diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/pathops.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/pathops.rs
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/pathops.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/pathops.rs
@@ -430,6 +430,17 @@ fn offset_rect_grows_bounds() {
     assert!(close(bounds(&s, r[0]), Rect::new(105.0, 105.0, 145.0, 135.0), 1e-2));
 }
 
+/// #3773: an open path whose last anchor sits on its first is offset as the closed shape, not as a
+/// ring around its outline.
+#[test]
+fn offset_open_path_whose_ends_meet_grows_the_shape() {
+    let mut s = session();
+    s.execute("path.create", &json!({"d": "M0 0 L40 0 L40 40 L0 40 L0 0"})).unwrap();
+    let r = ids(&s.execute("object.path.offsetPath", &json!({"offset": 2, "joins": "miter"})).unwrap());
+    assert!((area_of(&s, r[0]) - 44.0 * 44.0).abs() < 1e-3, "{}", area_of(&s, r[0]));
+    assert_eq!(path_of(&s, r[0]).0.subpaths.len(), 1);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn outline_stroke_of_line() {
     let mut s = session();
diff --git a/crates/pathops/src/offset.rs b/crates/pathops/src/offset.rs
--- a/crates/pathops/src/offset.rs
+++ b/crates/pathops/src/offset.rs
@@ -94,13 +94,15 @@ pub fn stroke_region(outlines: &[BezPath]) -> PathData {
 
 /// Object → Path → Offset Path. Positive `delta` grows the filled area, negative insets it.
 /// Closed subpaths are treated as a non-zero filled region; open subpaths are outlined with a
-/// stroke of width `2|delta|` (butt caps).
+/// stroke of width `2|delta|` (butt caps). An open subpath whose last anchor sits on its first is
+/// offset as a closed one.
 pub fn offset_path(path: &PathData, delta: f64, join: Join, miter_limit: f64) -> PathData {
     if !delta.is_finite() || path.is_empty() {
         return PathData::default();
     }
-    let closed = PathData::new(path.subpaths.iter().filter(|s| s.closed && s.anchors.len() > 1).cloned().collect());
-    let open: Vec<SubPath> = path.subpaths.iter().filter(|s| !s.closed && s.anchors.len() > 1).cloned().collect();
+    let subpaths: Vec<SubPath> = path.subpaths.iter().map(close_if_ends_meet).collect();
+    let closed = PathData::new(subpaths.iter().filter(|s| s.closed && s.anchors.len() > 1).cloned().collect());
+    let open: Vec<SubPath> = subpaths.into_iter().filter(|s| !s.closed && s.anchors.len() > 1).collect();
     let d = delta.abs();
     let fill = fill_bezpath(&closed);
     let ring = if d > 0.0 { stroke_bez(&closed.to_bezpath(), 2.0 * d, Cap::Butt, join, miter_limit) } else { BezPath::new() };
@@ -128,6 +130,23 @@ pub fn offset_path(path: &PathData, delta: f64, join: Join, miter_limit: f64) ->
     contours_to_path(&c, keep, &Tidy::free(DEFAULT_PRECISION))
 }
 
+/// An open subpath of three or more anchors whose last anchor lies within 1e-6 of its first (the
+/// test Object → Path → Join applies to one path) as a closed subpath: the last anchor is merged
+/// into the first, which takes its in-handle. Any other subpath is returned unchanged.
+fn close_if_ends_meet(sp: &SubPath) -> SubPath {
+    let mut sp = sp.clone();
+    if !sp.closed
+        && sp.anchors.len() > 2
+        && sp.anchors.first().zip(sp.anchors.last()).is_some_and(|(f, l)| f.p.distance(l.p) < 1e-6)
+        && let Some(last) = sp.anchors.pop()
+        && let Some(first) = sp.anchors.first_mut()
+    {
+        first.h_in = last.h_in;
+        sp.closed = true;
+    }
+    sp
+}
+
 fn has_marked_ancestor(c: &Contours, mut i: usize, marked: &[bool]) -> bool {
     loop {
         if marked[i] {
diff --git a/crates/pathops/tests/it/ops.rs b/crates/pathops/tests/it/ops.rs
--- a/crates/pathops/tests/it/ops.rs
+++ b/crates/pathops/tests/it/ops.rs
@@ -294,6 +294,28 @@ fn offset_rect_joins() {
     assert!(offset_path(&r, -6.0, Join::Miter, 4.0).is_empty());
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn offset_of_an_open_path_whose_ends_meet_is_the_closed_shape_offset() {
+    // Issue #3773: an open path whose last anchor sits on its first offsets like the closed shape,
+    // not as a ring around its outline.
+    let corners = [Point::new(0.0, 0.0), Point::new(20.0, 0.0), Point::new(20.0, 10.0), Point::new(0.0, 10.0), Point::new(0.0, 0.0)];
+    let r = PathData::single(SubPath::polyline(&corners, false));
+    let grown = offset_path(&r, 2.0, Join::Miter, 4.0);
+    assert!(close(ar(&grown), 24.0 * 14.0, 1e-6), "{}", ar(&grown));
+    assert_eq!(grown.subpaths.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(grown.anchor_count(), 4);
+    assert!(close(ar(&offset_path(&r, -2.0, Join::Miter, 4.0)), 16.0 * 6.0, 1e-6));
+    // A curved outline: the last anchor's in-handle shapes the closing curve.
+    let mut sp = circle(0.0, 0.0, 10.0).subpaths.remove(0);
+    let first = sp.anchors[0];
+    sp.anchors.push(vectorcraft_geom::Anchor::with_handles(first.p, first.h_in, first.p));
+    sp.anchors[0].h_in = first.p;
+    sp.closed = false;
+    let o = offset_path(&PathData::single(sp), 3.0, Join::Round, 4.0);
+    assert!(close(ar(&o), PI * 169.0, 2e-3), "{}", ar(&o));
+    assert_eq!(o.subpaths.len(), 1);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn outline_stroke_of_line() {
     let l = PathData::single(SubPath::polyline(&[Point::new(0.0, 0.0), Point::new(30.0, 40.0)], false));