diff --git a/forgetest/forgetest/baseline.py b/forgetest/forgetest/baseline.py
index 0c19c7b..a29a6ee 100644
--- a/forgetest/forgetest/baseline.py
+++ b/forgetest/forgetest/baseline.py
@@ -133,6 +133,13 @@ GRBL_PORT_S = 30                    # the Grbl port after the supervisor reports
 
 XY_STEPS_PER_MM = 53.333            # boards/glowforge.h (x8 microstepping)
 RETURN_MAX_MM = 100.0               # a displaced head is jogged back at most this far
+# The counters count steps; the controller's own returns land within a
+# tenth of a millimeter of where they started, not on the step. A
+# difference under this is that quantization, not a leftover: the head is
+# still put back, so nothing accumulates over a campaign, but the test
+# that made it does not fail for it. X and Y only - Z is the lens, which
+# the return never moves, so any Z difference is still a leftover.
+POSITION_DEADBAND_MM = 0.1
 
 # The XY microstep mode (the xy_microsteps setting: 8, 16 or 32; unset =
 # 8). The GRBL controller reads it at its start and derives its scale,
@@ -198,6 +205,19 @@ def read_position():
         return None
 
 
+def position_quantized(was, now):
+    """True when two step-counter readings differ by no more than the
+    dead band on X and Y and not at all on Z: the step quantization of a
+    move that landed where it meant to, rather than a leftover. A cancel
+    that returns the head to the job start lands within a few hundredths
+    of a millimeter, which is a step or four, and whether that rounds to
+    the same integer is chance."""
+    if was is None or now is None or now[2] != was[2]:
+        return False
+    return (abs(now[0] - was[0]) / XY_STEPS_PER_MM <= POSITION_DEADBAND_MM and
+            abs(now[1] - was[1]) / XY_STEPS_PER_MM <= POSITION_DEADBAND_MM)
+
+
 def read_ring_residue():
     """Unplayed bytes queued in the kernel pulse ring: total written minus
     processed (the cnc/position byte counters), or None when unreadable.
@@ -677,7 +697,12 @@ class Baseline:
         was = captured.get("position")
         now = read_position()
         if was is not None and now is not None and now != was and not self.cloud_mode():
-            left.append(Leftover("position", now, was, self._return_head(was, now)))
+            act = self._return_head(was, now)
+            if position_quantized(was, now):
+                self.log("position: %s (expected %s) -> %s; inside the %.2f mm dead band, "
+                         "not a leftover" % (now, was, act, POSITION_DEADBAND_MM))
+            else:
+                left.append(Leftover("position", now, was, act))
         was = captured.get("settings")
         if was:
             st, body = self.fc_get("/settings")
diff --git a/forgetest/tests/test_baseline.py b/forgetest/tests/test_baseline.py
index 1318432..f27f8ca 100644
--- a/forgetest/tests/test_baseline.py
+++ b/forgetest/tests/test_baseline.py
@@ -354,6 +354,31 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
 
 
+class PositionDeadbandTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """The counters count steps and a controller's own return lands within
+    a few hundredths of a millimeter, not on the step: a difference that
+    small is quantization, not a leftover. Found on the bench reference,
+    where motion.lid-cancel-home returned the head twice, each within
+    0.04 mm, and failed the hand-back on the four steps left over."""
+
+    def test_a_few_steps_of_xy_are_the_quantization(self):
+        self.assertTrue(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], [4, 0, 0]))
+        self.assertTrue(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], [-4, 4, 0]))
+        self.assertTrue(baseline.position_quantized([10, 20, 30], [10, 20, 30]))
+
+    def test_past_the_dead_band_is_a_leftover(self):
+        over = int(baseline.POSITION_DEADBAND_MM * baseline.XY_STEPS_PER_MM) + 2
+        self.assertFalse(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], [over, 0, 0]))
+        self.assertFalse(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], [0, over, 0]))
+
+    def test_z_is_exact_because_the_return_never_moves_it(self):
+        self.assertFalse(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], [0, 0, 1]))
+
+    def test_an_unreadable_reading_is_never_quantization(self):
+        self.assertFalse(baseline.position_quantized(None, [0, 0, 0]))
+        self.assertFalse(baseline.position_quantized([0, 0, 0], None))
+
+
 class BaselineModeTests(BaselineTests):
     """The baseline against a fake forgectrl: what the mode in force
     owns. Reuses the fake sysfs tree of BaselineTests; only the new