diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index e5fff04..1164dcc 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -435,7 +435,9 @@ pub fn shape_geometry(shape: &Shape, w: f64, h: f64) -> Geometry {
                 let (pw, ph) = (if p.w > 0.0 { p.w } else { w.max(1e-9) }, if p.h > 0.0 { p.h } else { h.max(1e-9) });
                 let mut bp = parse_path(&p.d);
                 bp.apply_affine(Affine::scale_non_uniform(w / pw, h / ph));
-                out.push(SubPath { path: bp, fill: p.fill, stroke: p.stroke, even_odd: false });
+                // PowerPoint fills each custom path's sub-paths alternately (even-odd): a sub-path
+                // inside another cuts a hole whichever way it winds, as in icons and outlined text.
+                out.push(SubPath { path: bp, fill: p.fill, stroke: p.stroke, even_odd: true });
             }
             Geometry { paths: out, text_rect: Rect::new(0.0, 0.0, w, h), handles: vec![], sites: vec![] }
         }
@@ -1614,6 +1616,9 @@ pub fn render_shape(pres: &Presentation, slide: &Slide, id: ShapeId, scale: f64)
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests_wild;
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod mt_tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/crates/render/src/tests_wild.rs b/crates/render/src/tests_wild.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6da19b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/render/src/tests_wild.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+//! Render tests for shape, line, fill and effect cases checked against PowerPoint's own exports
+//! of synthetic "wild" slides (observed black-box; see `plan/powerpoint/tools/gen_wild.py`).
+
+use super::*;
+use deckcraft_color::Rgba;
+use deckcraft_model::style::ColorRef;
+use deckcraft_model::{CustomPath, Geom, Presentation, Shape, ShapeId, Xfrm};
+
+fn deck_with(shapes: Vec<Shape>) -> Presentation {
+    let mut p = Presentation::default();
+    let s = std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut p.slides[0]);
+    s.shapes = shapes;
+    p
+}
+
+fn render(shapes: Vec<Shape>) -> Image {
+    render_slide(&deck_with(shapes), 0, &RenderOpts { scale: 1.0, ..Default::default() })
+}
+
+fn solid(c: Rgba) -> Option<Fill> {
+    Some(Fill::solid(ColorRef::rgb(c)))
+}
+
+fn no_line() -> Option<Line> {
+    Some(Line { fill: Some(Fill::None), ..Default::default() })
+}
+
+fn close(px: [u8; 4], c: Rgba, tol: i32) -> bool {
+    (px[0] as i32 - c.r as i32).abs() <= tol && (px[1] as i32 - c.g as i32).abs() <= tol && (px[2] as i32 - c.b as i32).abs() <= tol
+}
+
+const WHITE: Rgba = Rgba::WHITE;
+const RED: Rgba = Rgba::rgb(255, 0, 0);
+
+#[test]
+fn custom_geometry_sub_paths_cut_holes_whichever_way_they_wind() {
+    // Outer square clockwise, inner square also clockwise: PowerPoint still shows a hole.
+    let d = "M 0 0 L 100 0 L 100 100 L 0 100 Z M 25 25 L 75 25 L 75 75 L 25 75 Z";
+    let sh = Shape {
+        id: ShapeId(10),
+        xfrm: Some(Xfrm::new(100.0, 100.0, 200.0, 200.0)),
+        geom: Geom::Custom { paths: vec![CustomPath { w: 100.0, h: 100.0, d: d.into(), ..Default::default() }] },
+        fill: solid(RED),
+        line: no_line(),
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let img = render(vec![sh]);
+    assert!(close(img.pixel(120, 120), RED, 2), "outer ring filled");
+    assert!(close(img.pixel(200, 200), WHITE, 2), "inner square is a hole: {:?}", img.pixel(200, 200));
+}