diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/transport.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/transport.rs
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/transport.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/transport.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
     vec![
         cmd!(noundo "transport.play", "Play", [], Some("Space"), "{from?: position}", always, |e, p| {
             if let Some(at) = position_param(e, "transport.play", p, "from")? {
-                e.transport_requests.push(TransportRequest::Locate(at.max(0)));
+                e.transport_requests.push(TransportRequest::PlayFrom(at.max(0)));
+            } else {
+                e.transport_requests.push(TransportRequest::Play);
             }
-            e.transport_requests.push(TransportRequest::Play);
             Ok(json!({}))
         }),
         cmd!(noundo "transport.stop", "Stop", [], Some("Space"), "{}", always, |e, _| { e.transport_requests.push(TransportRequest::Stop); Ok(json!({})) }),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
--- a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ pub enum TransportRequest {
     /// Stop the old session's transport without applying stop-time edits to the new document.
     ResetSession,
     Play,
+    /// Start playing at this position (or move there if already playing), ignoring the selection.
+    PlayFrom(Samples),
     Stop,
     TogglePlay,
     Record,
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -1117,6 +1117,20 @@ impl SoundApp {
                         self.play_from_selection();
                     }
                 }
+                TransportRequest::PlayFrom(at) => {
+                    if self.is_playing() {
+                        if let Some(p) = &self.player {
+                            p.locate(at);
+                        }
+                        if let Some(sim) = &mut self.sim {
+                            sim.0 = at;
+                        }
+                        self.last_write_at = i64::MIN;
+                        self.engine.transport.position = at;
+                    } else {
+                        self.start_play(at, None, None);
+                    }
+                }
                 TransportRequest::Stop | TransportRequest::Pause => self.stop_play(),
                 TransportRequest::TogglePlay => {
                     if self.is_playing() {
@@ -1473,6 +1487,21 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(app.engine.transport.position, 0);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn play_from_starts_at_from_regardless_of_the_selection() {
+        let mut app = SoundApp::new(soundcraft_engine::demo::demo_engine(), None, Services::default());
+        app.run("edit.select", json!({"tracks": ["Kick"], "start": 7_632_000, "end": 7_680_000})).unwrap();
+        app.run("transport.play", json!({"from": 4_560_000})).unwrap();
+        app.handle_transport(0.25);
+        assert!(app.is_playing());
+        assert_eq!(app.engine.transport.position, 4_560_000 + 12_000);
+
+        app.run("transport.play", json!({"from": 96_000})).unwrap();
+        app.handle_transport(0.25);
+        assert!(app.is_playing());
+        assert_eq!(app.engine.transport.position, 96_000 + 12_000);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn record_with_nothing_armed_says_what_to_do() {
         let mut app = SoundApp::new(soundcraft_engine::Engine::default(), None, Services::default());