diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
index db529a38b5..5cdd43df47 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
 import { source, mutable_source, set } from '../../reactivity/sources.js';
 import { is_array, is_frozen } from '../../utils.js';
 import { STATE_SYMBOL } from '../../constants.js';
+import { push_template_node } from '../template.js';
 
 /**
  * The row of a keyed each block that is currently updating. We track this
@@ -168,10 +169,11 @@ export function each(anchor, flags, get_collection, get_key, render_fn, fallback
 					break;
 				}
 
+				var child_open = /** @type {Comment} */ (child_anchor);
 				child_anchor = hydrate_anchor(child_anchor);
 				var value = array[i];
 				var key = get_key(value, i);
-				item = create_item(child_anchor, prev, null, value, key, i, render_fn, flags);
+				item = create_item(child_open, child_anchor, prev, null, value, key, i, render_fn, flags);
 				state.items.set(key, item);
 				child_anchor = /** @type {Comment} */ (child_anchor.nextSibling);
 
@@ -278,8 +280,14 @@ function reconcile(array, state, anchor, render_fn, flags, get_key) {
 		item = items.get(key);
 
 		if (item === undefined) {
+			var child_open = /** @type {Text} */ (push_template_node(empty()));
+			var child_anchor = current ? current.o : anchor;
+
+			child_anchor.before(child_open);
+
 			prev = create_item(
-				current ? get_first_child(current) : anchor,
+				child_open,
+				child_anchor,
 				prev,
 				prev.next,
 				value,
@@ -309,7 +317,7 @@ function reconcile(array, state, anchor, render_fn, flags, get_key) {
 				if (matched.length < stashed.length) {
 					// more efficient to move later items to the front
 					var start = stashed[0];
-					var local_anchor = get_first_child(start);
+					var local_anchor = start.o;
 					var j;
 
 					prev = start.prev;
@@ -338,7 +346,7 @@ function reconcile(array, state, anchor, render_fn, flags, get_key) {
 				} else {
 					// more efficient to move earlier items to the back
 					seen.delete(item);
-					move(item, current ? get_first_child(current) : anchor);
+					move(item, current ? current.o : anchor);
 
 					link(item.prev, item.next);
 					link(item, prev.next);
@@ -399,20 +407,6 @@ function reconcile(array, state, anchor, render_fn, flags, get_key) {
 	}
 }
 
-/**
- * @param {import('#client').EachItem} item
- * @returns {Text | Element | Comment}
- */
-function get_first_child(item) {
-	var current = item.e.dom;
-
-	if (is_array(current)) {
-		return /** @type {Text | Element | Comment} */ (current[0]);
-	}
-
-	return /** @type {Text | Element | Comment} */ (current);
-}
-
 /**
  * @param {import('#client').EachItem} item
  * @param {any} value
@@ -434,6 +428,7 @@ function update_item(item, value, index, type) {
 
 /**
  * @template V
+ * @param {Comment | Text} open
  * @param {Node} anchor
  * @param {import('#client').EachItem | import('#client').EachState} prev
  * @param {import('#client').EachItem | null} next
@@ -444,7 +439,7 @@ function update_item(item, value, index, type) {
  * @param {number} flags
  * @returns {import('#client').EachItem}
  */
-function create_item(anchor, prev, next, value, key, index, render_fn, flags) {
+function create_item(open, anchor, prev, next, value, key, index, render_fn, flags) {
 	var previous_each_item = current_each_item;
 
 	try {
@@ -462,6 +457,7 @@ function create_item(anchor, prev, next, value, key, index, render_fn, flags) {
 			a: null,
 			// @ts-expect-error
 			e: null,
+			o: open,
 			prev,
 			next
 		};
@@ -483,6 +479,8 @@ function create_item(anchor, prev, next, value, key, index, render_fn, flags) {
  * @param {Text | Element | Comment} anchor
  */
 function move(item, anchor) {
+	anchor.before(item.o);
+
 	var dom = item.e.dom;
 
 	if (dom !== null) {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
index a4af4278a5..2f76c8afc2 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
@@ -21,19 +21,12 @@ export function push_template_node(
 		if (!is_array(current_dom)) {
 			current_dom = effect.dom = [current_dom];
 		}
-		var anchor;
-		// If we're working with an anchor, then remove it and put it at the end.
-		if (current_dom[0].nodeType === 8) {
-			anchor = current_dom.pop();
-		}
+
 		if (is_array(dom)) {
 			current_dom.push(...dom);
 		} else {
 			current_dom.push(dom);
 		}
-		if (anchor !== undefined) {
-			current_dom.push(anchor);
-		}
 	}
 	return dom;
 }
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/types.d.ts b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/types.d.ts
index cd900b0eb1..d927e1ef43 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/types.d.ts
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/types.d.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ export type EachItem = {
 	i: number | Source<number>;
 	/** key */
 	k: unknown;
+	/** anchor for items inserted before this */
+	o: Comment | Text;
 	prev: EachItem | EachState;
 	next: EachItem | null;
 };