diff --git a/packages/core/pattern.mjs b/packages/core/pattern.mjs
index b755d095..4f0d3576 100644
--- a/packages/core/pattern.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/pattern.mjs
@@ -1820,7 +1820,10 @@ export const { fastGap, fastgap } = register(['fastGap', 'fastgap'], function (f
 export const focus = register('focus', function (b, e, pat) {
   b = Fraction(b);
   e = Fraction(e);
-  return pat._fast(Fraction(1).div(e.sub(b))).late(b.cyclePos());
+  return pat
+    ._early(b.sam())
+    ._fast(Fraction(1).div(e.sub(b)))
+    ._late(b);
 });
 
 export const { focusSpan, focusspan } = register(['focusSpan', 'focusspan'], function (span, pat) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/pattern.test.mjs b/packages/core/test/pattern.test.mjs
index 0696f0e5..0b72d08a 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/pattern.test.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/test/pattern.test.mjs
@@ -1265,4 +1265,14 @@ describe('Pattern', () => {
       expect(s('bev').chop(8).loopAt(2)._steps).toStrictEqual(Fraction(4));
     });
   });
+  describe('bite', () => {
+    it('works with uneven patterns', () => {
+      sameFirst(
+        fastcat(slowcat('a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'), slowcat(1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
+          .bite(2, stepcat(pure(0), pure(1).expand(2)))
+          .fast(5),
+        stepcat(slowcat('a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'), slowcat(1, 2, 3, 4, 5).expand(2)).fast(5),
+      );
+    });
+  });
 });