diff --git a/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkEdgeRouterIterative.cs b/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkEdgeRouterIterative.cs
index 85c206651..d0d5e82ac 100644
--- a/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkEdgeRouterIterative.cs
+++ b/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkEdgeRouterIterative.cs
@@ -33,9 +33,13 @@ internal static partial class ElkEdgeRouterIterative
         }
 
         var serviceNodes = nodes.Where(n => n.Kind is not "Start" and not "End").ToArray();
-        var minLineClearance = serviceNodes.Length > 0
+        var nodeSizeClearance = serviceNodes.Length > 0
             ? Math.Min(serviceNodes.Average(n => n.Width), serviceNodes.Average(n => n.Height)) / 2d
             : 50d;
+        // Scale clearance with NodeSpacing: wider spacing should produce wider
+        // routing corridors. Use the larger of node-size-based clearance and
+        // spacing-proportional clearance so the pipeline adapts to any spacing.
+        var minLineClearance = Math.Max(nodeSizeClearance, layoutOptions.NodeSpacing * 1.2d);
         var diagnostics = ElkLayoutDiagnostics.Current;
 
         var validSolutions = new List<CandidateSolution>();