diff --git a/d2lib/d2.go b/d2lib/d2.go
index 5b497b594..10fbb02e7 100644
--- a/d2lib/d2.go
+++ b/d2lib/d2.go
@@ -71,15 +71,15 @@ func compile(ctx context.Context, g *d2graph.Graph, opts *CompileOptions) (*d2ta
 
 		constantNearGraphs := d2near.WithoutConstantNears(ctx, g)
 
+		layoutWithGrids := d2grid.Layout(ctx, g, coreLayout)
+
 		// run core layout for constantNears
 		for _, tempGraph := range constantNearGraphs {
-			if err = coreLayout(ctx, tempGraph); err != nil {
+			if err = layoutWithGrids(ctx, tempGraph); err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
 
-		layoutWithGrids := d2grid.Layout(ctx, g, coreLayout)
-
 		err = d2sequence.Layout(ctx, g, layoutWithGrids)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err