diff --git a/maturita.h b/maturita.h
index 0f3ef71..ff29b76 100644
--- a/maturita.h
+++ b/maturita.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #define EX_GAP     200.0   /* vertical space between folded rows        */
 #define EX_WAVE    26.0    /* wavy vertical offset of the bubbles       */
 #define EX_BRANCH_LIFT 150.0  /* extra top space for an off-path branch  */
+#define EX_BRANCH_DX   64.0   /* sideways offset so the branch link slants */
 #define HM_WORDS 5
 #define HM_MAX_MISSES 6
 #define HM_N_LETTERS 29   /* QWERTY rows + Ä/Ö/Ü (see hm_letters[]) */
diff --git a/unitmap.c b/unitmap.c
index aea83c6..bb5af2f 100644
--- a/unitmap.c
+++ b/unitmap.c
@@ -42,9 +42,10 @@ void ex_layout_geometry(UnitCtx *u, double avail) {
         }
     }
 
-    /* The branch hangs straight above exercise 2 (index 1). */
+    /* The branch hangs above exercise 2 (index 1), nudged sideways so its
+     * connector is a slanted link rather than a dead-straight vertical line. */
     if (u->has_branch && n > 1) {
-        u->branch_cx = u->ex_cx[1];
+        u->branch_cx = u->ex_cx[1] + EX_BRANCH_DX;
         u->branch_cy = u->ex_cy[1] - EX_BRANCH_LIFT;
     }
 }
@@ -93,6 +94,19 @@ void ex_path(UnitCtx *u, cairo_t *cr, double t0, double t1) {
     }
 }
 
+/* Wavy link from an exercise bubble up to the off-path branch. */
+static void branch_path(cairo_t *cr, double x0, double y0,
+                        double x1, double y1) {
+    double dy = y0 - y1;
+    double c1x = x0 + EX_WAVE * 1.3;
+    double c1y = y0 - dy * 0.45;
+    double c2x = x1 - EX_WAVE * 1.3;
+    double c2y = y1 + dy * 0.45;
+
+    cairo_move_to(cr, x0, y0);
+    cairo_curve_to(cr, c1x, c1y, c2x, c2y, x1, y1);
+}
+
 void draw_ex_rail(GtkDrawingArea *area, cairo_t *cr,
                          int width, int height, gpointer user_data) {
     UnitCtx *u = user_data;
@@ -138,15 +152,13 @@ void draw_ex_rail(GtkDrawingArea *area, cairo_t *cr,
         gboolean bdone = u->done[u->branch_ex];
 
         cairo_new_path(cr);
-        cairo_move_to(cr, u->ex_cx[1], u->ex_cy[1]);
-        cairo_line_to(cr, u->branch_cx, u->branch_cy);
+        branch_path(cr, u->ex_cx[1], u->ex_cy[1], u->branch_cx, u->branch_cy);
         cairo_set_line_width(cr, 14);
         cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, rail.r, rail.g, rail.b);
         cairo_stroke(cr);
 
         cairo_new_path(cr);
-        cairo_move_to(cr, u->ex_cx[1], u->ex_cy[1]);
-        cairo_line_to(cr, u->branch_cx, u->branch_cy);
+        branch_path(cr, u->ex_cx[1], u->ex_cy[1], u->branch_cx, u->branch_cy);
         cairo_set_line_width(cr, 9);
         if (bdone)
             cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, green.r, green.g, green.b, 0.85);