diff --git a/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
index 283258d..e99429f 100644
--- a/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
+++ b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
@@ -311,6 +311,9 @@ class GridRouter:
         self._via_edge_block: set[Cell] = set()
         # wire keepouts as boxes, to check a pin stub the way the exact engine will
         self._keepout_boxes: dict[int, list[tuple[IntBox, bool]]] = {}
+        # via keepouts as boxes, and other copper a via in a pad must clear
+        self._via_keepout_boxes: list[tuple[IntBox, bool]] = []
+        self._static_copper: list[tuple[IntBox, int]] | None = None
         # pin end nodes no wire can reach without entering a keepout
         self._via_only: set[Node] = set()
         if outline is not None:
@@ -360,6 +363,8 @@ class GridRouter:
                             self._keepout.add((*cell, item.layer))
                         if item.blocks_vias:
                             self._via_keepout.add((*cell, item.layer))
+                    if item.blocks_vias:
+                        self._via_keepout_boxes.append((box, item.clearance))
 
     def _rasterize_fixed_copper(self) -> None:
         """Tracks and vias already on the board: copper of their net, which
@@ -452,7 +457,14 @@ class GridRouter:
         goals = self._group_ends(conn.b_group, conn.net_no, conns)
         if not starts or not goals:
             return None
-        common = sorted(set(starts) & set(goals))
+        # A start that is already an end joins at once, except that ending on
+        # a plane there needs a via: one that cannot be placed (a via keepout,
+        # another net's pad) is no end, and the search goes on from there.
+        common = [
+            n for n in sorted(set(starts) & set(goals))
+            if not isinstance(goals[n], ConductionArea)
+            or self._via_placeable((n[0], n[1]), conn.net_no, conns)
+        ]
         if common:
             conn.a_end, conn.b_end = starts[common[0]], goals[common[0]]
             return [common[0]]
@@ -485,6 +497,12 @@ class GridRouter:
                 ok = via_ok.get(cell)
                 if ok is None:
                     ok = via_ok[cell] = self._via_placeable(cell, net_no, conns)
+                # a via leaving or reaching a walled-in pin goes in its pad
+                # (see _commit), so it has to fit there exactly
+                for node, ends in ((source, starts), (target, goals)):
+                    pin = ends.get(node)
+                    if ok and isinstance(pin, Pin) and self._walled(node):
+                        ok = self._via_fits_at(pin.location, net_no)
                 if ok:
                     self._relax(source, target, g_via, goal_cell, g_score, came_from, open_heap)
                 continue
@@ -548,6 +566,29 @@ class GridRouter:
     # copper too, or a stub ends up closer than clearance to a trace in the
     # cell beside it.
 
+    def _walled(self, node: Node) -> bool:
+        """A pin end no wire may leave or reach: only a via in its pad will do."""
+        return node in self._keepout or node in self._via_only
+
+    def _via_fits_at(self, point: IntPoint, net_no: int) -> bool:
+        """A via centred exactly on ``point`` clears every via keepout and all
+        other nets' pads and fixed copper (what a via in a pad must meet)."""
+        via = IntBox(point.x - self.via_half, point.y - self.via_half,
+                     point.x + self.via_half, point.y + self.via_half)
+        grown = via.offset(self.clearance)
+        for box, needs in self._via_keepout_boxes:
+            if box.overlaps(grown if needs else via):
+                return False
+        if self._static_copper is None:
+            copper = [
+                (p.shape.bounding_box(), p.net_nos[0] if p.net_nos else -1)
+                for p in self.board.get_pins()
+                if p.shape is not None and any(layer in self.layers for layer in p.layers)
+            ]
+            copper += [(box, net) for net, _, box in self.board.get_fixed_copper()]
+            self._static_copper = copper
+        return not any(net != net_no and box.overlaps(grown) for box, net in self._static_copper)
+
     def _stub_cells(self, pin_location: IntPoint, cell: Cell) -> list[Cell]:
         """Cells where another net's trace would come too close to the stub."""
         from freeroute.board.outline import _point_segment