diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
index 7dbe71c1..132ec54c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
@@ -252,6 +252,33 @@ fn pen_tool_draws_closed_path() {
     assert!(p.is_closed());
 }
 
+/// Auto Add/Delete: a Pen click on a selected path's segment adds an anchor, unless General →
+/// Disable Auto Add/Delete is on.
+#[test]
+fn pen_click_on_a_selected_path_adds_an_anchor_unless_disabled() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    let v = ViewInfo::default();
+    let r = s.execute("path.create", &json!({"anchors": [{"x": 10, "y": 100}, {"x": 110, "y": 100}, {"x": 210, "y": 100}]})).unwrap();
+    let id = NodeId(r["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    s.execute("select.all", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    s.select_tool("pen", v).unwrap();
+    let click = |s: &mut Session| {
+        s.pointer(&PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Down, 60.0, 101.0), v).unwrap();
+        s.pointer(&PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Up, 60.0, 101.0), v).unwrap();
+    };
+    click(&mut s);
+    let d = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+    assert_eq!(d.layers[0].children().unwrap().len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(d.node(id).unwrap().path_data().unwrap().anchor_count(), 4);
+    s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("prefs.set", &json!({"key": "disableAutoAddDelete", "value": true})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("select.all", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    click(&mut s);
+    let d = &s.doc().unwrap().doc;
+    assert_eq!(d.layers[0].children().unwrap().len(), 2, "a new path starts");
+    assert_eq!(d.node(id).unwrap().path_data().unwrap().anchor_count(), 3);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn direct_selection_moves_one_anchor() {
     let mut s = session();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tooling.rs b/crates/engine/src/tooling.rs
index 27402ec1..1f095a9d 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tooling.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tooling.rs
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ impl Session {
             paste_plain_text: self.prefs.paste_text_formatting == "plain",
             slices_hidden: self.menu.slices_hidden,
             slices_locked: self.menu.slices_locked,
+            auto_add_delete: !self.prefs.disable_auto_add_delete,
             screen: view.screen,
             plane_widget: self.prefs.perspective_widget.show.then_some(self.prefs.perspective_widget.position),
         };
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
index 7b948fc8..df3b90a0 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/lib.rs
@@ -250,6 +250,9 @@ pub struct ToolContext<'a> {
     pub slices_hidden: bool,
     /// View → Lock Slices: the Slice Selection tool leaves locked slices alone.
     pub slices_locked: bool,
+    /// General → Disable Auto Add/Delete is off: the Pen adds an anchor on a selected path's
+    /// segment and deletes one of its anchors.
+    pub auto_add_delete: bool,
     /// The document window (none headless): screen-fixed widgets sit in it.
     pub screen: Option<ScreenFrame>,
     /// Where the Plane Switching Widget sits (Perspective Grid Options); None while it's hidden.
@@ -520,6 +523,7 @@ pub(crate) mod testutil {
             paste_plain_text: false,
             slices_hidden: false,
             slices_locked: false,
+            auto_add_delete: true,
             screen: None,
             plane_widget: Some(Default::default()),
         }
diff --git a/crates/tools/src/pen.rs b/crates/tools/src/pen.rs
index 93c53607..ea11aea6 100644
--- a/crates/tools/src/pen.rs
+++ b/crates/tools/src/pen.rs
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 //! Clicking the first anchor closes the path. Clicking the last one retracts its outgoing handle, so
 //! the next segment leaves it as a corner; dragging from it pulls a new one out on its own.
 //! Enter/Esc (or switching tools) ends the path. Clicking the end of a selected open path continues
-//! it. The rubber-band preview shows the next segment. On a selected blend's spine a click adds a
-//! point (on a point no key object sits on: deletes it).
+//! it. The rubber-band preview shows the next segment. Auto Add/Delete: between paths, a click on a
+//! segment of a selected path adds an anchor there and a click on one of its anchors deletes it
+//! (Shift held or General → Disable Auto Add/Delete starts a new path instead). On a selected
+//! blend's spine a click adds a point (on a point no key object sits on: deletes it).
 
 use serde_json::json;
 use vectorcraft_doc::{NodeId, NodeKind};
-use vectorcraft_geom::{BezPath, Point};
+use vectorcraft_geom::{BezPath, PathData, Point};
 
 use crate::{Action, Cursor, Mods, Overlay, PointerEvent, PointerKind, Tool, ToolContext, ToolKey};
 
@@ -118,6 +120,9 @@ impl Tool for PenTool {
                     }
                     return vec![];
                 }
+                if let Some(act) = auto_add_delete(cx, ev.pos, ev.mods, tol) {
+                    return vec![act];
+                }
                 self.drawing = true;
                 self.drag = Some((p, false));
                 vec![Action::Begin("Pen".into()), Action::Preview("path.create".into(), json!({"anchors": [{"x": p.x, "y": p.y}]}))]
@@ -210,7 +215,7 @@ impl Tool for PenTool {
         let c = cx.doc.layer_color(id);
         vec![Overlay::Path { path: bp, color: c, width: 1.0, dashed: false }]
     }
-    fn cursor(&self, cx: &ToolContext, p: Point, _m: Mods) -> Cursor {
+    fn cursor(&self, cx: &ToolContext, p: Point, m: Mods) -> Cursor {
         if !self.drawing {
             match spine_click(cx, p, cx.tol(5.0)).as_deref() {
                 Some([Action::Exec(c, _)]) if c == "object.blend.spine.removeAnchor" => return Cursor::PenDelete,
@@ -230,10 +235,52 @@ impl Tool for PenTool {
                 return Cursor::PenContinue;
             }
         }
+        if !self.drawing {
+            match auto_add_delete(cx, p, m, cx.tol(5.0)) {
+                Some(Action::Exec(c, _)) if c == "path.removeAnchor" => return Cursor::PenDelete,
+                Some(_) => return Cursor::PenAdd,
+                None => {}
+            }
+        }
         Cursor::Pen
     }
 }
 
+/// Auto Add/Delete: what a click at `p` does to a selected path. On one of its anchors it deletes
+/// it; else, where one of its segments passes within `tol`, it adds an anchor. None when the
+/// preference turns it off, Shift is held, or no selected path is there.
+fn auto_add_delete(cx: &ToolContext, p: Point, m: Mods, tol: f64) -> Option<Action> {
+    if !cx.auto_add_delete || m.shift {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let paths: Vec<(NodeId, &PathData)> = cx
+        .selection
+        .objects
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|id| cx.doc.is_editable(**id))
+        .filter_map(|&id| match &cx.doc.node(id)?.kind {
+            NodeKind::Path { path, guide: false, .. } => Some((id, path)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    let mut best: Option<(NodeId, usize, usize, f64)> = None;
+    for (id, path) in &paths {
+        for (si, ai, a) in path.anchors() {
+            let d = a.p.distance(p);
+            if d <= tol && best.is_none_or(|b| d < b.3) {
+                best = Some((*id, si, ai, d));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some((id, si, ai, _)) = best {
+        return Some(Action::Exec("path.removeAnchor".into(), json!({"id": id.0, "subpath": si, "anchor": ai})));
+    }
+    paths.iter().find_map(|(id, path)| {
+        let (si, seg, t, _, d) = path.nearest(p)?;
+        (d <= tol).then(|| Action::Exec("path.insertAnchor".into(), json!({"id": id.0, "subpath": si, "segment": seg, "t": t})))
+    })
+}
+
 /// A click on a selected blend's spine: delete the point under `p` when no key object sits on it
 /// (a key's point does nothing), else add one where the spine passes within `tol`.
 fn spine_click(cx: &ToolContext, p: Point, tol: f64) -> Option<Vec<Action>> {
@@ -426,4 +473,49 @@ mod tests {
         // A key's own point is left alone (the click snaps to the spine line).
         assert_eq!(t.pointer(&cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Down, 110.0, 310.0)), vec![]);
     }
+
+    fn click(t: &mut PenTool, cx: &ToolContext, x: f64, y: f64, m: Mods) -> Vec<Action> {
+        let acts = t.pointer(cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Down, x, y).with_mods(m));
+        t.pointer(cx, &PointerEvent::new(PointerKind::Up, x, y).with_mods(m));
+        acts
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn clicking_a_selected_path_adds_or_deletes_an_anchor() {
+        let (mut d, _) = doc_with_rect();
+        let l = d.layers[0].id;
+        let id = d.alloc_id();
+        let pts = [Point::new(300.0, 400.0), Point::new(350.0, 300.0), Point::new(400.0, 400.0)];
+        let path = PathData::single(vectorcraft_geom::SubPath::polyline(&pts, false));
+        d.insert(Some(l), 1, vectorcraft_doc::Node::path(id, path, vectorcraft_doc::Appearance::default_art())).unwrap();
+        let mut s = Selection::default();
+        s.set([id]);
+        let p = paint();
+        let off = ToolContext { auto_add_delete: false, ..cx(&d, &s, &p) };
+        let cx = cx(&d, &s, &p);
+        let none = Mods::default();
+        let mut t = PenTool::default();
+        // On a segment: add an anchor there.
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(325.0, 351.0), none), Cursor::PenAdd);
+        let a = click(&mut t, &cx, 325.0, 351.0, none);
+        assert!(matches!(&a[..], [Action::Exec(c, v)] if c == "path.insertAnchor" && v["id"] == id.0 && v["segment"] == 0), "{a:?}");
+        // On an anchor: delete it.
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(350.0, 302.0), none), Cursor::PenDelete);
+        let a = click(&mut t, &cx, 350.0, 302.0, none);
+        assert_eq!(a, vec![Action::Exec("path.removeAnchor".into(), json!({"id": id.0, "subpath": 0, "anchor": 1}))]);
+        // An end still continues the path.
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(400.0, 400.0), none), Cursor::PenContinue);
+        // Shift, or the preference turned off, starts a new path instead.
+        let shift = Mods { shift: true, ..Mods::default() };
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&cx, Point::new(325.0, 351.0), shift), Cursor::Pen);
+        assert_eq!(t.cursor(&off, Point::new(350.0, 302.0), none), Cursor::Pen);
+        let a = click(&mut t, &off, 350.0, 302.0, none);
+        assert!(matches!(&a[..], [Action::Begin(_), Action::Preview(c, _)] if c == "path.create"), "{a:?}");
+        // While a path is being drawn, a click goes on drawing it.
+        let a = click(&mut t, &cx, 325.0, 351.0, none);
+        assert!(matches!(&a[..], [Action::Begin(_), Action::Preview(c, _)] if c == "path.appendAnchor"), "{a:?}");
+        let mut t = PenTool::default();
+        let a = click(&mut t, &cx, 325.0, 351.0, shift);
+        assert!(matches!(&a[..], [Action::Begin(_), Action::Preview(c, _)] if c == "path.create"), "{a:?}");
+    }
 }