diff --git a/crates/render/src/lib.rs b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
index d0b1619..c437827 100644
--- a/crates/render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/render/src/lib.rs
@@ -125,10 +125,13 @@ fn paint_borders(layout_box: &LayoutBox, list: &mut DisplayList) {
 
 fn paint_text(layout_box: &LayoutBox, list: &mut DisplayList) {
     for line in &layout_box.lines {
-        // Use per-fragment styling from the TextLine.
         let color = line.color;
         let font_size = line.font_size;
 
+        // Record index before pushing glyphs so we can insert the background
+        // before the text in painter's order.
+        let glyph_idx = list.len();
+
         list.push(PaintCommand::DrawGlyphs {
             line: line.clone(),
             font_size,
@@ -150,12 +153,8 @@ fn paint_text(layout_box: &LayoutBox, list: &mut DisplayList) {
 
         // Draw inline background if not transparent.
         if line.background_color.a > 0 && line.width > 0.0 {
-            // Insert background before the text (painter's order).
-            // We add it at the end for simplicity; a real implementation
-            // would insert before the DrawGlyphs.
-            let bg_idx = list.len() - 1; // Index of the DrawGlyphs we just pushed.
             list.insert(
-                bg_idx,
+                glyph_idx,
                 PaintCommand::FillRect {
                     x: line.x,
                     y: line.y,