diff --git a/apps/shaders_lab/shaders_lab.exe b/apps/shaders_lab/shaders_lab.exe
index dbf0fa62..2c1d905a 100755
Binary files a/apps/shaders_lab/shaders_lab.exe and b/apps/shaders_lab/shaders_lab.exe differ
diff --git a/cpp/functions/gfx/dag_node_editor.cpp b/cpp/functions/gfx/dag_node_editor.cpp
index 2685d02b..0c7538c4 100644
--- a/cpp/functions/gfx/dag_node_editor.cpp
+++ b/cpp/functions/gfx/dag_node_editor.cpp
@@ -117,6 +117,14 @@ static bool topo_sort(std::vector<DagStep>& pipeline) {
     std::vector<DagStep> sorted;
     sorted.reserve(static_cast<size_t>(n));
     for (int idx : order) sorted.push_back(pipeline[static_cast<size_t>(idx)]);
+
+    // Force Output nodes to the back so all their dependencies live at smaller
+    // indices (compiler and cycle validator search strictly before the target).
+    std::stable_partition(sorted.begin(), sorted.end(), [](const DagStep& s) {
+        const DagNodeDef* d = dag_find(s.name);
+        return !(d && d->kind == DagKind::Output);
+    });
+
     pipeline = std::move(sorted);
     return true;
 }
@@ -174,7 +182,15 @@ bool dag_node_editor(std::vector<DagStep>& pipeline) {
             ImVec2 canvas_pos = ed::ScreenToCanvas(s_pending_add_pos);
             step.editor_pos_x = canvas_pos.x;
             step.editor_pos_y = canvas_pos.y;
-            pipeline.push_back(step);
+            // Insert before the Output node so the Output stays at the back;
+            // otherwise new nodes can never be wired into it (compiler and
+            // cycle check only search indices strictly before the target).
+            auto insert_it = pipeline.end();
+            for (auto it = pipeline.begin(); it != pipeline.end(); ++it) {
+                const DagNodeDef* d = dag_find(it->name);
+                if (d && d->kind == DagKind::Output) { insert_it = it; break; }
+            }
+            pipeline.insert(insert_it, step);
             changed = true;
         }
         s_pending_add = false;
@@ -246,7 +262,15 @@ bool dag_node_editor(std::vector<DagStep>& pipeline) {
             } else if (ctrl.kind == DagControl::Kind::Color) {
                 int pr = ctrl.param_idx[0];
                 if (pr >= 0 && pr + 2 < 4) {
-                    ImGui::ColorEdit3(uid_lbl, &step.params[static_cast<size_t>(pr)]);
+                    // Suspend the node editor while the color picker popup is
+                    // open so its clicks don't reach the canvas (and so the
+                    // popup isn't clipped to the node bounds).
+                    ed::Suspend();
+                    ImGui::ColorEdit3(uid_lbl, &step.params[static_cast<size_t>(pr)],
+                                      ImGuiColorEditFlags_NoInputs |
+                                      ImGuiColorEditFlags_NoLabel   |
+                                      ImGuiColorEditFlags_AlphaBar);
+                    ed::Resume();
                 }
             }
         }