diff --git a/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
index 905e693..7361a6d 100644
--- a/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
+++ b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
@@ -506,6 +506,23 @@ class GridRouter:
             self._zone_cells[key] = sorted(set(nodes))
         return self._zone_cells[key]
 
+    def _zone_is_solid(self, zone, coverage: float = 0.95) -> bool:
+        """Whether a zone's fill can be trusted to be one piece of copper.
+
+        A zone outline is where copper may go, not where it will be: other
+        nets' tracks through a board-wide pour break its fill into islands,
+        and a pad inside the outline need not reach the rest of the net. It
+        is safe to count on only when no track can cross it, which is what a
+        no-tracks rule area over the zone guarantees (the rc4 power pours).
+        Otherwise the zone is left out and its pads are routed with tracks.
+        """
+        cells = [cell for tile in zone.tiles for cell in self._cells_in_box(tile.bounding_box(), 0)
+                 if zone.polygon.contains(self._cell_center(cell))]
+        if not cells:
+            return False
+        covered = sum((*cell, zone.layer) in self._keepout for cell in cells)
+        return covered >= coverage * len(cells)
+
     def _group_ends(self, group, net_no: int, conns) -> dict[Node, Pin | None]:
         """End nodes of a group, each mapped to its pin (None for a zone cell)."""
         ends: dict[Node, Pin | None] = {}
@@ -693,7 +710,7 @@ class GridRouter:
         pins_by_net = self._pins_by_net()
         zones_by_net: dict[int, list] = {}
         for zone in self.board.get_conduction_areas():
-            if zone.layer in self.layers and zone.net_nos:
+            if zone.layer in self.layers and zone.net_nos and self._zone_is_solid(zone):
                 zones_by_net.setdefault(zone.net_nos[0], []).append(zone)
         conns: list[_Connection] = []
         nets = set(pins_by_net) | set(zones_by_net)
diff --git a/tests/route/test_real_board_geometry.py b/tests/route/test_real_board_geometry.py
index 43e56fa..7ce7b55 100644
--- a/tests/route/test_real_board_geometry.py
+++ b/tests/route/test_real_board_geometry.py
@@ -138,3 +138,13 @@ def test_a_pad_reaches_a_zone_under_a_no_tracks_area_by_a_via():
         if layer == f_cu:  # no track runs inside the no-tracks area
             assert not any(t.contains(p) and not t.bounding_box().is_empty()
                            for t in pour.tiles for p in pts[1:-1])
+
+
+def test_a_pour_other_nets_can_cross_is_not_trusted_to_connect():
+    # the same zone with no no-tracks area over it: its fill could be split by
+    # other nets' tracks, so its pads are joined by routing, not assumed
+    places = "(place P1 5500 -7000 front 0) (place P2 8500 -7000 front 0)"
+    dsn = parse_dsn(_dsn(f"(component P {places})", "(net N (pins P1-1 P2-1))", _ZONE))
+    result, _, _ = route_dsn_board_exact(dsn)
+    net = next(iter(result.routed_net_numbers))
+    assert result.result.wires.get(net)  # P1 and P2 got a track between them