diff --git a/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py b/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
index 5ba4841db4..73b7014b17 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/_style_properties.py
@@ -834,6 +834,7 @@ def __init__(
         refresh_parent: bool = False,
         display: bool = False,
         pointer: bool = False,
+        geometry: bool = True,
     ) -> None:
         self._valid_values = valid_values
         self._default = default
@@ -842,6 +843,13 @@ def __init__(
         self._refresh_parent = refresh_parent
         self._display = display
         self._pointer = pointer
+        self._geometry = geometry
+
+    def affects_geometry(self, previous: object | None, value: object | None) -> bool:
+        # Geometry inputs and scheduled layout are distinct: native wrapping,
+        # positioning and constraints can change geometry without _layout.
+        # Undeclared enum effects remain conservative.
+        return self._geometry
 
     def __set_name__(self, owner: StylesBase, name: str) -> None:
         self.name = name
diff --git a/src/textual/css/styles.py b/src/textual/css/styles.py
index 8ba4685a0f..e343945ec5 100644
--- a/src/textual/css/styles.py
+++ b/src/textual/css/styles.py
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class StylesBase:
     """Padding added to left and right of lines."""
 
     pointer: StringEnumProperty[PointerShape] = StringEnumProperty(
-        VALID_POINTER, "default", pointer=True
+        VALID_POINTER, "default", pointer=True, geometry=False
     )
     """Set the pointer (cursor) shape when the mouse is over this widget.
     
diff --git a/tests/css/test_programmatic_style_changes.py b/tests/css/test_programmatic_style_changes.py
index 0bd44a477b..5e856eb99a 100644
--- a/tests/css/test_programmatic_style_changes.py
+++ b/tests/css/test_programmatic_style_changes.py
@@ -5,6 +5,43 @@
 from textual.widgets import Label
 
 
+async def test_pointer_shape_preserves_native_measurement_and_unknown_renderers():
+    """Cursor publication has no native size input; custom renderers retain it."""
+    from textual.content import Content
+    from textual.widgets import Static
+
+    class PointerContent(Static):
+        def render(self):
+            return Content(self.styles.pointer)
+
+    native, custom = Label("original row"), PointerContent()
+    app = App()
+    async with app.run_test(size=(40, 12)) as pilot:
+        await app.mount(native, custom)
+        await pilot.pause()
+        await pilot.hover(native)
+        before = native.region
+        measurement, geometry = native._layout_updates, native._geometry_revision
+        custom_measurement = custom._layout_updates
+        native.styles.pointer = "text"
+        assert app.screen._pointer_shape == "text"
+        assert native._layout_updates == measurement
+        assert native._geometry_revision == geometry
+        custom.styles.pointer = "crosshair"
+        assert custom._layout_updates > custom_measurement
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert native.region == before
+        assert app.screen.get_widget_at(before.x, before.y)[0] is native
+        # Raw source writes and stylesheet replacement share the descriptor.
+        native._inline_styles.set_rule("pointer", "pointer")
+        native._css_styles.replace_rules(dict(native._css_styles.get_rules(), pointer="help"))
+        assert native._layout_updates == measurement
+        assert native._geometry_revision == geometry
+        # Not every unscheduled enum is paint-only: wrapping remains a size input.
+        native.styles.text_wrap = "nowrap"
+        assert native._layout_updates > measurement
+
+
 async def test_style_publication_preserves_source_and_content_lifetimes():
     """A frame request must not retire measurements twice or hide new content."""
     from textual.css.scalar import Scalar