diff --git a/e2e/systems-map.e2e.ts b/e2e/systems-map.e2e.ts
index de7c652..705d3e4 100644
--- a/e2e/systems-map.e2e.ts
+++ b/e2e/systems-map.e2e.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,35 @@ test.describe('Systems Map', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test('SVG node gist dialog restores focus after Escape and the close button', async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    const copy = SIGNATURE_COPY.de.systemsMap;
+    await page.goto(pagePath('services', 'de'));
+    await page.setViewportSize({ width: 1440, height: 900 });
+
+    const svgNode = page.locator('.systems-map-figure .systems-map-node').first();
+    const listNode = page.locator('.systems-map-cards a').first();
+    await expect(page.locator('.systems-map-figure')).toBeVisible();
+
+    await svgNode.click();
+    const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog');
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(dialog).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-modal');
+
+    await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+    await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(listNode).toBeFocused();
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement === document.body)).toBe(false);
+
+    await svgNode.click();
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    await dialog.getByRole('button', { name: copy.closeLabel }).click();
+    await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(listNode).toBeFocused();
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement === document.body)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   test('plain activation opens the gist dialog without navigating', async ({ page }) => {
     const copy = SIGNATURE_COPY.de.systemsMap;
     await page.goto(pagePath('services', 'de'));
@@ -80,6 +109,7 @@ test.describe('Systems Map', () => {
     await first.click();
     const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog');
     await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(dialog).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-modal');
     await expect(page).toHaveURL(new RegExp(`${pagePath('services', 'de')}$`));
     await expect(dialog.getByRole('link')).toHaveAttribute('href', href ?? '');
     await expect(dialog.getByRole('button', { name: copy.closeLabel })).toBeVisible();
@@ -93,6 +123,29 @@ test.describe('Systems Map', () => {
     await expect(first).toBeFocused();
   });
 
+  test('destination and outside activation dismiss the gist and restore focus', async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await page.goto(pagePath('services', 'de'));
+    await page.setViewportSize({ width: 390, height: 844 });
+    const first = page.locator('.systems-map-cards a').first();
+
+    await first.click();
+    const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog');
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    await dialog.getByRole('link').click();
+    await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/#infrastructure-network/);
+    await expect(first).toBeFocused();
+
+    await first.click();
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    await page.locator('.systems-map-heading').click();
+    await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(first).toBeFocused();
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement === document.body)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   test('a modified click follows the node href', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(pagePath('services', 'de'));
     const first = page.locator('.systems-map-cards a').first();
diff --git a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.html b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.html
index 1aa0a1a..cabb1fb 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.html
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@
       #gistDialog
       class="systems-map-dialog"
       role="dialog"
-      aria-modal="true"
       [attr.aria-labelledby]="dialogTitleId"
       [attr.aria-describedby]="dialogDescId"
       tabindex="-1"
       (keydown)="onDialogKeydown($event)"
+      (focusout)="onDialogFocusOut($event)"
     >
       <div class="systems-map-dialog-bar cluster">
         <h3 [id]="dialogTitleId">{{ dialogTitle() }}</h3>
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@
       </div>
       <p class="systems-map-dialog-gist" [id]="dialogDescId">{{ node.gist }}</p>
       <p class="systems-map-dialog-relation">{{ node.relationship }}</p>
-      <a [routerLink]="node.link" [fragment]="node.fragment">{{ node.linkLabel }}</a>
+      <a [routerLink]="node.link" [fragment]="node.fragment" (click)="closeDialog()">{{
+        node.linkLabel
+      }}</a>
     </div>
   }
 </section>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.spec.ts
index 70c48d5..57bea4c 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.spec.ts
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ describe('SystemsMap', () => {
 
     const dialog = compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]');
     expect(dialog).toBeTruthy();
-    expect(dialog?.getAttribute('aria-modal')).toBe('true');
+    expect(dialog?.hasAttribute('aria-modal')).toBe(false);
     expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain(first.label);
     expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain(first.gist);
     expect(dialog?.textContent).toContain(first.relationship);
@@ -141,6 +141,36 @@ describe('SystemsMap', () => {
     expect(navigate).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('restores focus from an SVG node to the matching list anchor, not an aria-hidden target', async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture();
+    const compiled = fixture.nativeElement as HTMLElement;
+    const svgAnchor = compiled.querySelector('svg a');
+    const list = listAnchor(compiled);
+
+    expect(svgAnchor).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(svgAnchor instanceof SVGElement).toBe(true);
+    expect(svgAnchor instanceof HTMLElement).toBe(false);
+    expect(list.getAttribute('tabindex')).not.toBe('-1');
+    expect(list.closest('[aria-hidden="true"]')).toBeNull();
+
+    svgAnchor?.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { button: 0, bubbles: true }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+
+    const dialog = compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]') as HTMLElement;
+    expect(dialog).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(dialog.contains(document.activeElement)).toBe(true);
+
+    compiled.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('.systems-map-dialog-close')?.click();
+    await flush(fixture);
+
+    const restored = document.activeElement as HTMLElement | null;
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(restored).toBe(list);
+    expect(restored?.isConnected).toBe(true);
+    expect(restored?.closest('[aria-hidden="true"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(restored).not.toBe(document.body);
+  });
+
   it('moves focus into the dialog and restores it to the activating node on close', async () => {
     const fixture = await createFixture();
     const compiled = fixture.nativeElement as HTMLElement;
@@ -166,6 +196,91 @@ describe('SystemsMap', () => {
     expect(copy.closeLabel.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
   });
 
+  it('closes the non-modal gist from the destination link, outside activation and Escape', async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture();
+    const compiled = fixture.nativeElement as HTMLElement;
+    const router = TestBed.inject(Router);
+    vi.spyOn(router, 'navigate').mockResolvedValue(true);
+    vi.spyOn(router, 'navigateByUrl').mockResolvedValue(true);
+
+    async function openFromList(): Promise<HTMLAnchorElement> {
+      const anchor = listAnchor(compiled);
+      anchor.focus();
+      anchor.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { button: 0, bubbles: true }));
+      await flush(fixture);
+      const dialog = compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]');
+      expect(dialog).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(dialog?.hasAttribute('aria-modal')).toBe(false);
+      return anchor;
+    }
+
+    const destinationOpener = await openFromList();
+    compiled.querySelector<HTMLAnchorElement>('[role="dialog"] a')?.click();
+    await flush(fixture);
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(destinationOpener);
+
+    const outsideOpener = await openFromList();
+    compiled
+      .querySelector('.systems-map-heading')
+      ?.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('pointerdown', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(outsideOpener);
+
+    const escapeOpener = await openFromList();
+    compiled
+      .querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('.systems-map-dialog-close')
+      ?.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Escape', bubbles: true }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(escapeOpener);
+  });
+
+  it('lets Tab leave the gist and closes it without cycling focus', async () => {
+    const fixture = await createFixture();
+    const compiled = fixture.nativeElement as HTMLElement;
+    const opener = listAnchor(compiled);
+    const next = listAnchor(compiled, 1);
+    opener.focus();
+    opener.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { button: 0, bubbles: true }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+
+    const dialog = compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]') as HTMLElement;
+    expect(dialog).toBeTruthy();
+
+    const tab = new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Tab', bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+    const prevent = vi.spyOn(tab, 'preventDefault');
+    dialog.dispatchEvent(tab);
+    await flush(fixture);
+    expect(prevent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeTruthy();
+
+    dialog.dispatchEvent(new FocusEvent('focusout', { bubbles: true, relatedTarget: next }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+    expect(compiled.querySelector('[role="dialog"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.activeElement).not.toBe(opener);
+  });
+
+  it('removes the document dismiss listeners on destroy', async () => {
+    const add = vi.spyOn(document, 'addEventListener');
+    const fixture = await createFixture();
+    const compiled = fixture.nativeElement as HTMLElement;
+    listAnchor(compiled).dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { button: 0, bubbles: true }));
+    await flush(fixture);
+
+    const pointer = add.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0] === 'pointerdown');
+    const keydown = add.mock.calls.find((call) => call[0] === 'keydown');
+    expect(pointer).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(keydown).toBeTruthy();
+
+    const remove = vi.spyOn(document, 'removeEventListener');
+    fixture.destroy();
+
+    expect(remove).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pointerdown', pointer?.[1], true);
+    expect(remove).toHaveBeenCalledWith('keydown', keydown?.[1]);
+  });
+
   it('keeps instance-scoped ids unique when two maps are rendered', async () => {
     await configure();
     const first = TestBed.createComponent(SystemsMap);
diff --git a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.ts b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.ts
index 2402e07..ec97b7b 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/systems-map/systems-map.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   ChangeDetectionStrategy,
   Component,
   computed,
+  DestroyRef,
   ElementRef,
   inject,
   Injector,
@@ -75,10 +76,13 @@ export class SystemsMap {
   private readonly injector = inject(Injector);
   private readonly navigation = inject(NavigationService);
   private readonly localeService = inject(LocaleService);
+  private readonly host = inject<ElementRef<HTMLElement>>(ElementRef);
+  private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
   private readonly isBrowser = isBrowserPlatform();
   private readonly instanceId = systemsMapInstanceId++;
   private readonly dialogRef = viewChild<ElementRef<HTMLElement>>('gistDialog');
   private opener: HTMLElement | null = null;
+  private dismissListening = false;
 
   protected readonly headingId = `systems-map-heading-${this.instanceId}`;
   protected readonly svgTitleId = `systems-map-svg-title-${this.instanceId}`;
@@ -145,13 +149,17 @@ export class SystemsMap {
     return node ? this.copy().dialogTitlePattern.replace('{node}', node.label) : '';
   });
 
+  constructor() {
+    this.destroyRef.onDestroy(() => this.unbindDismissListeners());
+  }
+
   protected onNodeActivate(event: MouseEvent, node: SystemsMapNodeView): void {
     if (event.button !== 0 || event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey || event.shiftKey || event.altKey) {
       return;
     }
 
     event.preventDefault();
-    this.openDialog(node.id, event.currentTarget as HTMLElement);
+    this.openDialog(node.id);
   }
 
   protected onNodeKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent, node: SystemsMapNodeView): void {
@@ -160,7 +168,7 @@ export class SystemsMap {
     }
 
     event.preventDefault();
-    this.openDialog(node.id, event.currentTarget as HTMLElement);
+    this.openDialog(node.id);
   }
 
   protected onNodeEnter(id: SystemsMapNodeId): void {
@@ -174,17 +182,19 @@ export class SystemsMap {
   }
 
   protected closeDialog(): void {
-    this.openNodeId.set(null);
     const opener = this.opener;
+    const wasOpen = this.openNodeId() !== null;
+    this.unbindDismissListeners();
+    this.openNodeId.set(null);
     this.opener = null;
 
-    if (!this.isBrowser || !(opener instanceof HTMLElement)) {
+    if (!wasOpen || !this.isBrowser || !this.isRestorableOpener(opener)) {
       return;
     }
 
     afterNextRender(
       () => {
-        if (opener.isConnected) {
+        if (this.isRestorableOpener(opener)) {
           opener.focus();
         }
       },
@@ -192,39 +202,32 @@ export class SystemsMap {
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Escape dismisses the non-modal gist. Tab is not trapped: a cycle
+   * would claim modal behaviour the dialog does not have. Leaving via
+   * Tab closes the gist and leaves focus where it moved.
+   */
   protected onDialogKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
     if (event.key === 'Escape') {
       event.preventDefault();
       this.closeDialog();
-      return;
     }
+  }
 
-    if (event.key !== 'Tab') {
+  protected onDialogFocusOut(event: FocusEvent): void {
+    if (!this.openNodeId()) {
       return;
     }
 
     const dialog = this.dialogRef()?.nativeElement;
-    if (!dialog) {
+    const next = event.relatedTarget;
+    if (!(next instanceof Node) || dialog?.contains(next)) {
       return;
     }
 
-    const focusable = this.focusableIn(dialog);
-    if (focusable.length === 0) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const first = focusable[0];
-    const last = focusable[focusable.length - 1];
-    const active = this.document.activeElement;
-
-    if (event.shiftKey && active === first) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      last.focus();
-    } else if (!event.shiftKey && active === last) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      first.focus();
-    }
+    this.unbindDismissListeners();
+    this.openNodeId.set(null);
+    this.opener = null;
   }
 
   protected isConnectedNode(id: SystemsMapNodeId): boolean {
@@ -247,9 +250,10 @@ export class SystemsMap {
     return !!active && edge.from !== active && edge.to !== active;
   }
 
-  private openDialog(id: SystemsMapNodeId, opener: HTMLElement): void {
-    this.opener = opener;
+  private openDialog(id: SystemsMapNodeId): void {
+    this.opener = this.listAnchorFor(id);
     this.openNodeId.set(id);
+    this.bindDismissListeners();
 
     afterNextRender(
       () => {
@@ -261,6 +265,75 @@ export class SystemsMap {
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Restore to the list-fallback anchor for this node. The SVG figure is
+   * aria-hidden and its nodes are tabindex="-1"; focusing that subtree
+   * would drop the user into hidden content. The card list is the single
+   * intended keyboard target and stays rendered at every viewport.
+   */
+  private listAnchorFor(id: SystemsMapNodeId): HTMLElement | null {
+    const index = this.nodes().findIndex((node) => node.id === id);
+    if (index < 0) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return (
+      this.host.nativeElement
+        .querySelectorAll<HTMLAnchorElement>('.systems-map-cards a')
+        .item(index) ?? null
+    );
+  }
+
+  private isRestorableOpener(opener: HTMLElement | null): opener is HTMLElement {
+    return (
+      !!opener &&
+      opener.isConnected &&
+      opener.closest('[aria-hidden="true"]') === null &&
+      opener.getAttribute('tabindex') !== '-1'
+    );
+  }
+
+  private bindDismissListeners(): void {
+    if (!this.isBrowser || this.dismissListening) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.document.addEventListener('pointerdown', this.onDocumentPointerDown, true);
+    this.document.addEventListener('keydown', this.onDocumentKeydown);
+    this.dismissListening = true;
+  }
+
+  private unbindDismissListeners(): void {
+    if (!this.dismissListening) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.document.removeEventListener('pointerdown', this.onDocumentPointerDown, true);
+    this.document.removeEventListener('keydown', this.onDocumentKeydown);
+    this.dismissListening = false;
+  }
+
+  private readonly onDocumentPointerDown = (event: Event): void => {
+    if (!this.openNodeId()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const dialog = this.dialogRef()?.nativeElement;
+    const target = event.target;
+    if (!(target instanceof Node) || !dialog || dialog.contains(target)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.closeDialog();
+  };
+
+  private readonly onDocumentKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent): void => {
+    if (event.key === 'Escape' && this.openNodeId()) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      this.closeDialog();
+    }
+  };
+
   private focusableIn(root: HTMLElement | undefined): HTMLElement[] {
     if (!root) {
       return [];