diff --git a/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.test.tsx b/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ed7c1a54f9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/**
+ * @vitest-environment jsdom
+ */
+import { act } from 'react'
+import { createRoot, type Root } from 'react-dom/client'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { ChipInput } from './chip-input'
+
+let root: Root | null = null
+let container: HTMLDivElement | null = null
+
+function mount(): HTMLInputElement {
+  ;(globalThis as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT?: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true
+  container = document.createElement('div')
+  document.body.appendChild(container)
+  root = createRoot(container)
+  act(() => root?.render(<ChipInput aria-label='Search' />))
+
+  const input = container.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>('input')
+  if (!input) throw new Error('ChipInput did not render an input')
+  return input
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  if (root) act(() => root?.unmount())
+  container?.remove()
+  root = null
+  container = null
+})
+
+describe('ChipInput', () => {
+  it('reserves paintable clearance for a leading glyph without shifting its alignment', () => {
+    const input = mount()
+
+    expect(input.className).toContain('-ml-1')
+    expect(input.className).toContain('indent-1')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.tsx b/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.tsx
index 1266a9aa5b9..3f668691bd7 100644
--- a/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.tsx
+++ b/packages/emcn/src/components/chip-input/chip-input.tsx
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@
  *
  * The chrome lives on the wrapper so a leading `icon` and a trailing
  * `endAdornment` (reveal / copy buttons) sit flush next to a transparent inner
- * `<input>`. The leading icon uses the same 1.5 gap as `Chip`. It shares the
- * chip-field chrome with {@link ChipTextarea}, shows no focus ring — keep the
- * surface calm and rely on the caret for focus. Pass `error` to swap the border
- * to the error token.
+ * `<input>`. Matching negative margin and text indent give leading glyphs paint
+ * clearance without moving their visual alignment. The leading icon uses the
+ * same 1.5 gap as `Chip`. It shares the chip-field chrome with
+ * {@link ChipTextarea}, shows no focus ring — keep the surface calm and rely on
+ * the caret for focus. Pass `error` to swap the border to the error token.
  *
  * @example
  * ```tsx
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ export const ChipInput = React.forwardRef<HTMLInputElement, ChipInputProps>(
         type={type}
         disabled={disabled}
         className={cn(
-          'h-full w-full bg-transparent disabled:cursor-not-allowed',
+          '-ml-1 h-full w-full bg-transparent indent-1 disabled:cursor-not-allowed',
           chipFieldTextClass,
           inputClassName
         )}