diff --git a/io/pointer/doc.go b/io/pointer/doc.go
index 1c22d7e5..0abb3550 100644
--- a/io/pointer/doc.go
+++ b/io/pointer/doc.go
@@ -59,30 +59,29 @@ For example:
 
 implies a tree of two inner nodes, each with one pointer handler attached.
 
-When determining which handlers match an Event, only handlers whose
-areas contain the event position are considered. The matching
-proceeds as follows.
+The matching proceeds as follows.
 
-First, the foremost area that contains the event is found. If no such area
-exists, matching stops.
+First, the foremost area that contains the event is found. Only areas whose
+parent areas all contain the event is considered.
 
-Then, every handler attached to the area or an area in the area stack is
-matched with the event.
+Then, every handler attached to the area 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.
+If all attached handlers are marked pass-through, the matching repeats with the
+next foremost (sibling) area. Otherwise the matching repeats with the parent
+area.
 
-In the example above, all events will go to h2 only even though both
-handlers have the same area (the implicit area that fills the window).
+In the example above, all events will go to h2 because it and h1 are siblings
+and none are pass-through.
 
 Pass-through
 
-The PassOp operations controls the pass-through setting. A handler's
-pass-through setting is recorded along with the InputOp.
+The PassOp operations controls the pass-through setting. All handlers added
+inside one or more PassOp scopes are marked pass-through.
 
-Pass-through handlers are useful for overlay widgets such as a hidden
-side drawer. When the user touches the side, both the (transparent)
-drawer handle and the interface below should receive pointer events.
+Pass-through is useful for overlay widgets. Consider a hidden side drawer: when
+the user touches the side, both the (transparent) drawer handle and the
+interface below should receive pointer events. This effect is achieved by
+marking the drawer handle pass-through.
 
 Disambiguation
 
diff --git a/io/router/pointer.go b/io/router/pointer.go
index 0638dfec..1e6e50f7 100644
--- a/io/router/pointer.go
+++ b/io/router/pointer.go
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ type hitNode struct {
 	area int
 
 	// For handler nodes.
-	tag event.Tag
+	tag  event.Tag
+	pass bool
 }
 
 type cursorNode struct {
@@ -66,7 +67,6 @@ type areaNode struct {
 	trans f32.Affine2D
 	next  int
 	area  areaOp
-	pass  bool
 }
 
 type areaKind uint8
@@ -113,11 +113,12 @@ func (c *pointerCollector) area(op areaOp) {
 		n := c.q.hitTree[i]
 		area = n.area
 	}
-	c.q.areas = append(c.q.areas, areaNode{trans: c.state.t, next: area, area: op, pass: c.state.pass > 0})
+	c.q.areas = append(c.q.areas, areaNode{trans: c.state.t, next: area, area: op})
 	c.nodeStack = append(c.nodeStack, c.state.nodePlusOne-1)
 	c.q.hitTree = append(c.q.hitTree, hitNode{
 		next: c.state.nodePlusOne - 1,
 		area: len(c.q.areas) - 1,
+		pass: true,
 	})
 	c.state.nodePlusOne = len(c.q.hitTree) - 1 + 1
 }
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ func (c *pointerCollector) inputOp(op pointer.InputOp, events *handlerEvents) {
 		next: c.state.nodePlusOne - 1,
 		area: area,
 		tag:  op.Tag,
+		pass: c.state.pass > 0,
 	})
 	c.state.nodePlusOne = len(c.q.hitTree) - 1 + 1
 	h, ok := c.q.handlers[op.Tag]
@@ -197,12 +199,12 @@ func (q *pointerQueue) opHit(handlers *[]event.Tag, pos f32.Point) {
 	idx := len(q.hitTree) - 1
 	for idx >= 0 {
 		n := &q.hitTree[idx]
-		hit, areaPass := q.hit(n.area, pos)
+		hit := q.hit(n.area, pos, n.pass)
 		if !hit {
 			idx--
 			continue
 		}
-		pass = pass && areaPass
+		pass = pass && n.pass
 		if pass {
 			idx--
 		} else {
@@ -223,18 +225,16 @@ 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, bool) {
-	pass := false
+func (q *pointerQueue) hit(areaIdx int, p f32.Point, pass bool) bool {
 	for areaIdx != -1 {
 		a := &q.areas[areaIdx]
 		p := a.trans.Invert().Transform(p)
 		if !a.area.Hit(p) {
-			return false, false
+			return false
 		}
 		areaIdx = a.next
-		pass = pass || a.pass
 	}
-	return true, pass
+	return true
 }
 
 func (q *pointerQueue) reset() {
diff --git a/io/router/pointer_test.go b/io/router/pointer_test.go
index f86fec12..7bc981c0 100644
--- a/io/router/pointer_test.go
+++ b/io/router/pointer_test.go
@@ -686,6 +686,53 @@ func TestCursorNameOp(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPassOp(t *testing.T) {
+	var ops op.Ops
+
+	h1, h2, h3, h4 := new(int), new(int), new(int), new(int)
+	area := pointer.Rect(image.Rect(0, 0, 100, 100))
+	root := area.Push(&ops)
+	pointer.InputOp{Tag: h1, Types: pointer.Press}.Add(&ops)
+	child1 := area.Push(&ops)
+	pointer.InputOp{Tag: h2, Types: pointer.Press}.Add(&ops)
+	child1.Pop()
+	child2 := area.Push(&ops)
+	pass := pointer.PassOp{}.Push(&ops)
+	pointer.InputOp{Tag: h3, Types: pointer.Press}.Add(&ops)
+	pointer.InputOp{Tag: h4, Types: pointer.Press}.Add(&ops)
+	pass.Pop()
+	child2.Pop()
+	root.Pop()
+
+	var r Router
+	r.Frame(&ops)
+	r.Queue(
+		pointer.Event{
+			Type: pointer.Press,
+		},
+	)
+	assertEventSequence(t, r.Events(h1), pointer.Cancel, pointer.Press)
+	assertEventSequence(t, r.Events(h2), pointer.Cancel, pointer.Press)
+	assertEventSequence(t, r.Events(h3), pointer.Cancel, pointer.Press)
+	assertEventSequence(t, r.Events(h4), pointer.Cancel, pointer.Press)
+}
+
+func TestAreaPassthrough(t *testing.T) {
+	var ops op.Ops
+
+	h := new(int)
+	pointer.InputOp{Tag: h, Types: pointer.Press}.Add(&ops)
+	pointer.Rect(image.Rect(0, 0, 100, 100)).Push(&ops).Pop()
+	var r Router
+	r.Frame(&ops)
+	r.Queue(
+		pointer.Event{
+			Type: pointer.Press,
+		},
+	)
+	assertEventSequence(t, r.Events(h), pointer.Cancel, pointer.Press)
+}
+
 // addPointerHandler adds a pointer.InputOp for the tag in a
 // rectangular area.
 func addPointerHandler(ops *op.Ops, tag event.Tag, area image.Rectangle) {