diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/introspection/location.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/introspection/location.rs
index 8f4caaec4..d789a32f1 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/introspection/location.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/introspection/location.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ impl Repr for Location {
 /// Makes this element as locatable through the introspector.
 pub trait Locatable {}
 
+/// Makes this element as not locatable through the introspector.
+pub trait Unlocatable {}
+
 /// Marks this element as not being queryable even though it is locatable for
 /// internal reasons.
 pub trait Unqueriable {}
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/text/mod.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/text/mod.rs
index c2efe210b..71f2e784b 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/text/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/text/mod.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ use crate::foundations::{
     NativeElement, Never, NoneValue, Packed, PlainText, Regex, Repr, Resolve, Scope, Set,
     Smart, StyleChain,
 };
+use crate::introspection::Unlocatable;
 use crate::layout::{Abs, Axis, Dir, Em, Length, Ratio, Rel};
 use crate::math::{EquationElem, MathSize};
 use crate::visualize::{Color, Paint, RelativeTo, Stroke};
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ pub(super) fn define(global: &mut Scope) {
 ///   With a function call.
 /// ])
 /// ```
-#[elem(Debug, Construct, PlainText, Repr)]
+#[elem(Debug, Construct, PlainText, Repr, Unlocatable)]
 pub struct TextElem {
     /// A font family descriptor or priority list of font family descriptors.
     ///
@@ -792,6 +793,8 @@ impl PlainText for Packed<TextElem> {
     }
 }
 
+impl Unlocatable for Packed<TextElem> {}
+
 /// A lowercased font family like "arial".
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub struct FontFamily {
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/text/smartquote.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/text/smartquote.rs
index 375b1cf09..4cfe0fac5 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/text/smartquote.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/text/smartquote.rs
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@ use crate::foundations::{
     array, cast, dict, elem, Array, Dict, FromValue, Packed, PlainText, Smart, Str,
     StyleChain,
 };
+use crate::introspection::Unlocatable;
 use crate::layout::Dir;
 use crate::text::{Lang, Region, TextElem};
 
+impl Unlocatable for Packed<SmartQuoteElem> {}
+
 /// A language-aware quote that reacts to its context.
 ///
 /// Automatically turns into an appropriate opening or closing quote based on
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ use crate::text::{Lang, Region, TextElem};
 /// # Syntax
 /// This function also has dedicated syntax: The normal quote characters
 /// (`'` and `"`). Typst automatically makes your quotes smart.
-#[elem(name = "smartquote", PlainText)]
+#[elem(name = "smartquote", PlainText, Unlocatable)]
 pub struct SmartQuoteElem {
     /// Whether this should be a double quote.
     #[default(true)]
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/text/space.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/text/space.rs
index 38a554823..011de9716 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/text/space.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/text/space.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ use typst_utils::singleton;
 use crate::foundations::{
     elem, Content, NativeElement, Packed, PlainText, Repr, Unlabellable,
 };
+use crate::introspection::Unlocatable;
 
 /// A text space.
-#[elem(Unlabellable, PlainText, Repr)]
+#[elem(Unlabellable, PlainText, Repr, Unlocatable)]
 pub struct SpaceElem {}
 
 impl SpaceElem {
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ impl Repr for SpaceElem {
 
 impl Unlabellable for Packed<SpaceElem> {}
 
+impl Unlocatable for Packed<SpaceElem> {}
+
 impl PlainText for Packed<SpaceElem> {
     fn plain_text(&self, text: &mut EcoString) {
         text.push(' ');
diff --git a/crates/typst-realize/src/lib.rs b/crates/typst-realize/src/lib.rs
index f3f071505..b7a21e789 100644
--- a/crates/typst-realize/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-realize/src/lib.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use typst_library::foundations::{
     RecipeIndex, Selector, SequenceElem, ShowSet, Style, StyleChain, StyledElem, Styles,
     SymbolElem, Synthesize, TargetElem, Transformation,
 };
-use typst_library::introspection::{Locatable, SplitLocator, Tag, TagElem};
+use typst_library::introspection::{Locatable, SplitLocator, Tag, TagElem, Unlocatable};
 use typst_library::layout::{
     AlignElem, BoxElem, HElem, InlineElem, PageElem, PagebreakElem, VElem,
 };
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ fn verdict<'a>(
             elem.label().is_none()
                 && elem.location().is_none()
                 && !elem.can::<dyn ShowSet>()
-                && !elem.can::<dyn Locatable>()
+                && !locatable(elem)
                 && !elem.can::<dyn Synthesize>()
         })
     {
@@ -516,6 +516,10 @@ fn verdict<'a>(
     Some(Verdict { prepared, map, step })
 }
 
+fn locatable(elem: &Content) -> bool {
+    !elem.can::<dyn Unlocatable>()
+}
+
 /// This is only executed the first time an element is visited.
 fn prepare(
     engine: &mut Engine,
@@ -531,9 +535,7 @@ fn prepare(
     // The element could already have a location even if it is not prepared
     // when it stems from a query.
     let key = typst_utils::hash128(&elem);
-    if elem.location().is_none()
-        && (elem.can::<dyn Locatable>() || elem.label().is_some())
-    {
+    if elem.location().is_none() && (locatable(elem) || elem.label().is_some()) {
         let loc = locator.next_location(engine.introspector, key);
         elem.set_location(loc);
     }