diff --git a/booru_viewer/gui/grid.py b/booru_viewer/gui/grid.py
index ee9ef70..6cf6d04 100644
--- a/booru_viewer/gui/grid.py
+++ b/booru_viewer/gui/grid.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class ThumbnailWidget(QWidget):
     clicked = Signal(int, object)  # index, QMouseEvent
     double_clicked = Signal(int)
     right_clicked = Signal(int, object)  # index, QPoint
+    padding_clicked = Signal(object)  # QMouseEvent — click missed the pixmap
 
     # QSS-controllable dot colors
     _saved_color = QColor("#22cc22")
@@ -306,7 +307,7 @@ class ThumbnailWidget(QWidget):
     def mousePressEvent(self, event) -> None:
         if event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton:
             if not self._hit_pixmap(event.position().toPoint()):
-                event.ignore()
+                self.padding_clicked.emit(event)
                 return
             self._drag_start = event.position().toPoint()
             self.clicked.emit(self.index, event)
@@ -320,7 +321,7 @@ class ThumbnailWidget(QWidget):
         self._drag_start = None
         if event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton:
             if not self._hit_pixmap(event.position().toPoint()):
-                event.ignore()
+                self.padding_clicked.emit(event)
                 return
             self.double_clicked.emit(self.index)
 
@@ -471,6 +472,7 @@ class ThumbnailGrid(QScrollArea):
             thumb.clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_click)
             thumb.double_clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_double_click)
             thumb.right_clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_right_click)
+            thumb.padding_clicked.connect(self._on_padding_click)
             self._flow.add_widget(thumb)
             self._thumbs.append(thumb)
 
@@ -485,6 +487,7 @@ class ThumbnailGrid(QScrollArea):
             thumb.clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_click)
             thumb.double_clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_double_click)
             thumb.right_clicked.connect(self._on_thumb_right_click)
+            thumb.padding_clicked.connect(self._on_padding_click)
             self._flow.add_widget(thumb)
             self._thumbs.append(thumb)
             new_thumbs.append(thumb)
@@ -565,22 +568,28 @@ class ThumbnailGrid(QScrollArea):
             self.ensureWidgetVisible(self._thumbs[index])
             self.context_requested.emit(index, pos)
 
+    def _start_rubber_band(self, pos: QPoint) -> None:
+        """Start a rubber band selection and deselect."""
+        self._rb_origin = pos
+        if not self._rubber_band:
+            self._rubber_band = QRubberBand(QRubberBand.Shape.Rectangle, self.viewport())
+        self._rubber_band.setGeometry(QRect(self._rb_origin, QSize()))
+        self._rubber_band.show()
+        self.clear_selection()
+
+    def _on_padding_click(self, event: QMouseEvent) -> None:
+        """Cell padding click — treat as empty space."""
+        # Map the event position from the ThumbnailWidget to the viewport
+        thumb = self.sender()
+        if thumb:
+            vp_pos = self.viewport().mapFrom(thumb, event.position().toPoint())
+            self._start_rubber_band(vp_pos)
+
     def mousePressEvent(self, event: QMouseEvent) -> None:
         if event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton:
             child = self.childAt(event.position().toPoint())
-            # Empty space: flow layout, viewport, or cell padding (missed pixmap)
-            is_empty = child is self.widget() or child is self.viewport()
-            if not is_empty and isinstance(child, ThumbnailWidget):
-                local = child.mapFrom(self, event.position().toPoint())
-                if not child._hit_pixmap(local):
-                    is_empty = True
-            if is_empty:
-                self._rb_origin = event.position().toPoint()
-                if not self._rubber_band:
-                    self._rubber_band = QRubberBand(QRubberBand.Shape.Rectangle, self.viewport())
-                self._rubber_band.setGeometry(QRect(self._rb_origin, QSize()))
-                self._rubber_band.show()
-                self.clear_selection()
+            if child is self.widget() or child is self.viewport():
+                self._start_rubber_band(event.position().toPoint())
                 return
         super().mousePressEvent(event)