diff --git a/internal/verifier/worker.go b/internal/verifier/worker.go
index 29fd8d9..b386bea 100644
--- a/internal/verifier/worker.go
+++ b/internal/verifier/worker.go
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ func selectorForElement(tree *hierarchy.Tree, element *hierarchy.Element) string
 //	taps/doubleTaps/longPresses: clickable + enabled + positive bounds
 //	typing:                      editable + enabled + positive bounds
 //	scrolls:                     scrollable attribute + positive bounds
-//	swipes:                      any in-scope element
+//	swipes:                      any in-scope element with positive bounds
 //
 // Every candidate carries the resolving selector so the runner can re-route by
 // id/text. Out-of-scope nodes (the soft keyboard, system UI) are always dropped.
@@ -689,7 +689,11 @@ func verbAccepts(verb string, element *hierarchy.Element) bool {
 	case "scrolls":
 		return element.Attributes["scrollable"] == "true" && positiveBounds
 	case "swipes":
-		return true
+		// Any visible element is a valid swipe origin, but it must have real
+		// bounds: a zero-bounds node centers at (0,0), and a downward swipe from
+		// the top-left corner is the system gesture that pulls down the
+		// notification shade, dragging the fuzzer out of the app.
+		return positiveBounds
 	default:
 		return false
 	}
diff --git a/internal/verifier/worker_test.go b/internal/verifier/worker_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57b3dbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/verifier/worker_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package verifier
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/priyanshujain/sanderling/internal/hierarchy"
+)
+
+// TestVerbAcceptsSwipeRequiresPositiveBounds locks the fix for the notification
+// shade: a zero-bounds element centers at (0,0), and a downward swipe from the
+// top-left corner is the system gesture that pulls the shade over the app. The
+// swipe verb must reject zero-bounds nodes like every other verb does.
+func TestVerbAcceptsSwipeRequiresPositiveBounds(t *testing.T) {
+	zeroBounds := &hierarchy.Element{Bounds: hierarchy.Bounds{}}
+	if verbAccepts("swipes", zeroBounds) {
+		t.Error("swipes must reject a zero-bounds element (it centers at (0,0) and pulls the notification shade)")
+	}
+
+	realBounds := &hierarchy.Element{Bounds: hierarchy.Bounds{Left: 100, Top: 400, Right: 980, Bottom: 600}}
+	if !verbAccepts("swipes", realBounds) {
+		t.Error("swipes must accept an element with positive bounds")
+	}
+}