diff --git a/classes/base.lua b/classes/base.lua
index ae2579d20..e91b2feec 100644
--- a/classes/base.lua
+++ b/classes/base.lua
@@ -430,19 +430,16 @@ function class:registerCommands ()
   self:registerCommand("discretionary", function (options, _)
     local discretionary = SILE.nodefactory.discretionary({})
     if options.prebreak then
-      SILE.call("hbox", {}, function () SILE.typesetter:typeset(options.prebreak) end)
-      discretionary.prebreak = { SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] }
-      SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+      local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ options.prebreak })
+      discretionary.prebreak = { hbox }
     end
     if options.postbreak then
-      SILE.call("hbox", {}, function () SILE.typesetter:typeset(options.postbreak) end)
-      discretionary.postbreak = { SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] }
-      SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+      local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ options.postbreak })
+      discretionary.postbreak = { hbox }
     end
     if options.replacement then
-      SILE.call("hbox", {}, function () SILE.typesetter:typeset(options.replacement) end)
-      discretionary.replacement = { SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] }
-      SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+      local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ options.replacement })
+      discretionary.replacement = { hbox }
     end
     table.insert(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes, discretionary)
   end, "Inserts a discretionary node.")
diff --git a/classes/plain.lua b/classes/plain.lua
index 8f5015912..d69860f0a 100644
--- a/classes/plain.lua
+++ b/classes/plain.lua
@@ -333,63 +333,27 @@ function class:registerCommands ()
     end)
   end)
 
-  local _rtl_pre_post = function (box, typesetter, line)
-    local advance = function () typesetter.frame:advanceWritingDirection(box:scaledWidth(line)) end
-    if typesetter.frame:writingDirection() == "RTL" then
-      advance()
-      return function () end
-    else
-      return advance
-    end
-  end
-
   self:registerCommand("hbox", function (_, content)
-    local index = #(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes)+1
-    local recentContribution = {}
-    SILE.process(content)
-    local l = SILE.length()
-    local h, d = SILE.length(), SILE.length()
-    for i = index, #(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) do
-      local node = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[i]
-      if node.is_unshaped then
-        local shape = node:shape()
-        for _, attr in ipairs(shape) do
-          recentContribution[#recentContribution+1] = attr
-          h = attr.height > h and attr.height or h
-          d = attr.depth > d and attr.depth or d
-          l = l + attr:lineContribution():absolute()
-        end
-      else
-        recentContribution[#recentContribution+1] = node
-        l = l + node:lineContribution():absolute()
-        h = node.height > h and node.height or h
-        d = node.depth > d and node.depth or d
-      end
-      SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[i] = nil
-    end
-    local hbox = SILE.nodefactory.hbox({
-        height = h,
-        width = l,
-        depth = d,
-        value = recentContribution,
-        outputYourself = function (self_, typesetter, line)
-          local _post = _rtl_pre_post(self_, typesetter, line)
-          local ox = typesetter.frame.state.cursorX
-          local oy = typesetter.frame.state.cursorY
-          SILE.outputter:setCursor(typesetter.frame.state.cursorX, typesetter.frame.state.cursorY)
-          for _, node in ipairs(self_.value) do
-            node:outputYourself(typesetter, line)
-          end
-          typesetter.frame.state.cursorX = ox
-          typesetter.frame.state.cursorY = oy
-          _post()
-          SU.debug("hboxes", function ()
-            SILE.outputter:debugHbox(self_, self_:scaledWidth(line))
-            return "Drew debug outline around hbox"
-          end)
-        end
-      })
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
+    -- HACK
+    -- Direct insertion in the typesetter node queue comes from
+    -- the original implementation.
+    -- It would likely be clearer to use: SILE.typesetter:pushHbox(hbox)
+    -- but the latter adds a zerohbox sometimes (on initline), so it will
+    -- break some non-regression test and possibly have some effect at
+    -- places... For now, therefore, keep that unchanged, but it should
+    -- be investigated.
     table.insert(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes, hbox)
+
+    if #hlist > 0 then
+      SU.warn("Hbox has migrating content (ignored for now, but likely to break in future versions)")
+      -- Ugly shim:
+      -- One day we ought to do SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist) here, so as to push
+      -- back the migrating contents from within the hbox'ed content.
+      -- However, old Lua code assumed the hbox to be returned, and sometimes removed it
+      -- from the typesetter queue (for measuring, etc.), assuming it was the last
+      -- element in the queue...
+    end
     return hbox
   end, "Compiles all the enclosed horizontal-mode material into a single hbox")
 
diff --git a/core/nodefactory.lua b/core/nodefactory.lua
index 478eda769..2043442e4 100644
--- a/core/nodefactory.lua
+++ b/core/nodefactory.lua
@@ -335,6 +335,12 @@ function nodefactory.discretionary:replacementHeight ()
   return self.replaceh
 end
 
+function nodefactory.discretionary:replacementDepth ()
+  if self.replaced then return self.replaced end
+  self.replaced = _maxnode(self.replacement, "depth")
+  return self.replaced
+end
+
 nodefactory.alternative = pl.class(nodefactory.hbox)
 
 nodefactory.alternative.type = "alternative"
diff --git a/documentation/c05-packages.sil b/documentation/c05-packages.sil
index c0269cf26..ef5d8dffb 100644
--- a/documentation/c05-packages.sil
+++ b/documentation/c05-packages.sil
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ basic functionality to other packages and classes. Classes such as the
 \subsection{rebox}
 \package-documentation{rebox}
 
-\section{scalebox}
+\subsection{scalebox}
 \package-documentation{scalebox}
 
 \subsection{tableofcontents}
diff --git a/documentation/c12-tricks.sil b/documentation/c12-tricks.sil
index c347c47fd..8d5af0b58 100644
--- a/documentation/c12-tricks.sil
+++ b/documentation/c12-tricks.sil
@@ -199,15 +199,16 @@ function discovery:typesetProphecy (symbol)
 \end{verbatim}
 
 Next, we call another command to produce the symbol itself;
-	this allows the book designer to change the symbols at the SILE level rather than having to mess about with the Lua file.
-We use the \command{\\hbox} command to wrap the output of the command into a hbox.
-\command{\\hbox} returns its output, but also puts the box into the typesetter’s output node queue; we don’t want it to appear in the main typeblock, so we remove the node again, leaving our private copy in the \code{hbox} variable.
+  this allows the book designer to change the symbols at the SILE level rather than having to mess about with the Lua file.
+We then wrap the output of the command into a hbox.
+Here, note that we do not use the \command{\\hbox} command:
+  it would put the box into the typesetter’s output node queue, but we don’t want it to appear in the main typeblock.
+So we just ask the typesetter to build the box and return it.
 
 \begin{verbatim}
-  local hbox = SILE.call("hbox",\{\}, function()
+  local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(function()
     SILE.call("prophecy-"..symbol.."-mark")
   end)
-  table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes)
 \end{verbatim}
 
 What we \em{do} want in the output queue is our special hbox node which will put the marking into the margin.
diff --git a/packages/chordmode/init.lua b/packages/chordmode/init.lua
index 541ceab83..daddd0dde 100644
--- a/packages/chordmode/init.lua
+++ b/packages/chordmode/init.lua
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ end
 function package:registerCommands ()
 
   self:registerCommand("ch", function (options, content)
-    local chordBox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, { options.name })
-    SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes)] = nil
+    local chordBox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ options.name })
     local origWidth = chordBox.width
     chordBox.width = SILE.length()
     chordBox.height = SILE.settings:get("chordmode.lineheight")
diff --git a/packages/cropmarks/init.lua b/packages/cropmarks/init.lua
index 3bd3c3a56..f206a310d 100644
--- a/packages/cropmarks/init.lua
+++ b/packages/cropmarks/init.lua
@@ -16,15 +16,16 @@ local function outputMarks ()
   SILE.outputter:drawRule(page:right() + 10, page:bottom(), 10, 0.5)
   SILE.outputter:drawRule(page:right(), page:bottom() + 10, 0.5, 10)
 
-  SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
+  local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(function ()
     SILE.settings:temporarily(function ()
       SILE.call("noindent")
       SILE.call("font", { size="6pt" })
       SILE.call("crop:header")
     end)
   end)
-  local hbox = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
-  SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+  if #hlist > 0 then
+    SU.error("Forbidden migrating content in crop header")
+  end
 
   SILE.typesetter.frame.state.cursorX = page:left() + 10
   SILE.typesetter.frame.state.cursorY = page:top() - 13
diff --git a/packages/dropcaps/init.lua b/packages/dropcaps/init.lua
index 81106d9f2..fbd1aa8b8 100644
--- a/packages/dropcaps/init.lua
+++ b/packages/dropcaps/init.lua
@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@ local shapeHbox = function (options, content)
   -- Clear irrelevant values before passing to font
   options.lines, options.join, options.raise, options.shift, options.color, options.scale = nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil
   SILE.call("noindent")
-  local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
+  local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(function ()
     SILE.call("font", options, content)
   end)
-  table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes)
   return hbox
 end
 
diff --git a/packages/frametricks/init.lua b/packages/frametricks/init.lua
index a2fa11e3b..1bc091108 100644
--- a/packages/frametricks/init.lua
+++ b/packages/frametricks/init.lua
@@ -183,8 +183,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
 
   self:registerCommand("float", function (options, content)
     SILE.typesetter:leaveHmode()
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back
+    local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content) -- HACK What about migrating nodes here?
     local heightOfPageSoFar = SILE.pagebuilder:collateVboxes(SILE.typesetter.state.outputQueue).height
     local overshoot = SILE.length(heightOfPageSoFar + hbox.height - SILE.typesetter:getTargetLength())
     if overshoot > SILE.length(0) then
diff --git a/packages/gutenberg/init.lua b/packages/gutenberg/init.lua
index a7afb66ef..b45f9d3e7 100644
--- a/packages/gutenberg/init.lua
+++ b/packages/gutenberg/init.lua
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
   self:registerCommand("alternative", function (_, content)
     local alts = {}
     for _, fragment in ipairs(content) do
-      SILE.call("hbox", {}, { fragment })
-      table.insert(alts, table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes))
+      local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ fragment })
+      if #hlist > 0 then
+        SU.error("Forbidden migrating content in alternative")
+      end
+      table.insert(alts, hbox)
     end
     local alternative = SILE.nodefactory.alternative({
       options = alts,
diff --git a/packages/leaders/init.lua b/packages/leaders/init.lua
index ac16fe23d..40ac9fba6 100644
--- a/packages/leaders/init.lua
+++ b/packages/leaders/init.lua
@@ -87,9 +87,10 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
 
   self:registerCommand("leaders", function(options, content)
     local width = options.width and SU.cast("glue", options.width) or SILE.nodefactory.hfillglue()
-    SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    local hbox = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
-    SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
+    if #hlist > 0 then
+      SU.error("Forbidden migrating content in leaders")
+    end
     local l = leader({ width = width, value = hbox })
     SILE.typesetter:pushExplicitGlue(l)
   end)
diff --git a/packages/lists/init.lua b/packages/lists/init.lua
index dd41400fe..a7c862bf0 100644
--- a/packages/lists/init.lua
+++ b/packages/lists/init.lua
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function package:doItem (options, content)
     SILE.call("par")
   end
 
-  local mark = SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
+  local mark = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(function ()
     if enumStyle.display then
       if enumStyle.before then SILE.typesetter:typeset(enumStyle.before) end
       SILE.typesetter:typeset(self.class.packages.counters:formatCounter({
@@ -99,7 +99,6 @@ function package:doItem (options, content)
       SILE.typesetter:typeset(bullet)
     end
   end)
-  table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back
 
   local stepback
   if enumStyle.display then
diff --git a/packages/pdf/init.lua b/packages/pdf/init.lua
index 6e4f90e33..f6622a3bc 100644
--- a/packages/pdf/init.lua
+++ b/packages/pdf/init.lua
@@ -113,7 +113,11 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         pdf.begin_annotation()
       end
     })
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content) -- hack
+
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content) -- hack
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHbox(hbox)
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
+
     SILE.typesetter:pushHbox({
       value = nil,
       height = SILE.measurement(0),
diff --git a/packages/pullquote/init.lua b/packages/pullquote/init.lua
index b77210af2..078faf9a6 100644
--- a/packages/pullquote/init.lua
+++ b/packages/pullquote/init.lua
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ local typesetMark = function (open, setback, scale, color, mark)
           SILE.call("rebox", { width = setback, height = 0 }, { mark })
         else
           SILE.typesetter:pushGlue(SILE.nodefactory.hfillglue())
-          local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, { mark })
-          table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back
+          local hbox = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox({ mark }) -- for measuring
           SILE.typesetter:pushGlue({ width = setback - hbox.width })
           SILE.call("rebox", { width = hbox.width, height = 0 }, { mark })
           SILE.typesetter:pushGlue({ width = -setback })
diff --git a/packages/rebox/init.lua b/packages/rebox/init.lua
index d56147824..ac34335a5 100644
--- a/packages/rebox/init.lua
+++ b/packages/rebox/init.lua
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ package._name = "rebox"
 function package:registerCommands ()
 
   self:registerCommand("rebox", function (options, content)
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
     if options.width then hbox.width = SILE.length(options.width) end
     if options.height then hbox.height = SILE.length(options.height) end
     if options.depth then hbox.depth = SILE.length(options.depth) end
@@ -16,7 +15,8 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         typesetter.frame:advanceWritingDirection(node:scaledWidth(line))
       end
     end
-    table.insert(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes, hbox)
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHbox(hbox)
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end, "Place the output within a hbox of specified width, height, depth and visibility")
 
 end
diff --git a/packages/rotate/init.lua b/packages/rotate/init.lua
index c7420cf00..5982f0c2c 100644
--- a/packages/rotate/init.lua
+++ b/packages/rotate/init.lua
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
   self:registerCommand("rotate", function(options, content)
     local angle = SU.required(options, "angle", "rotate command")
     local theta = -math.rad(angle)
-    local origbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes] = nil
+    local origbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
     local h = origbox.height + origbox.depth
     local w = origbox.width.length
     local st = math.sin(theta)
@@ -101,6 +100,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
       depth = depth,
       outputYourself = outputRotatedHbox
     })
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end)
 
 end
diff --git a/packages/ruby/init.lua b/packages/ruby/init.lua
index a43ed5c8e..ec8af8edf 100644
--- a/packages/ruby/init.lua
+++ b/packages/ruby/init.lua
@@ -65,14 +65,13 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
 
     checkIfSpacerNeeded(reading)
 
-    SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
+    local rubybox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
       SILE.settings:temporarily(function ()
         SILE.call("noindent")
         SILE.call("ruby:font")
         SILE.typesetter:typeset(reading)
       end)
     end)
-    local rubybox = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
     rubybox.outputYourself = function (box, typesetter, line)
       local ox = typesetter.frame.state.cursorX
       local oy = typesetter.frame.state.cursorY
@@ -87,8 +86,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
       typesetter.frame.state.cursorY = oy
     end
     -- measure the content
-    SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    local cbox = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
+    local cbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
     SU.debug("ruby", "base box is", cbox)
     SU.debug("ruby", "reading is", rubybox)
     if cbox:lineContribution() > rubybox:lineContribution() then
diff --git a/packages/rules/init.lua b/packages/rules/init.lua
index f99bef3d4..c622f1a8a 100644
--- a/packages/rules/init.lua
+++ b/packages/rules/init.lua
@@ -149,9 +149,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
   self:registerCommand("underline", function (_, content)
     local underlinePosition, underlineThickness = getUnderlineParameters()
 
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back...
-
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
     -- Re-wrap the hbox in another hbox responsible for boxing it at output
     -- time, when we will know the line contribution and can compute the scaled width
     -- of the box, taking into account possible stretching and shrinking.
@@ -176,14 +174,13 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         SILE.outputter:drawRule(oldX, Y - underlinePosition, newX - oldX, underlineThickness)
       end
     })
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end, "Underlines some content")
 
   self:registerCommand("strikethrough", function (_, content)
     local yStrikeoutPosition, yStrikeoutSize = getStrikethroughParameters()
 
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back...
-
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
     -- Re-wrap the hbox in another hbox responsible for boxing it at output
     -- time, when we will know the line contribution and can compute the scaled width
     -- of the box, taking into account possible stretching and shrinking.
@@ -205,6 +202,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         SILE.outputter:drawRule(oldX, Y - yStrikeoutPosition - yStrikeoutSize / 2, newX - oldX, yStrikeoutSize)
       end
     })
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end, "Strikes out some content")
 
   self:registerCommand("boxaround", function (_, content)
@@ -212,9 +210,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
     -- Plan replacement with a better suited package.
     SU.deprecated("\\boxaround (undocumented)", "\\framebox (package)", "0.12.0")
 
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- steal it back...
-
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
     -- Re-wrap the hbox in another hbox responsible for boxing it at output
     -- time, when we will know the line contribution and can compute the scaled width
     -- of the box, taking into account possible stretching and shrinking.
@@ -245,6 +241,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         SILE.outputter:drawRule(oldX + w - thickness, Y - h, thickness, h + d)
       end
     })
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end, "Draws a box around some content")
 
 end
diff --git a/packages/scalebox/init.lua b/packages/scalebox/init.lua
index d3a5ac870..f4d8375c2 100644
--- a/packages/scalebox/init.lua
+++ b/packages/scalebox/init.lua
@@ -13,9 +13,8 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
     SILE.outputter:_ensureInit()
     local pdf = require("justenoughlibtexpdf")
 
-    local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-    table.remove(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes) -- Remove the box from queue
-    local xratio, yratio = SU.cast("number", options.xratio) or 1, SU.cast("number", options.yratio) or 1
+    local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
+    local xratio, yratio = SU.cast("number", options.xratio or 1), SU.cast("number", options.yratio or 1)
     if xratio == 0 or yratio == 0 then
       SU.error("Scaling ratio cannot be null")
     end
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
         typesetter.frame:advanceWritingDirection(outputWidth)
       end
     })
+    SILE.typesetter:pushHlist(hlist)
   end, "Scale content by some horizontal and vertical ratios")
 
 end
diff --git a/packages/simpletable/init.lua b/packages/simpletable/init.lua
index 47ec84eef..b5d4ba577 100644
--- a/packages/simpletable/init.lua
+++ b/packages/simpletable/init.lua
@@ -38,11 +38,14 @@ function package:_init (options)
     self:registerCommand(tdTag, function(_, content)
       local tbl = SILE.scratch.simpletable.tables[#(SILE.scratch.simpletable.tables)]
       local row = tbl[#tbl]
+      local hbox, hlist = SILE.typesetter:makeHbox(content)
       row[#row+1] = {
         content = content,
-        hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
+        hbox = hbox
       }
-      SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#(SILE.typesetter.state.nodes)] = nil
+      if #hlist > 0 then
+        SU.warn("Ignored migrating content in simpletable row (unsupported)")
+      end
     end)
 
     self:registerCommand(tableTag, function(_, content)
diff --git a/packages/tate/init.lua b/packages/tate/init.lua
index 7071274f3..cae802fe5 100644
--- a/packages/tate/init.lua
+++ b/packages/tate/init.lua
@@ -89,18 +89,17 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
       if SILE.typesetter.frame:writingDirection() ~= "TTB" or nodes[i].is_glue then
         SILE.typesetter:pushHorizontal(nodes[i])
       elseif nodes[i]:lineContribution():tonumber() > 0 then
-        SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
+        local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, function ()
           SILE.typesetter:pushHorizontal(nodes[i])
         end)
-        local n = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
         -- Turn off all complex flags.
-        for j = 1,#(n.value) do
-          for k = 1,#(n.value[j].nodes) do
-            n.value[j].nodes[k].value.complex = false
+        for j = 1, #(hbox.value) do
+          for k = 1, #(hbox.value[j].nodes) do
+            hbox.value[j].nodes[k].value.complex = false
           end
         end
-        n.oldOutputYourself = n.outputYourself
-        n.outputYourself = outputLatinInTate
+        hbox.oldOutputYourself = hbox.outputYourself
+        hbox.outputYourself = outputLatinInTate
       end
     end
   end, "Typeset rotated Western text in vertical Japanese")
@@ -117,11 +116,10 @@ function package:registerCommands ()
       SILE.settings:set("document.language", "und")
       SILE.settings:set("font.direction", "LTR")
       SILE.call("rotate",{angle =-90}, function ()
-        SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
-        local n = SILE.typesetter.state.nodes[#SILE.typesetter.state.nodes]
-        n.misfit = true
-        n.oldOutputYourself = n.outputYourself
-        n.outputYourself = outputTateChuYoko
+        local hbox = SILE.call("hbox", {}, content)
+        hbox.misfit = true
+        hbox.oldOutputYourself = hbox.outputYourself
+        hbox.outputYourself = outputTateChuYoko
       end)
 
     end)
diff --git a/tests/bug-583.expected b/tests/bug-583.expected
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b6c2432f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bug-583.expected
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+Set paper size 	297.6377985	419.5275636
+Begin page
+Mx 	14.8819
+My 	28.7889
+Set font 	Gentium Plus;10;400;;normal;;;LTR
+T	11 w=3.1689	(()
+Mx 	18.0508
+T	60 68 86 68 w=18.9844	(Yasa)
+Mx 	37.0352
+T	183 w=2.2900	(’)
+Mx 	39.3252
+T	81 215 81 w=13.7451	(nın)
+Mx 	55.7305
+T	55 72 78 85 68 85 215 w=30.2246	(Tekrarı)
+Mx 	85.9551
+T	12 w=3.1689	())
+Mx 	91.7842
+T	76 81 w=8.2275	(in)
+Mx 	102.6719
+T	75 69 82 91 w=20.6543	(hbox)
+Mx 	14.8819
+My 	40.7889
+T	11 w=3.1689	(()
+Mx 	18.0508
+T	60 68 86 68 w=18.9844	(Yasa)
+Mx 	37.0352
+T	183 w=2.2900	(’)
+Mx 	39.3252
+T	81 215 81 w=13.7451	(nın)
+Mx 	55.7289
+T	55 72 78 85 68 85 215 w=30.2246	(Tekrarı)
+Mx 	85.9535
+T	12 w=3.1689	())
+Mx 	91.7810
+T	81 82 87 w=13.9893	(not)
+Mx 	108.4288
+T	76 81 w=8.2275	(in)
+Mx 	119.3149
+T	75 69 82 91 w=20.6543	(hbox)
+End page
+Finish
diff --git a/tests/bug-583.sil b/tests/bug-583.sil
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e843838d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bug-583.sil
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+\begin[papersize=a6]{document}
+\neverindent
+\nofolios
+\define[command=ah]{\discretionary[prebreak=-, replacement=’]}
+
+(\hbox{Yasa\ah{}nın Tekrarı}) in hbox
+
+(Yasa\ah{}nın Tekrarı) not in hbox
+
+\end{document}
diff --git a/typesetters/base.lua b/typesetters/base.lua
index b2751dfbb..3687896ff 100644
--- a/typesetters/base.lua
+++ b/typesetters/base.lua
@@ -591,6 +591,14 @@ function typesetter:outputLinesToPage (lines)
 end
 
 function typesetter:leaveHmode (independent)
+  if self.state.hmodeOnly then
+    -- HACK HBOX
+    -- This should likely be an error, but may break existing uses
+    -- (although these are probably already defective).
+    -- See also comment HACK HBOX in typesetter:makeHbox().
+    SU.warn([[Building paragraphs in this context may have unpredictable results.
+It will likely break in future versions]])
+  end
   SU.debug("typesetter", "Leaving hmode")
   local margins = self:getMargins()
   local vboxlist = self:boxUpNodes()
@@ -762,4 +770,108 @@ function typesetter:chuck () -- emergency shipout everything
   self.state.outputQueue = {}
 end
 
+-- Logic for building an hbox from content.
+-- It returns the hbox and an horizontal list of (migrating) elements
+-- extracted outside of it.
+-- None of these are pushed to the typesetter node queue. The caller
+-- is responsible of doing it, if the hbox is built for anything
+-- else than e.g. measuring it. Likewise, the call has to decide
+-- what to do with the migrating content.
+local _rtl_pre_post = function (box, atypesetter, line)
+  local advance = function () atypesetter.frame:advanceWritingDirection(box:scaledWidth(line)) end
+  if atypesetter.frame:writingDirection() == "RTL" then
+    advance()
+    return function () end
+  else
+    return advance
+  end
+end
+function typesetter:makeHbox (content)
+  local recentContribution = {}
+  local migratingNodes = {}
+
+  -- HACK HBOX
+  -- This is from the original implementation.
+  -- It would be somewhat cleaner to use a temporary typesetter state
+  -- (pushState/popState) rather than using the current one, removing
+  -- the processed nodes from it afterwards. However, as long
+  -- as leaving horizontal mode is not strictly forbidden here, it would
+  -- lead to a possibly different result (the output queue being skipped).
+  -- See also HACK HBOX comment in typesetter:leaveHmode().
+  local index = #(self.state.nodes)+1
+  self.state.hmodeOnly = true
+  SILE.process(content)
+  self.state.hmodeOnly = false -- Wouldn't be needed in a temporary state
+
+  local l = SILE.length()
+  local h, d = SILE.length(), SILE.length()
+  for i = index, #(self.state.nodes) do
+    local node = self.state.nodes[i]
+    if node.is_migrating then
+      migratingNodes[#migratingNodes+1] = node
+    elseif node.is_unshaped then
+      local shape = node:shape()
+      for _, attr in ipairs(shape) do
+        recentContribution[#recentContribution+1] = attr
+        h = attr.height > h and attr.height or h
+        d = attr.depth > d and attr.depth or d
+        l = l + attr:lineContribution():absolute()
+      end
+    elseif node.is_discretionary then
+      -- HACK https://github.com/sile-typesetter/sile/issues/583
+      -- Discretionary nodes have a null line contribution...
+      -- But if discretionary nodes occur inside an hbox, since the latter
+      -- is not line-broken, they will never be marked as 'used' and will
+      -- evaluate to the replacement content (if any)...
+      recentContribution[#recentContribution+1] = node
+      l = l + node:replacementWidth():absolute()
+      -- The replacement content may have ascenders and descenders...
+      local hdisc = node:replacementHeight():absolute()
+      local ddisc = node:replacementDepth():absolute()
+      h = hdisc > h and hdisc or h
+      d = ddisc > d and ddisc or d
+      -- By the way it's unclear how this is expected to work in TTB
+      -- writing direction. For other type of nodes, the line contribution
+      -- evaluates to the height rather than the width in TTB, but the
+      -- whole logic might then be dubious there too...
+    else
+      recentContribution[#recentContribution+1] = node
+      l = l + node:lineContribution():absolute()
+      h = node.height > h and node.height or h
+      d = node.depth > d and node.depth or d
+    end
+    self.state.nodes[i] = nil -- wouldn't be needed in a temporary state
+  end
+
+  local hbox = SILE.nodefactory.hbox({
+      height = h,
+      width = l,
+      depth = d,
+      value = recentContribution,
+      outputYourself = function (box, atypesetter, line)
+        local _post = _rtl_pre_post(box, atypesetter, line)
+        local ox = atypesetter.frame.state.cursorX
+        local oy = atypesetter.frame.state.cursorY
+        SILE.outputter:setCursor(atypesetter.frame.state.cursorX, atypesetter.frame.state.cursorY)
+        for _, node in ipairs(box.value) do
+          node:outputYourself(atypesetter, line)
+        end
+        atypesetter.frame.state.cursorX = ox
+        atypesetter.frame.state.cursorY = oy
+        _post()
+        SU.debug("hboxes", function ()
+          SILE.outputter:debugHbox(box, box:scaledWidth(line))
+          return "Drew debug outline around hbox"
+        end)
+      end
+    })
+  return hbox, migratingNodes
+end
+
+function typesetter:pushHlist (hlist)
+  for _, h in ipairs(hlist) do
+    self:pushHorizontal(h)
+  end
+end
+
 return typesetter