diff --git a/backend/fluksio/api/routes/flows.py b/backend/fluksio/api/routes/flows.py
index af7fda6..8e8457e 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/api/routes/flows.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/api/routes/flows.py
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ def read_node_source(
 
 
 def _follow_header(
-    controller: FlowController, name: str, node_id: str, code: str
+    controller: FlowController, name: str, node_id: str, code: str, drop: bool
 ) -> FlowDef | None:
     """Bring a function node's ports and settings in line with its header.
 
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ def _follow_header(
         or definition.origin
     ):
         return None
-    followed = follow_header(node, code)
+    followed = follow_header(node, code, drop)
     if followed == node:
         return None
     definition.nodes = [followed if n.id == node_id else n for n in definition.nodes]
@@ -716,6 +716,7 @@ async def save_node_source(
     source: NodeSource,
     controller: FlowControllerDep,
     user: CurrentUser,
+    drop: bool = True,
 ) -> Any:
     """Save a node's source as an unpublished edit and report whether it loads.
 
@@ -730,7 +731,9 @@ async def save_node_source(
 
     A node with its own code takes its input ports and settings from the
     header of ``process`` (see `follow_header`), and the answer carries the
-    node when that changed it.
+    node when that changed it. ``drop=false`` is the editor's autosave, which
+    adds and renames from the header but keeps what it no longer names until
+    the editor is left.
     """
     definition = _read_flow(controller, name)
     ref = _source_ref(definition, node_id)
@@ -746,7 +749,7 @@ async def save_node_source(
             controller.store.write_node_source, name, node_id, source.code, True
         )
     followed = await run_in_threadpool(
-        _follow_header, controller, name, node_id, source.code
+        _follow_header, controller, name, node_id, source.code, drop
     )
     node_def = next((n for n in definition.nodes if n.id == node_id), None)
     device = (
diff --git a/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py b/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
index ba631d1..1ee81ad 100644
--- a/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
+++ b/backend/fluksio/flow/controller.py
@@ -1837,7 +1837,7 @@ def _signature_gap(
     )
 
 
-def follow_header(node: NodeDef, code: str) -> NodeDef:
+def follow_header(node: NodeDef, code: str, drop: bool = True) -> NodeDef:
     """The node with its input ports and settings read off ``def process(...)``.
 
     The inverse of the canvas's scaffold, which writes the input ports first,
@@ -1845,7 +1845,9 @@ def follow_header(node: NodeDef, code: str) -> NodeDef:
     keeps its kind. A new one is a setting when it has a default, which becomes
     its value, or when it follows a setting, and an input port otherwise. One
     name swapped for one other is a rename, so the port keeps its message and
-    the setting its value. A declared name the header no longer has is dropped.
+    the setting its value. A declared name the header no longer has is dropped,
+    unless ``drop`` is false: code saved while it is still being typed keeps
+    those, so a pause mid-edit does not cost a port its message.
 
     A header this cannot read for certain leaves the node as it is: a syntax
     error, no top-level ``def process``, a decorator, ``*args``, ``**kwargs``,
@@ -1907,6 +1909,13 @@ def follow_header(node: NodeDef, code: str) -> NodeDef:
             after_setting = True
         else:
             requires.append(MessageSpec(port=name))
+    if not drop:
+        kept = set(gone) - set(renamed.values())
+        # Where they were, so that typing the name back changes nothing.
+        for index, spec in enumerate(node.requires):
+            if spec.port in kept:
+                requires.insert(index, spec)
+        params |= {key: settings[key] for key in kept if key in settings}
     # Ports the header cannot name, such as a row not named yet, stay.
     requires += [spec for spec in node.requires if not written(spec.port)]
     return node.model_copy(update={"requires": requires, "params": params})
diff --git a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_flows.py b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_flows.py
index a83a281..c6ac2a8 100644
--- a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_flows.py
+++ b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_flows.py
@@ -580,6 +580,13 @@ def test_saving_a_header_moves_the_node_ports_in_the_draft(
     assert response["version"] == saved["definition"]["version"] + 1
     logger = next(n for n in draft["definition"]["nodes"] if n["id"] == "logger")
     assert logger["params"] == {"gain": 2}
+    # The editor's autosave: a parameter typed away keeps its port for now.
+    paused = client.put(
+        f"{PREFIX}/header/nodes/logger/source?drop=false",
+        headers=superuser_token_headers,
+        json={"code": "def process(reading, gain=2):\n    return {}\n"},
+    ).json()
+    assert paused["node"] is None
 
     client.delete(f"{PREFIX}/header", headers=superuser_token_headers)
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/flow/test_node_settings.py b/backend/tests/flow/test_node_settings.py
index 96a2650..8d88182 100644
--- a/backend/tests/flow/test_node_settings.py
+++ b/backend/tests/flow/test_node_settings.py
@@ -192,6 +192,21 @@ def test_a_renamed_parameter_keeps_the_message_and_a_dropped_one_goes():
     assert dropped.params == {"factor": 3}
 
 
+def test_without_drop_a_missing_parameter_stays_and_the_rest_follows():
+    node = _flow(
+        [*READING, MessageSpec(name="garden.level", port="depth")], factor=3
+    ).nodes[0]
+
+    paused = follow_header(node, "def process(depth): pass\n", drop=False)
+    renamed = follow_header(node, "def process(value, depth, factor): pass\n", False)
+    added = follow_header(node, "def process(depth, gain=2): pass\n", drop=False)
+
+    assert paused == node
+    assert renamed.requires[0] == READING[0].model_copy(update={"port": "value"})
+    assert [spec.port for spec in added.requires] == ["reading", "depth"]
+    assert added.params == {"factor": 3, "gain": 2}
+
+
 def test_a_new_parameter_after_a_setting_is_a_setting():
     node = _flow(READING, factor=3).nodes[0]
 
diff --git a/docs/code/nodes.md b/docs/code/nodes.md
index 4b6dec3..65a3bd5 100644
--- a/docs/code/nodes.md
+++ b/docs/code/nodes.md
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ settings are kept in step, in both directions.
 - Saving the code reads that line back. A name the node already has keeps
   its kind. A new parameter becomes a setting when it has a default, which
   becomes its value, or when it comes after a setting. Any other new
-  parameter becomes an input port. Removing a parameter removes its port or
-  setting, and renaming a single one renames the port (keeping its message)
-  or the setting (keeping its value).
+  parameter becomes an input port. Renaming a single one renames the port
+  (keeping its message) or the setting (keeping its value). Removing a
+  parameter removes its port or setting once you leave the editor, so one
+  deleted mid-edit and typed back keeps its message.
 - Shared code, code from `fluksio sync`, and a header with a decorator,
   `*args`, `**kwargs`, a bare `*` or `/` are left alone in both directions.
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/client/sdk.gen.ts b/frontend/src/client/sdk.gen.ts
index 221429d..e7a5bb3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/sdk.gen.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/sdk.gen.ts
@@ -1119,11 +1119,14 @@ export class FlowsService {
      *
      * A node with its own code takes its input ports and settings from the
      * header of ``process`` (see `follow_header`), and the answer carries the
-     * node when that changed it.
+     * node when that changed it. ``drop=false`` is the editor's autosave, which
+     * adds and renames from the header but keeps what it no longer names until
+     * the editor is left.
      * @param data The data for the request.
      * @param data.name
      * @param data.nodeId
      * @param data.requestBody
+     * @param data.drop
      * @returns NodeSourceSaved Successful Response
      * @throws ApiError
      */
@@ -1135,6 +1138,9 @@ export class FlowsService {
                 name: data.name,
                 node_id: data.nodeId
             },
+            query: {
+                drop: data.drop
+            },
             body: data.requestBody,
             mediaType: 'application/json',
             errors: {
diff --git a/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts b/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
index f825088..4bde084 100644
--- a/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/client/types.gen.ts
@@ -1849,6 +1849,7 @@ export type FlowsReadNodeSourceData = {
 export type FlowsReadNodeSourceResponse = (NodeSource);
 
 export type FlowsSaveNodeSourceData = {
+    drop?: boolean;
     name: string;
     nodeId: string;
     requestBody: NodeSource;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
index 0ee46dc..4f73c5c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Flow/FlowEditor.tsx
@@ -865,7 +865,15 @@ function FlowEditorInner({
   })
 
   const sourceMutation = useMutation({
-    mutationFn: async ({ nodeId, code }: { nodeId: string; code: string }) => {
+    mutationFn: async ({
+      nodeId,
+      code,
+      drop,
+    }: {
+      nodeId: string
+      code: string
+      drop?: boolean
+    }) => {
       // The server reads the ports off the header and compares them with its
       // draft, so the ports on the canvas have to be there first.
       await flush()
@@ -873,8 +881,12 @@ function FlowEditorInner({
         name: flowName,
         nodeId,
         requestBody: { code },
+        drop,
       })
     },
+    // One at a time: the save that drops a port must not land before the
+    // autosave that kept it.
+    scope: { id: `source:${flowName}` },
     onSuccess: (saved) => {
       const followed = saved.node
       if (followed && saved.version) {
@@ -1454,8 +1466,9 @@ function FlowEditorInner({
         onToggleExpand={() => setEditorExpanded((wide) => !wide)}
         onChange={updateNode}
         onRenameMessage={proposeRename}
-        onSaveSource={(code) => {
-          if (selected) sourceMutation.mutate({ nodeId: selected.id, code })
+        onSaveSource={(code, drop) => {
+          if (selected)
+            sourceMutation.mutate({ nodeId: selected.id, code, drop })
         }}
         // Sharing rewrites the stored document, so the canvas takes the
         // server's copy rather than keeping its own.
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodeEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodeEditor.tsx
index f0fc50f..8a052ac 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodeEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodeEditor.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import Editor from "@monaco-editor/react"
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react"
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react"
 
 import { useTheme } from "@/components/theme-provider"
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton"
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ import { monacoFontFamily, setupMonaco } from "./monacoSetup"
 export default function NodeEditor({
   value,
   onChange,
+  onBlur,
   language = "python",
   readOnly = false,
   autoFocus = false,
 }: {
   value: string
   onChange: (next: string) => void
+  /** Focus left the editor, its find and suggest widgets included. */
+  onBlur?: () => void
   language?: "python" | "json"
   /** Generated code: readable, and not this panel's to change. */
   readOnly?: boolean
@@ -27,6 +30,8 @@ export default function NodeEditor({
 }) {
   const { resolvedTheme } = useTheme()
   const [ready, setReady] = useState(false)
+  const blur = useRef(onBlur)
+  blur.current = onBlur
 
   useEffect(() => {
     setupMonaco()
@@ -43,7 +48,10 @@ export default function NodeEditor({
       theme={resolvedTheme === "dark" ? "fluksio-dark" : "fluksio-light"}
       value={value}
       onChange={(next) => onChange(next ?? "")}
-      onMount={autoFocus ? (editor) => editor.focus() : undefined}
+      onMount={(editor) => {
+        editor.onDidBlurEditorWidget(() => blur.current?.())
+        if (autoFocus) editor.focus()
+      }}
       loading={<Skeleton className="h-full w-full rounded-md" />}
       options={{
         readOnly,
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodePanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodePanel.tsx
index f09bfe4..4ec558a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodePanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Flow/NodePanel.tsx
@@ -1409,7 +1409,8 @@ function PanelBody({
   expanded: boolean
   onChange: (next: NodeDef_Input) => void
   onRenameMessage: (previous: string, next: string) => void
-  onSaveSource: (code: string) => void
+  /** `drop` is false while the code is still being typed; see `settle`. */
+  onSaveSource: (code: string, drop: boolean) => void
   onShared: () => void
   onToggleExpand: () => void
 }) {
@@ -1431,6 +1432,7 @@ function PanelBody({
   // only overwrite the first.
   const portMove = useRef<[string, string | null] | null>(null)
   const timer = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null)
+  // Code typed since the editor was last left.
   const pending = useRef<string | null>(null)
   const save = useRef(onSaveSource)
   save.current = onSaveSource
@@ -1441,7 +1443,22 @@ function PanelBody({
       clearTimeout(timer.current)
       timer.current = null
     }
-    if (pending.current !== null) save.current(pending.current)
+    if (pending.current !== null) save.current(pending.current, false)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The editor was left, so the code is saved once more, now dropping the
+   * ports and settings its header no longer names. Saves while typing only
+   * add and rename, so a parameter deleted mid-edit keeps its port and
+   * message until then, and typing it back changes nothing.
+   */
+  const settle = () => {
+    if (timer.current) {
+      clearTimeout(timer.current)
+      timer.current = null
+    }
+    if (pending.current !== null) save.current(pending.current, true)
+    pending.current = null
   }
 
   const editCode = (next: string) => {
@@ -1450,7 +1467,7 @@ function PanelBody({
     if (timer.current) clearTimeout(timer.current)
     timer.current = setTimeout(() => {
       timer.current = null
-      save.current(next)
+      save.current(next, false)
     }, 1000)
   }
 
@@ -1520,13 +1537,13 @@ function PanelBody({
     ["mod+s"],
   )
 
-  // Closing the panel must not lose the last keystrokes.
+  // Closing the panel leaves the editor too, and must not lose the last
+  // keystrokes.
   useEffect(() => {
     return () => {
-      if (timer.current) {
-        clearTimeout(timer.current)
-        if (pending.current !== null) save.current(pending.current)
-      }
+      if (timer.current) clearTimeout(timer.current)
+      if (pending.current !== null) save.current(pending.current, true)
+      pending.current = null
     }
   }, [])
 
@@ -1704,6 +1721,7 @@ function PanelBody({
               <NodeEditor
                 value={code ?? source?.code ?? ""}
                 onChange={editCode}
+                onBlur={settle}
                 readOnly={Boolean(origin) || !mayEditCode}
               />
             </Suspense>
@@ -1745,7 +1763,7 @@ export function NodePanel({
   expanded: boolean
   onChange: (next: NodeDef_Input) => void
   onRenameMessage: (previous: string, next: string) => void
-  onSaveSource: (code: string) => void
+  onSaveSource: (code: string, drop: boolean) => void
   onShared: () => void
   onToggleExpand: () => void
   onClose: () => void