diff --git a/crates/engine/src/commands/time.rs b/crates/engine/src/commands/time.rs
index f98ea5ed..a2a1ffb4 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/commands/time.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/commands/time.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ pub fn parse_display_time(s: &Session, comp: &Comp, text: &str, current: i64) ->
             effectcraft_time::parse_feet_frames(text, pf, current + start).map(|f| f - start).map_err(|e| e.0)
         }
         None => {
-            let parsed = effectcraft_time::parse_timecode(text, fr, fr.supports_drop_frame(), current).map_err(|e| e.0)?;
+            // The Timeline shows non-drop timecode (`:`), so typed `:`/`.` text is read as non-drop
+            // too; only explicit `;` fields mean drop-frame (#890).
+            let drop_frame = fr.supports_drop_frame() && text.contains(';');
+            let parsed = effectcraft_time::parse_timecode(text, fr, drop_frame, current).map_err(|e| e.0)?;
             let relative = text.trim().starts_with('+') || text.trim().starts_with('-');
             if relative {
                 Ok(parsed)
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_timeline.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_timeline.rs
index 6a74a23b..efa3bf5a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_timeline.rs
@@ -414,6 +414,25 @@ fn time_set_snaps_to_the_nearest_frame_and_ae_timecode() {
     assert_eq!(effectcraft_time::format_timecode_ae(75, fr, true), "0;00;02;15");
 }
 
+/// #890: at 29.97 / 59.94 fps the displayed (non-drop) timecode was read back as drop-frame, so
+/// committing the current-time field moved the playhead to another frame from minute 1 on.
+#[test]
+fn time_set_round_trips_the_displayed_timecode_at_drop_frame_rates() {
+    for fps in [29.97, 59.94] {
+        let mut s = Session::default();
+        s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "T", "width": 64, "height": 64, "frameRate": fps, "duration": 4000})).unwrap();
+        for frame in [0_i64, 1799, 1800, 1801, 3600, 17982, 17983, 100_000] {
+            let r = s.execute("time.set", json!({"frame": frame})).unwrap();
+            let display = r["display"].as_str().unwrap().to_string();
+            let r = s.execute("time.set", json!({"timecode": display})).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(r["frame"], frame, "{fps} fps: displayed {display}");
+        }
+        // Explicit drop-frame fields still mean drop-frame.
+        let r = s.execute("time.set", json!({"timecode": "0;01;00;02"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(r["frame"], if fps > 30.0 { 3598 } else { 1800 });
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn time_set_keeps_the_frame_shown_in_the_current_time_field() {
     let mut s = Session::default();