diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 3a9659009..eb39e9122 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -1455,6 +1455,7 @@ void ncplane_move_bottom(ncplane* n){
 // if above is NULL, we're moving to the bottom
 void ncplane_move_family_above(ncplane* restrict n, ncplane* restrict bpoint){
   ncplane* above = ncplane_above(n);
+  ncplane* below = ncplane_below(n);
   ncplane_move_above(n, bpoint);
   // traverse the planes above n, until we hit NULL. do the planes above n
   // first, so that we know the topmost element of our new ensplicification.
@@ -1472,7 +1473,6 @@ void ncplane_move_family_above(ncplane* restrict n, ncplane* restrict bpoint){
   // careful this time not to cross into any we moved below n.
   const ncplane* topmost = targ;
   targ = n;
-  ncplane* below = ncplane_below(n);
   while(below && below != topmost){
     ncplane* tmp = ncplane_below(below);
     if(ncplane_descendant_p(below, n)){
@@ -1486,6 +1486,7 @@ void ncplane_move_family_above(ncplane* restrict n, ncplane* restrict bpoint){
 // if below is NULL, we're moving to the top
 void ncplane_move_family_below(ncplane* restrict n, ncplane* restrict bpoint){
   ncplane* below = ncplane_below(n);
+  ncplane* above = ncplane_above(n);
   ncplane_move_below(n, bpoint);
   // traverse the planes below n, until we hit NULL. do the planes below n
   // first, so that we know the bottommost element of our new ensplicification.
@@ -1503,7 +1504,6 @@ void ncplane_move_family_below(ncplane* restrict n, ncplane* restrict bpoint){
   // careful this time not to cross into any we moved below n.
   const ncplane* bottommost = targ;
   targ = n;
-  ncplane* above = ncplane_above(n);
   while(above && above != bottommost){
     ncplane* tmp = ncplane_above(above);
     if(ncplane_descendant_p(above, n)){
diff --git a/src/tests/zaxis.cpp b/src/tests/zaxis.cpp
index 3174379c9..535c776b2 100644
--- a/src/tests/zaxis.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/zaxis.cpp
@@ -225,14 +225,13 @@ TEST_CASE("ZAxis") {
     CHECK(ncplane_below(e) == n_);
     CHECK(ncpile_bottom(n_) == n_);
     ncplane_move_family_bottom(c);
-    // ABDsCE, E is bound to C (FIXME have ABDEsC)
     CHECK(ncpile_top(n_) == a);
     CHECK(ncplane_below(a) == b);
     CHECK(ncplane_below(b) == d);
-    CHECK(ncplane_below(d) == e);
-    CHECK(ncplane_below(e) == n_);
+    CHECK(ncplane_below(d) == n_);
     CHECK(ncplane_below(n_) == c);
-    CHECK(ncpile_bottom(n_) == c);
+    CHECK(ncplane_below(c) == e);
+    CHECK(ncpile_bottom(n_) == e);
   }
 
   CHECK(0 == notcurses_stop(nc_));