area.PassThrough = true
+				area.Add(gtx.Ops)
 				s.Scrollbar.AddIndicator(gtx.Ops)
 
 				return layout.Dimensions{Size: axis.Convert(gtx.Constraints.Min)}