diff --git a/examples/glfw_demo.cpp b/examples/glfw_demo.cpp
index 7f7b2f1..3f28d33 100644
--- a/examples/glfw_demo.cpp
+++ b/examples/glfw_demo.cpp
@@ -512,15 +512,6 @@ int main() {
   p.set_cursor_snap(cursor_b, plot::SnapMode::NearestSample);
   const u32 measure = p.add_measure(cursor_a, cursor_b, trace);
 
-  // The region the direct-manipulation script drags and the pixels are counted from. Its
-  // bounds are placed by the script, once the view it is measured against has been frozen.
-  plot::Region region_desc;
-  region_desc.snap = plot::RegionSnap::Free;
-  region_desc.fill = kRegionFill;
-  region_desc.edge = kRegionEdge;
-  region_desc.label = "roi";
-  const u32 region = p.add_region(region_desc);
-
   Meter meter;
   /// The scripted live-follow verification, off unless `PLOT_DEMO_FOLLOW` asks for
   /// it. It is the same shape as the headless smoke mode above: a driven run whose
@@ -529,6 +520,17 @@ int main() {
   /// The scripted region sequence, off unless `PLOT_DEMO_REGIONS` asks for it. Same shape
   /// as the follow script: a driven run whose verdict is carried out in its `failed`.
   RegionScript region_script = RegionScript::from_env();
+
+  // The region that script drags, and the element the pixel counts are of. It exists only
+  // while the script is armed: the default run is the frame the four adapters copy, and an
+  // element nothing drives would be a change to it rather than a demonstration. The script
+  // places its bounds once the view it is measured against has been frozen.
+  plot::Region region_desc;
+  region_desc.snap = plot::RegionSnap::Free;
+  region_desc.fill = kRegionFill;
+  region_desc.edge = kRegionEdge;
+  region_desc.label = "roi";
+  const u32 region = region_script.enabled ? p.add_region(region_desc) : 0u;
   // The cursors ride the live window until the user takes over: the first
   // ctrl+drag on a cursor, or a pan/zoom that clears the x axis' auto scale,
   // stops them where the user put them. Under `Live` the follow path owns the x
@@ -688,20 +690,22 @@ int main() {
               stats.draw_calls, stats.lod_traces, stats.raw_traces);
   std::printf("[glfw_demo] measurement   %s dx %g s dy %g rms %g mean %g\n",
               m.valid ? "valid:" : "INVALID", m.dx, m.dy, m.rms, m.mean);
-  std::printf("[glfw_demo] region        x [%g, %g] s, snap %s, %s; checks %s\n",
-              p.region(region).x0, p.region(region).x1,
-              p.region(region).snap == plot::RegionSnap::Free ? "free" : "nearest sample",
-              region_script.enabled ? (region_script.hover ? "bound hovered at exit" : "pointer off the data area at exit") : "not driven",
-              region_script.enabled ? (region_script.failed ? "FAILED" : "passed") : "-");
-  if (const plot::RegionLayout* rl = region_layout(p, region); rl != nullptr) {
-    // The last frame's geometry, as the layout measured it: the rects the fills, bounds
-    // and pixel counts all have to agree with.
-    std::printf("[glfw_demo] region        fill x %.1f y %.1f w %.1f h %.1f, bounds at %.1f and"
-                " %.1f, tab w %.1f, label w %.1f\n",
-                rl->fill.x, rl->fill.y, rl->fill.w, rl->fill.h,
-                static_cast<plot::f64>(plot::handle_column(rl->left_handle)),
-                static_cast<plot::f64>(plot::handle_column(rl->right_handle)),
-                rl->left_handle.w, rl->label.w);
+  if (region_script.enabled) {
+    std::printf("[glfw_demo] region        %u: x [%g, %g] s, snap %s, %s; checks %s\n", region,
+                p.region(region).x0, p.region(region).x1,
+                p.region(region).snap == plot::RegionSnap::Free ? "free" : "nearest sample",
+                region_script.hover ? "bound hovered at exit" : "pointer off the data area at exit",
+                region_script.failed ? "FAILED" : "passed");
+    if (const plot::RegionLayout* rl = region_layout(p, region); rl != nullptr) {
+      // The last frame's geometry, as the layout measured it: the rect the fill, the bound
+      // strokes and the pixel counts all have to agree with.
+      std::printf("[glfw_demo] region        fill x %.1f y %.1f w %.1f h %.1f, bounds at %.1f and"
+                  " %.1f, tab w %.1f, label w %.1f\n",
+                  rl->fill.x, rl->fill.y, rl->fill.w, rl->fill.h,
+                  static_cast<plot::f64>(plot::handle_column(rl->left_handle)),
+                  static_cast<plot::f64>(plot::handle_column(rl->right_handle)),
+                  rl->left_handle.w, rl->label.w);
+    }
   }
   std::printf("[glfw_demo] upload path   %s, gl error on the last frame %d\n",
               r != nullptr && r->using_persistent_upload() ? "persistent-mapped ring" : "orphan",