diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/issue_3233_test.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/issue_3233_test.go
index 934ef3785..6ddfe90d7 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/issue_3233_test.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/issue_3233_test.go
@@ -99,3 +99,104 @@ func TestIssue3233ViaInternetExitVisibility(t *testing.T) {
 			"alice viewing tag:exit2 exit must Exclude ::/0 — strips it from AllowedIPs")
 	})
 }
+
+// TestViaInternetExitSteeringSurvivesUnrelatedRules checks that a
+// regular rule matching the viewer only lifts via exit steering when its
+// destination actually reaches the internet. Narrow destinations overlap
+// 0.0.0.0/0 but must not evict it from Exclude.
+func TestViaInternetExitSteeringSurvivesUnrelatedRules(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	users := types.Users{
+		{ID: 1, Name: "alice", Email: "alice@headscale.net"},
+		{ID: 2, Name: "bob", Email: "bob@headscale.net"},
+	}
+
+	exitRoutes := []netip.Prefix{tsaddr.AllIPv4(), tsaddr.AllIPv6()}
+
+	aliceLaptop := node("alice-laptop", "100.64.0.10", "fd7a:115c:a1e0::a", users[0])
+	aliceLaptop.ID = 1
+
+	exitA := node("exit-a", "100.64.0.11", "fd7a:115c:a1e0::b", users[0])
+	exitA.ID = 2
+	exitA.Tags = []string{"tag:exit-a"}
+	exitA.Hostinfo = &tailcfg.Hostinfo{RoutableIPs: exitRoutes}
+	exitA.ApprovedRoutes = exitRoutes
+
+	exitB := node("exit-b", "100.64.0.12", "fd7a:115c:a1e0::c", users[0])
+	exitB.ID = 3
+	exitB.Tags = []string{"tag:exit-b"}
+	exitB.Hostinfo = &tailcfg.Hostinfo{RoutableIPs: exitRoutes}
+	exitB.ApprovedRoutes = exitRoutes
+
+	nodes := types.Nodes{aliceLaptop, exitA, exitB}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		extra string
+		// wantExcluded: exit-b's exit routes stay hidden from alice.
+		wantExcluded bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:         "via-grant-only",
+			wantExcluded: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "acl-autogroup-self",
+			extra:        `"acls": [{"action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["autogroup:self:*"]}],`,
+			wantExcluded: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "acl-single-host",
+			extra:        `"acls": [{"action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["100.64.0.15:53"]}],`,
+			wantExcluded: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "acl-private-subnet",
+			extra:        `"acls": [{"action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["10.0.0.0/8:*"]}],`,
+			wantExcluded: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "acl-other-exit-node",
+			extra:        `"acls": [{"action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["tag:exit-b:*"]}],`,
+			wantExcluded: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "acl-wildcard",
+			extra:        `"acls": [{"action": "accept", "src": ["autogroup:member"], "dst": ["*:*"]}],`,
+			wantExcluded: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			policy := `{
+				"tagOwners": {
+					"tag:exit-a": ["alice@headscale.net"],
+					"tag:exit-b": ["alice@headscale.net"]
+				},
+				` + tt.extra + `
+				"grants": [{
+					"src": ["autogroup:member"],
+					"dst": ["autogroup:internet"],
+					"ip":  ["*"],
+					"via": ["tag:exit-a"]
+				}]
+			}`
+
+			pm, err := NewPolicyManager([]byte(policy), users, nodes.ViewSlice())
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			viaPeer := pm.ViaRoutesForPeer(aliceLaptop.View(), exitA.View())
+			require.Contains(t, viaPeer.Include, tsaddr.AllIPv4())
+
+			other := pm.ViaRoutesForPeer(aliceLaptop.View(), exitB.View())
+			for _, p := range exitRoutes {
+				require.Equal(t, tt.wantExcluded, slices.Contains(other.Exclude, p),
+					"exit-b %s in Exclude: got %v", p, other.Exclude)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/policy.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/policy.go
index 0d45d9459..7a6cf30df 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/policy.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/policy.go
@@ -1418,7 +1418,17 @@ func (pm *PolicyManager) ViaRoutesForPeer(viewer, peer types.NodeView) types.Via
 					}
 				}
 
-				result.Exclude = slices.DeleteFunc(result.Exclude, dstPrefix.Overlaps)
+				// Every address overlaps an exit route, so overlap
+				// only decides for subnet routes.
+				result.Exclude = slices.DeleteFunc(result.Exclude, func(p netip.Prefix) bool {
+					return !tsaddr.IsExitRoute(p) && dstPrefix.Overlaps(p)
+				})
+			}
+
+			// A regular grant to the internet lets the viewer use any
+			// exit node, not just the via-tagged ones.
+			if grantReachesInternet(grant) {
+				result.Exclude = slices.DeleteFunc(result.Exclude, tsaddr.IsExitRoute)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -1426,6 +1436,17 @@ func (pm *PolicyManager) ViaRoutesForPeer(viewer, peer types.NodeView) types.Via
 	return result
 }
 
+// grantReachesInternet reports whether a grant's destinations include
+// the internet. The wildcard resolves to tailnet ranges only, but in a
+// destination it also covers the internet.
+func grantReachesInternet(grant Grant) bool {
+	return slices.ContainsFunc(grant.Destinations, func(d Alias) bool {
+		_, ok := d.(Asterix)
+
+		return ok
+	})
+}
+
 func (pm *PolicyManager) Version() int {
 	return 2
 }