diff --git a/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go b/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
index 83892aada..e2b9c5ecc 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2sequence/layout_test.go
@@ -383,3 +383,39 @@ func TestNestedSequenceDiagrams(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestSelfEdges(t *testing.T) {
+	g := d2graph.NewGraph(nil)
+	g.Root.Attributes.Shape = d2graph.Scalar{Value: d2target.ShapeSequenceDiagram}
+	n1 := g.Root.EnsureChild([]string{"n1"})
+	n1.Box = geo.NewBox(nil, 100, 100)
+
+	g.Edges = []*d2graph.Edge{
+		{
+			Src:   n1,
+			Dst:   n1,
+			Index: 0,
+			Attributes: d2graph.Attributes{
+				Label: d2graph.Scalar{Value: "left to right"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	ctx := log.WithTB(context.Background(), t, nil)
+	Layout(ctx, g, func(ctx context.Context, g *d2graph.Graph) error {
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	route := g.Edges[0].Route
+	if len(route) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected route to have 4 points, got %d", len(route))
+	}
+
+	if route[0].X != route[3].X {
+		t.Fatalf("route does not end at the same actor, start at %.5f, end at %.5f", route[0].X, route[3].X)
+	}
+
+	if route[3].Y-route[0].Y != MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE {
+		t.Fatalf("expected route height to be %.f5, got %.5f", MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE, route[3].Y-route[0].Y)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go b/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
index b08a89a6f..ca51a6243 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2sequence/sequence_diagram.go
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) placeActors() {
 //        │
 //        │
 func (sd *sequenceDiagram) addLifelineEdges() {
-	endY := sd.getMessageY(len(sd.messages))
+	lastRoute := sd.messages[len(sd.messages)-1].Route
+	endY := lastRoute[len(lastRoute)-1].Y + MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE
 	for _, actor := range sd.actors {
 		actorBottom := actor.Center()
 		actorBottom.Y = actor.TopLeft.Y + actor.Height
@@ -241,6 +242,7 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) routeMessages() {
 	for rank, message := range sd.messages {
 		message.ZIndex = 2
 		isLeftToRight := message.Src.TopLeft.X < message.Dst.TopLeft.X
+		isSelfMessage := message.Src == message.Dst
 
 		// finds the proper anchor point based on the message direction
 		var startX, endX float64
@@ -252,7 +254,9 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) routeMessages() {
 			startX = message.Src.TopLeft.X
 		}
 
-		if sd.isActor(message.Dst) {
+		if isSelfMessage {
+			endX = startX
+		} else if sd.isActor(message.Dst) {
 			endX = message.Dst.Center().X
 		} else if isLeftToRight {
 			endX = message.Dst.TopLeft.X
@@ -260,14 +264,25 @@ func (sd *sequenceDiagram) routeMessages() {
 			endX = message.Dst.TopLeft.X + message.Dst.Width
 		}
 
-		messageY := sd.getMessageY(rank)
-		message.Route = []*geo.Point{
-			geo.NewPoint(startX, messageY),
-			geo.NewPoint(endX, messageY),
+		startY := sd.getMessageY(rank)
+		if isSelfMessage {
+			message.Route = []*geo.Point{
+				geo.NewPoint(startX, startY),
+				geo.NewPoint(startX+MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE, startY),
+				geo.NewPoint(startX+MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE, startY+MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE),
+				geo.NewPoint(startX, startY+MIN_MESSAGE_DISTANCE),
+			}
+		} else {
+			message.Route = []*geo.Point{
+				geo.NewPoint(startX, startY),
+				geo.NewPoint(endX, startY),
+			}
 		}
 
 		if message.Attributes.Label.Value != "" {
-			if isLeftToRight {
+			if isSelfMessage {
+				message.LabelPosition = go2.Pointer(string(label.InsideMiddleCenter))
+			} else if isLeftToRight {
 				message.LabelPosition = go2.Pointer(string(label.OutsideTopCenter))
 			} else {
 				// the label will be placed above the message because the orientation is based on the edge normal vector