diff --git a/compose.go b/compose.go
index bf1b3dd..8a46ae2 100644
--- a/compose.go
+++ b/compose.go
@@ -15,6 +15,17 @@ type composedDocument struct {
 	inputNodes   int
 }
 
+// cloneComposedDocument detaches mutable composition and provenance state;
+// history application trees are immutable and retain their existing sharing.
+func cloneComposedDocument(base *composedDocument) *composedDocument {
+	return &composedDocument{
+		root: document.Clone(base.root), claims: cloneCompositionClaims(base.claims),
+		origins: cloneOriginIndex(base.origins), overlays: cloneOverlayRecords(base.overlays),
+		applications: cloneHistoryApplications(base.applications),
+		inputBytes:   base.inputBytes, inputNodes: base.inputNodes,
+	}
+}
+
 type compositionClaim struct {
 	path     Path
 	kind     document.Kind
diff --git a/directives.go b/directives.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c27dd46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/directives.go
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type importDeclaration struct {
+	path     string
+	glob     string
+	optional bool
+	location Location
+}
+
+func splitImportDirectives(root *document.Node) (*document.Node, []importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
+	body := document.Clone(root)
+	var declarations []importDeclaration
+	directiveIndex := -1
+	for index, entry := range body.Mapping {
+		if entry.Key != "_configkit" {
+			continue
+		}
+		directiveIndex = index
+		parsed, diagnostics := parseImportDirective(entry.Value, Keys("_configkit"))
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return nil, nil, diagnostics
+		}
+		declarations = parsed
+		break
+	}
+	if directiveIndex >= 0 {
+		body.Mapping = append(body.Mapping[:directiveIndex], body.Mapping[directiveIndex+1:]...)
+	}
+	if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(body, Path{}); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		return nil, nil, diagnostics
+	}
+	return body, declarations, nil
+}
+
+func parseImportDirective(node *document.Node, directivePath Path) ([]importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
+	if node.Kind != document.Mapping {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, directivePath, "configuration directive must be a mapping", node)}
+	}
+	var declarations []importDeclaration
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		fieldPath := directivePath.Key(entry.Key)
+		if entry.Key != "imports" {
+			return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "configuration directive field is not recognized", entry.Value)}
+		}
+		if entry.Value.Kind != document.Sequence {
+			return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "imports must be a sequence", entry.Value)}
+		}
+		for index, item := range entry.Value.Sequence {
+			declaration, diagnostics := parseImportDeclaration(item, fieldPath.Index(index))
+			if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return nil, diagnostics
+			}
+			declarations = append(declarations, declaration)
+		}
+	}
+	return declarations, nil
+}
+
+func parseImportDeclaration(node *document.Node, declarationPath Path) (importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
+	if node.Kind != document.Mapping {
+		return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, declarationPath, "import declaration must be a mapping", node)}
+	}
+	declaration := importDeclaration{location: publicLocation(node.Location)}
+	seenTarget := false
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		fieldPath := declarationPath.Key(entry.Key)
+		switch entry.Key {
+		case "path", "glob":
+			if seenTarget || entry.Value.Kind != document.String || entry.Value.Text == "" || strings.TrimSpace(entry.Value.Text) != entry.Value.Text {
+				return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "import declaration requires exactly one nonempty path or glob string", entry.Value)}
+			}
+			seenTarget = true
+			declaration.location = publicLocation(entry.Value.Location)
+			if entry.Key == "path" {
+				declaration.path = entry.Value.Text
+			} else {
+				declaration.glob = entry.Value.Text
+			}
+		case "optional":
+			if entry.Value.Kind != document.Boolean {
+				return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "optional must be a boolean", entry.Value)}
+			}
+			declaration.optional = entry.Value.Text == "true"
+		default:
+			return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "import declaration field is not recognized", entry.Value)}
+		}
+	}
+	if !seenTarget {
+		return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, declarationPath, "import declaration requires exactly one path or glob", node)}
+	}
+	return declaration, nil
+}
+
+func nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, current Path) []Diagnostic {
+	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			childPath := current.Key(entry.Key)
+			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
+				location := publicLocation(entry.KeyLocation)
+				return []Diagnostic{{Code: CodeImportInvalid, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath, Message: "configuration directives are permitted only at the document root", Primary: &location}}
+			}
+			if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return diagnostics
+			}
+		}
+	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
+		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
+			if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(child, current.Index(index)); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return diagnostics
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func fragmentVersionClaim(root *document.Node, rule *VersionRule) *document.Node {
+	if rule == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	current := root
+	if len(rule.Path.segments) == 0 {
+		return current
+	}
+	for _, segment := range rule.Path.segments {
+		if current.Kind != document.Mapping {
+			return current
+		}
+		if segment.kind == pathSegmentIndex {
+			return nil
+		}
+		key := segment.key
+		index := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, key)
+		if index < 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
+		current = current.Mapping[index].Value
+	}
+	return current
+}
+
+func validImportPath(value string) bool {
+	if value == "" || strings.TrimSpace(value) != value || path.IsAbs(value) || strings.HasPrefix(value, "//") {
+		return false
+	}
+	return !hasImportScheme(value)
+}
+
+func hasImportScheme(value string) bool {
+	colon := strings.IndexByte(value, ':')
+	slash := strings.IndexByte(value, '/')
+	if colon <= 0 || (slash >= 0 && slash < colon) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for index := 0; index < colon; index++ {
+		character := value[index]
+		if index == 0 {
+			if (character < 'a' || character > 'z') && (character < 'A' || character > 'Z') {
+				return false
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if (character < 'a' || character > 'z') && (character < 'A' || character > 'Z') &&
+			(character < '0' || character > '9') && character != '+' && character != '-' && character != '.' {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func nodeImportDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, message string, node *document.Node) Diagnostic {
+	location := publicLocation(node.Location)
+	return Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path, Message: message, Primary: &location}
+}
+
+func profileDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, current Path) []Diagnostic {
+	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			childPath := current.Key(entry.Key)
+			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
+				location := publicLocation(entry.KeyLocation)
+				return []Diagnostic{{
+					Code: CodeProfileDirective, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath,
+					Message: "profiles cannot contain configuration directives", Primary: &location,
+				}}
+			}
+			if diagnostics := profileDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return diagnostics
+			}
+		}
+	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
+		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
+			if diagnostics := profileDirectiveDiagnostics(child, current.Index(index)); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return diagnostics
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, path Path) []Diagnostic {
+	var diagnostics []Diagnostic
+	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			childPath := path.Key(entry.Key)
+			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
+				location := Location{SourceID: entry.KeyLocation.SourceID, Line: entry.KeyLocation.Line, Column: entry.KeyLocation.Column}
+				diagnostics = append(diagnostics, Diagnostic{
+					Code: CodeImportDisabled, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath,
+					Message: "configuration directives require imports to be enabled", Primary: &location,
+				})
+			}
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath)...)
+		}
+	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
+		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(child, path.Index(index))...)
+		}
+	}
+	return diagnostics
+}
diff --git a/docs/internal/overview.md b/docs/internal/overview.md
index d8289c8..d77bc3a 100644
--- a/docs/internal/overview.md
+++ b/docs/internal/overview.md
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ module and package documentation boundary. Its implemented public primitives are
 - fixed selected-profile loading in `profile.go` and recursive, non-aliasing overlay
   with displacement records in `overlay.go`; overlay records retain origins,
   while value explanation uses separate history applications;
-- detached parser-neutral CLI override validation and synthetic-source application
-  in `override.go`, sharing overlay, source, byte, node, and depth policies;
+- CLI override validation/preparation in `override.go`, parser-neutral values in
+  `override_value.go`, and synthetic-source application in `override_apply.go`,
+  sharing overlay, source, byte, node, and depth policies;
 - a per-operation private reflection descriptor graph in `schema.go` for supported
   types, YAML field binding, inlining, secret tags, recursion, and semantic paths;
 - descriptor-driven canonical projection in `projection.go`, detached typed
@@ -31,7 +32,9 @@ module and package documentation boundary. Its implemented public primitives are
   mapping/sequence semantics, null and numeric policy, safe codec errors, presence,
   baseline/final trees, and initial default/input origins;
 - public lifecycle coordination in `load.go`, bounded canonical import DFS in
-  `imports.go`, pattern-directed glob expansion in `glob.go`, version-report contexts
+  `imports.go`, filesystem context/containment in `filesystem.go`, directive
+  parsing/restrictions in `directives.go`, pattern-directed glob expansion in
+  `glob.go`, version-report contexts
   in `validation.go`, and detached layered metadata/history assembly in
   `load_metadata.go`;
 - recorded application defaulting and normalization in `resolution.go`, including
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
index efd7258..45b066e 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
@@ -249,7 +249,16 @@ borrowed values or reread the environment. Run race tests for this unit.
 
 ## Stage 6 — Clarify source assembly and override ownership
 
-Status: pending.
+Status: complete.
+
+Completion: filesystem context/canonicalization/containment moved to
+`filesystem.go`; directive parsing and restrictions moved to `directives.go`;
+input node counting now shares the document owner with explicit key accounting.
+Override preparation, parser-neutral value building, and application are separate;
+profile and CLI application share the composition clone. Deferred profile cleanup
+preserves primary failures and explicitly checks the success-path close once.
+Full offline tests, vet, build, and whitespace checks passed with Go 1.26.7 on
+Linux/amd64, including imports/globs, profiles, CLI, limits, and provenance.
 
 Evidence: [imports.go](../../imports.go) mixes filesystem context, directives,
 graph traversal, and diagnostics; [override.go](../../override.go) combines value
diff --git a/document_walk.go b/document_walk.go
index e60f68a..c44300f 100644
--- a/document_walk.go
+++ b/document_walk.go
@@ -64,3 +64,23 @@ func documentAtPath(root *document.Node, path Path) (*document.Node, bool) {
 	}
 	return current, true
 }
+
+// countInputNodes includes mapping-key nodes, unlike walkDocument's value-only
+// traversal. Aggregate source budgets charge every input occurrence.
+func countInputNodes(node *document.Node) int {
+	if node == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	count := 1
+	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		count += len(node.Mapping)
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			count += countInputNodes(entry.Value)
+		}
+	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
+		for _, child := range node.Sequence {
+			count += countInputNodes(child)
+		}
+	}
+	return count
+}
diff --git a/filesystem.go b/filesystem.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2904dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/filesystem.go
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func validateFilesystemContext(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) *Diagnostic {
+	rootPath, _, _, diagnostic := importFilesystem(source, context, main)
+	if diagnostic != nil {
+		return diagnostic
+	}
+	root, err := os.OpenRoot(rootPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		value := globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "configuration root could not be opened", Location{})
+		value.Primary = nil
+		return &value
+	}
+	if err := root.Close(); err != nil {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportRead, "configuration root could not be closed", nil)
+		return &value
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func filesystemOptionDiagnostics(source Source, context *FilesystemContext) []Diagnostic {
+	switch source.kind {
+	case sourceNone:
+		return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "NoSource cannot use filesystem context")}
+	case sourceFile:
+		if context.BaseDir != "" {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")}
+		}
+	case sourceBytes, sourceReader:
+		if context.BaseDir == "" || context.Root == "" {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem context requires base and root directories")}
+		}
+		if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem base and root directories must be absolute")}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func importFilesystem(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) (rootPath, basePath, mainPath string, diagnostic *Diagnostic) {
+	if main.source == nil || main.document == nil {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "imports require a selected configuration source", nil)
+		return "", "", "", &value
+	}
+
+	if source.kind == sourceFile {
+		if context != nil && context.BaseDir != "" {
+			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+		canonical, err := canonicalExistingPath(source.path)
+		if err != nil {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "selected source path could not be canonicalized", nil)
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+		mainPath = canonical
+		basePath = filepath.Dir(canonical)
+		rootPath = basePath
+		if context != nil && context.Root != "" {
+			rootPath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.Root)
+			if err != nil {
+				value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root could not be canonicalized", nil)
+				return "", "", "", &value
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		if context == nil || context.BaseDir == "" || context.Root == "" {
+			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader imports require absolute base and root directories")
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+		if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
+			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader import base and root directories must be absolute")
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+		var err error
+		basePath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.BaseDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "import base directory could not be canonicalized", nil)
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+		rootPath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.Root)
+		if err != nil {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root could not be canonicalized", nil)
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+	}
+	if !containedPath(rootPath, basePath) || (mainPath != "" && !containedPath(rootPath, mainPath)) {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)
+		return "", "", "", &value
+	}
+	for _, candidate := range []string{rootPath, basePath} {
+		info, err := os.Stat(candidate)
+		if err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root and import base must be directories", nil)
+			return "", "", "", &value
+		}
+	}
+	return rootPath, basePath, mainPath, nil
+}
+
+func canonicalExistingPath(name string) (string, error) {
+	absolute, err := filepath.Abs(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Clean(absolute))
+}
+
+func containedPath(root, target string) bool {
+	relative, err := filepath.Rel(root, target)
+	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return relative != ".." && !strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator))
+}
diff --git a/imports.go b/imports.go
index f29e1a2..f3bec59 100644
--- a/imports.go
+++ b/imports.go
@@ -35,13 +35,6 @@ func defaultImportLimits() importLimits {
 	}
 }
 
-type importDeclaration struct {
-	path     string
-	glob     string
-	optional bool
-	location Location
-}
-
 type importRoute struct {
 	canonical string
 	locations []Location
@@ -120,120 +113,6 @@ func loadImportedDocuments(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parse
 	return composed, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), diagnostics
 }
 
-func validateFilesystemContext(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) *Diagnostic {
-	rootPath, _, _, diagnostic := importFilesystem(source, context, main)
-	if diagnostic != nil {
-		return diagnostic
-	}
-	root, err := os.OpenRoot(rootPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		value := globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "configuration root could not be opened", Location{})
-		value.Primary = nil
-		return &value
-	}
-	if err := root.Close(); err != nil {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportRead, "configuration root could not be closed", nil)
-		return &value
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func filesystemOptionDiagnostics(source Source, context *FilesystemContext) []Diagnostic {
-	switch source.kind {
-	case sourceNone:
-		return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "NoSource cannot use filesystem context")}
-	case sourceFile:
-		if context.BaseDir != "" {
-			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")}
-		}
-	case sourceBytes, sourceReader:
-		if context.BaseDir == "" || context.Root == "" {
-			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem context requires base and root directories")}
-		}
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
-			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem base and root directories must be absolute")}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func importFilesystem(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) (rootPath, basePath, mainPath string, diagnostic *Diagnostic) {
-	if main.source == nil || main.document == nil {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "imports require a selected configuration source", nil)
-		return "", "", "", &value
-	}
-
-	if source.kind == sourceFile {
-		if context != nil && context.BaseDir != "" {
-			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-		canonical, err := canonicalExistingPath(source.path)
-		if err != nil {
-			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "selected source path could not be canonicalized", nil)
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-		mainPath = canonical
-		basePath = filepath.Dir(canonical)
-		rootPath = basePath
-		if context != nil && context.Root != "" {
-			rootPath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.Root)
-			if err != nil {
-				value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root could not be canonicalized", nil)
-				return "", "", "", &value
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		if context == nil || context.BaseDir == "" || context.Root == "" {
-			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader imports require absolute base and root directories")
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
-			value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader import base and root directories must be absolute")
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-		var err error
-		basePath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.BaseDir)
-		if err != nil {
-			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "import base directory could not be canonicalized", nil)
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-		rootPath, err = canonicalExistingPath(context.Root)
-		if err != nil {
-			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root could not be canonicalized", nil)
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-	}
-	if !containedPath(rootPath, basePath) || (mainPath != "" && !containedPath(rootPath, mainPath)) {
-		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)
-		return "", "", "", &value
-	}
-	for _, candidate := range []string{rootPath, basePath} {
-		info, err := os.Stat(candidate)
-		if err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
-			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root and import base must be directories", nil)
-			return "", "", "", &value
-		}
-	}
-	return rootPath, basePath, mainPath, nil
-}
-
-func canonicalExistingPath(name string) (string, error) {
-	absolute, err := filepath.Abs(name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	return filepath.EvalSymlinks(filepath.Clean(absolute))
-}
-
-func containedPath(root, target string) bool {
-	relative, err := filepath.Rel(root, target)
-	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) {
-		return false
-	}
-	return relative != ".." && !strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator))
-}
-
 func (s *importTraversal) checkInitialLimits() *Diagnostic {
 	if s.limits.sources < 1 {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", nil)
@@ -404,184 +283,6 @@ func (s *importTraversal) currentRoute(location Location) importRoute {
 	return importRoute{locations: locations}
 }
 
-func splitImportDirectives(root *document.Node) (*document.Node, []importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
-	body := document.Clone(root)
-	var declarations []importDeclaration
-	directiveIndex := -1
-	for index, entry := range body.Mapping {
-		if entry.Key != "_configkit" {
-			continue
-		}
-		directiveIndex = index
-		parsed, diagnostics := parseImportDirective(entry.Value, Keys("_configkit"))
-		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-			return nil, nil, diagnostics
-		}
-		declarations = parsed
-		break
-	}
-	if directiveIndex >= 0 {
-		body.Mapping = append(body.Mapping[:directiveIndex], body.Mapping[directiveIndex+1:]...)
-	}
-	if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(body, Path{}); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-		return nil, nil, diagnostics
-	}
-	return body, declarations, nil
-}
-
-func parseImportDirective(node *document.Node, directivePath Path) ([]importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
-	if node.Kind != document.Mapping {
-		return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, directivePath, "configuration directive must be a mapping", node)}
-	}
-	var declarations []importDeclaration
-	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-		fieldPath := directivePath.Key(entry.Key)
-		if entry.Key != "imports" {
-			return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "configuration directive field is not recognized", entry.Value)}
-		}
-		if entry.Value.Kind != document.Sequence {
-			return nil, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "imports must be a sequence", entry.Value)}
-		}
-		for index, item := range entry.Value.Sequence {
-			declaration, diagnostics := parseImportDeclaration(item, fieldPath.Index(index))
-			if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-				return nil, diagnostics
-			}
-			declarations = append(declarations, declaration)
-		}
-	}
-	return declarations, nil
-}
-
-func parseImportDeclaration(node *document.Node, declarationPath Path) (importDeclaration, []Diagnostic) {
-	if node.Kind != document.Mapping {
-		return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, declarationPath, "import declaration must be a mapping", node)}
-	}
-	declaration := importDeclaration{location: publicLocation(node.Location)}
-	seenTarget := false
-	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-		fieldPath := declarationPath.Key(entry.Key)
-		switch entry.Key {
-		case "path", "glob":
-			if seenTarget || entry.Value.Kind != document.String || entry.Value.Text == "" || strings.TrimSpace(entry.Value.Text) != entry.Value.Text {
-				return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "import declaration requires exactly one nonempty path or glob string", entry.Value)}
-			}
-			seenTarget = true
-			declaration.location = publicLocation(entry.Value.Location)
-			if entry.Key == "path" {
-				declaration.path = entry.Value.Text
-			} else {
-				declaration.glob = entry.Value.Text
-			}
-		case "optional":
-			if entry.Value.Kind != document.Boolean {
-				return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "optional must be a boolean", entry.Value)}
-			}
-			declaration.optional = entry.Value.Text == "true"
-		default:
-			return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, fieldPath, "import declaration field is not recognized", entry.Value)}
-		}
-	}
-	if !seenTarget {
-		return importDeclaration{}, []Diagnostic{nodeImportDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, declarationPath, "import declaration requires exactly one path or glob", node)}
-	}
-	return declaration, nil
-}
-
-func nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, current Path) []Diagnostic {
-	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-			childPath := current.Key(entry.Key)
-			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
-				location := publicLocation(entry.KeyLocation)
-				return []Diagnostic{{Code: CodeImportInvalid, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath, Message: "configuration directives are permitted only at the document root", Primary: &location}}
-			}
-			if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-				return diagnostics
-			}
-		}
-	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
-		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
-			if diagnostics := nestedDirectiveDiagnostics(child, current.Index(index)); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-				return diagnostics
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func fragmentVersionClaim(root *document.Node, rule *VersionRule) *document.Node {
-	if rule == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	current := root
-	if len(rule.Path.segments) == 0 {
-		return current
-	}
-	for _, segment := range rule.Path.segments {
-		if current.Kind != document.Mapping {
-			return current
-		}
-		if segment.kind == pathSegmentIndex {
-			return nil
-		}
-		key := segment.key
-		index := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, key)
-		if index < 0 {
-			return nil
-		}
-		current = current.Mapping[index].Value
-	}
-	return current
-}
-
-func countInputNodes(node *document.Node) int {
-	if node == nil {
-		return 0
-	}
-	count := 1
-	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		count += len(node.Mapping)
-		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-			count += countInputNodes(entry.Value)
-		}
-	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
-		for _, child := range node.Sequence {
-			count += countInputNodes(child)
-		}
-	}
-	return count
-}
-
-func validImportPath(value string) bool {
-	if value == "" || strings.TrimSpace(value) != value || path.IsAbs(value) || strings.HasPrefix(value, "//") {
-		return false
-	}
-	return !hasImportScheme(value)
-}
-
-func hasImportScheme(value string) bool {
-	colon := strings.IndexByte(value, ':')
-	slash := strings.IndexByte(value, '/')
-	if colon <= 0 || (slash >= 0 && slash < colon) {
-		return false
-	}
-	for index := 0; index < colon; index++ {
-		character := value[index]
-		if index == 0 {
-			if (character < 'a' || character > 'z') && (character < 'A' || character > 'Z') {
-				return false
-			}
-			continue
-		}
-		if (character < 'a' || character > 'z') && (character < 'A' || character > 'Z') &&
-			(character < '0' || character > '9') && character != '+' && character != '-' && character != '.' {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
 func sourceInfos(source *SourceInfo) []SourceInfo {
 	if source == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -593,11 +294,6 @@ func importDiagnostic(code Code, message string, location *Location) Diagnostic
 	return Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Message: message, Primary: cloneLocation(location)}
 }
 
-func nodeImportDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, message string, node *document.Node) Diagnostic {
-	location := publicLocation(node.Location)
-	return Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path, Message: message, Primary: &location}
-}
-
 func importCycleDiagnostic(target string, location Location, cycle []importRoute) Diagnostic {
 	paths := make([]string, 0, len(cycle)+1)
 	related := make([]Location, 0, len(cycle))
diff --git a/load.go b/load.go
index e211905..599735d 100644
--- a/load.go
+++ b/load.go
@@ -339,28 +339,6 @@ func optionDiagnostic(code Code, message string) Diagnostic {
 	return Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Message: message}
 }
 
-func disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, path Path) []Diagnostic {
-	var diagnostics []Diagnostic
-	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-			childPath := path.Key(entry.Key)
-			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
-				location := Location{SourceID: entry.KeyLocation.SourceID, Line: entry.KeyLocation.Line, Column: entry.KeyLocation.Column}
-				diagnostics = append(diagnostics, Diagnostic{
-					Code: CodeImportDisabled, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath,
-					Message: "configuration directives require imports to be enabled", Primary: &location,
-				})
-			}
-			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath)...)
-		}
-	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
-		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
-			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(child, path.Index(index))...)
-		}
-	}
-	return diagnostics
-}
-
 func checkVersion(rule *VersionRule, root *document.Node) []Diagnostic {
 	if rule == nil {
 		return nil
diff --git a/overlay.go b/overlay.go
index 17bada5..2a231f2 100644
--- a/overlay.go
+++ b/overlay.go
@@ -24,15 +24,7 @@ func overlayDocuments(base *composedDocument, overlay *document.Node) (*composed
 			Message: "profile overlay requires mapping document roots",
 		}}
 	}
-	result := &composedDocument{
-		root:         document.Clone(base.root),
-		claims:       cloneCompositionClaims(base.claims),
-		origins:      cloneOriginIndex(base.origins),
-		overlays:     cloneOverlayRecords(base.overlays),
-		applications: cloneHistoryApplications(base.applications),
-		inputBytes:   base.inputBytes,
-		inputNodes:   base.inputNodes,
-	}
+	result := cloneComposedDocument(base)
 	mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, Path{}, overlay.Location, LayerProfile)
 	mergeOverlayMappings(result, result.root, overlay, Path{}, LayerProfile, true)
 	result.applications = append(result.applications, historyApplication{layer: LayerProfile, value: overlay})
diff --git a/override.go b/override.go
index 43da63f..fe37fb4 100644
--- a/override.go
+++ b/override.go
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 package configkit
 
 import (
-	"math"
-	"reflect"
-	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"unicode"
@@ -22,17 +19,7 @@ type preparedOverride struct {
 	nodes  int
 }
 
-type overrideValueBuilder struct {
-	sourceID string
-	active   map[valueVisit]bool
-	bytes    int64
-	nodes    int
-}
-
-func applyOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []Override, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
-	if len(overrides) == 0 {
-		return base, cloneSourceInfos(sources), nil
-	}
+func prepareOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []Override, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits) ([]preparedOverride, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
 	if len(overrides) > maxOverrides || len(sources)+len(overrides) > limits.sources {
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(sources), []Diagnostic{{
 			Code: CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, Severity: SeverityError,
@@ -147,13 +134,7 @@ func applyOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []Ov
 		return nil, allSources, canonicalDiagnostics(diagnostics)
 	}
 
-	result := cloneComposedDocument(base)
-	for _, override := range prepared {
-		applyPreparedOverride(result, override)
-	}
-	result.inputBytes += usedBytes
-	result.inputNodes += usedNodes
-	return result, allSources, nil
+	return prepared, allSources, nil
 }
 
 func validOverrideLabel(label string) bool {
@@ -240,220 +221,3 @@ func overrideDirectivePath(node *document.Node, path Path) (Path, bool) {
 	}
 	return Path{}, false
 }
-
-func (b *overrideValueBuilder) build(value any, path Path, depth int) (*document.Node, *Diagnostic) {
-	if depth > maxDocumentDepth {
-		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the depth limit")
-	}
-	b.nodes++
-	if b.nodes > maxDocumentNodes {
-		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
-	}
-	location := document.Location{SourceID: b.sourceID}
-	switch value := value.(type) {
-	case nil:
-		return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
-	case string:
-		if !b.addBytes(len(value)) {
-			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the record string-byte limit")
-		}
-		return &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: value, Location: location}, nil
-	case bool:
-		return &document.Node{Kind: document.Boolean, Text: strconv.FormatBool(value), Location: location}, nil
-	case int:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case int8:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case int16:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case int32:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case int64:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(value, 10), location), nil
-	case uint:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case uint8:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case uint16:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case uint32:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
-	case uint64:
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(value, 10), location), nil
-	case float32:
-		if math.IsNaN(float64(value)) || math.IsInf(float64(value), 0) {
-			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override float must be finite")
-		}
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatFloat(float64(value), 'g', -1, 32), location), nil
-	case float64:
-		if math.IsNaN(value) || math.IsInf(value, 0) {
-			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override float must be finite")
-		}
-		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatFloat(value, 'g', -1, 64), location), nil
-	case []any:
-		if value == nil {
-			return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
-		}
-		leave, diagnostic := b.enter(reflect.ValueOf(value), path)
-		if diagnostic != nil {
-			return nil, diagnostic
-		}
-		defer leave()
-		if len(value) > maxDocumentNodes-b.nodes {
-			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
-		}
-		node := &document.Node{Kind: document.Sequence, Location: location, Sequence: make([]*document.Node, len(value))}
-		for index, child := range value {
-			built, diagnostic := b.build(child, path.Index(index), depth+1)
-			if diagnostic != nil {
-				return nil, diagnostic
-			}
-			node.Sequence[index] = built
-		}
-		return node, nil
-	case map[string]any:
-		if value == nil {
-			return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
-		}
-		leave, diagnostic := b.enter(reflect.ValueOf(value), path)
-		if diagnostic != nil {
-			return nil, diagnostic
-		}
-		defer leave()
-		if len(value) > (maxDocumentNodes-b.nodes)/2 {
-			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
-		}
-		keys := make([]string, 0, len(value))
-		for key := range value {
-			keys = append(keys, key)
-		}
-		slices.Sort(keys)
-		node := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: make([]document.Entry, 0, len(keys))}
-		for _, key := range keys {
-			b.nodes++ // mapping key
-			if !b.addBytes(len(key)) {
-				return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path.Key(key), "configuration override exceeds the record string-byte limit")
-			}
-			built, diagnostic := b.build(value[key], path.Key(key), depth+1)
-			if diagnostic != nil {
-				return nil, diagnostic
-			}
-			node.Mapping = append(node.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: built})
-		}
-		return node, nil
-	default:
-		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override value has an unsupported type")
-	}
-}
-
-func (b *overrideValueBuilder) addBytes(count int) bool {
-	if count < 0 || int64(count) > maxSourceBytes-b.bytes {
-		return false
-	}
-	b.bytes += int64(count)
-	return true
-}
-
-func (b *overrideValueBuilder) enter(value reflect.Value, path Path) (func(), *Diagnostic) {
-	visit, ok := visitFor(value)
-	if !ok {
-		return func() {}, nil
-	}
-	if b.active[visit] {
-		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override values must not contain cycles")
-	}
-	b.active[visit] = true
-	return func() { delete(b.active, visit) }, nil
-}
-
-func overrideValueDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, message string) *Diagnostic {
-	return &Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path.clone(), Message: message}
-}
-
-func overrideNumber(text string, location document.Location) *document.Node {
-	return &document.Node{Kind: document.Number, Text: text, Location: location}
-}
-
-func cloneComposedDocument(base *composedDocument) *composedDocument {
-	return &composedDocument{
-		root: document.Clone(base.root), claims: cloneCompositionClaims(base.claims),
-		origins: cloneOriginIndex(base.origins), overlays: cloneOverlayRecords(base.overlays),
-		applications: cloneHistoryApplications(base.applications),
-		inputBytes:   base.inputBytes, inputNodes: base.inputNodes,
-	}
-}
-
-func applyPreparedOverride(result *composedDocument, override preparedOverride) {
-	location := document.Location{SourceID: override.source.ID}
-	mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, Path{}, location, LayerCLI)
-	current := result.root
-	currentPath := Path{}
-	for index, segment := range override.path.segments {
-		path := currentPath.Key(segment.key)
-		position := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, segment.key)
-		if index < len(override.path.segments)-1 {
-			if position < 0 {
-				child := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{}}
-				current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: child})
-				collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, child, path, LayerCLI)
-				current = child
-			} else {
-				current = current.Mapping[position].Value
-				mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, path, location, LayerCLI)
-			}
-			currentPath = path
-			continue
-		}
-
-		previous := cloneOrigin(result.origins[path.String()])
-		var displaced []displacedDefinition
-		if position < 0 {
-			incoming := document.Clone(override.value)
-			current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: incoming})
-			collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, incoming, path, LayerCLI)
-		} else {
-			existing := current.Mapping[position].Value
-			displaced = affectedOverrideOrigins(existing, override.value, result.origins, path)
-			if existing.Kind == document.Mapping && override.value.Kind == document.Mapping {
-				mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, path, location, LayerCLI)
-				mergeOverlayMappings(result, existing, override.value, path, LayerCLI, false)
-			} else {
-				deleteOriginSubtree(result.origins, path)
-				current.Mapping[position] = document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: document.Clone(override.value)}
-				collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, current.Mapping[position].Value, path, LayerCLI)
-			}
-		}
-		result.overlays = append(result.overlays, overlayRecord{change: Change{
-			Path: path.clone(), Origin: overlayOrigin(LayerCLI, location), Previous: previousOrigins(previous),
-		}, displaced: displaced})
-		result.applications = append(result.applications, historyApplication{
-			layer: LayerCLI, path: path.clone(), value: override.value,
-			origin: overlayOrigin(LayerCLI, location),
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func affectedOverrideOrigins(existing, incoming *document.Node, origins map[string]Origin, path Path) []displacedDefinition {
-	displaced := []displacedDefinition{{path: path.clone(), origin: cloneOrigin(origins[path.String()])}}
-	if existing.Kind == document.Mapping && incoming.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		for _, entry := range incoming.Mapping {
-			position := documentEntryIndex(existing.Mapping, entry.Key)
-			if position < 0 {
-				continue
-			}
-			childPath := path.Key(entry.Key)
-			childExisting := existing.Mapping[position].Value
-			if childExisting.Kind == document.Mapping && entry.Value.Kind == document.Mapping {
-				displaced = append(displaced, affectedOverrideOrigins(childExisting, entry.Value, origins, childPath)...)
-			} else {
-				displaced = append(displaced, displacedOrigins(childExisting, origins, childPath)...)
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		displaced = displacedOrigins(existing, origins, path)
-	}
-	slices.SortFunc(displaced, func(left, right displacedDefinition) int {
-		return strings.Compare(left.path.String(), right.path.String())
-	})
-	return displaced
-}
diff --git a/override_apply.go b/override_apply.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b4b013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/override_apply.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func applyOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []Override, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	if len(overrides) == 0 {
+		return base, cloneSourceInfos(sources), nil
+	}
+	prepared, allSources, diagnostics := prepareOverrides(base, sources, overrides, rule, limits)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		return nil, allSources, diagnostics
+	}
+	result := cloneComposedDocument(base)
+	for _, override := range prepared {
+		applyPreparedOverride(result, override)
+		result.inputBytes += override.bytes
+		result.inputNodes += override.nodes
+	}
+	return result, allSources, nil
+}
+
+func applyPreparedOverride(result *composedDocument, override preparedOverride) {
+	location := document.Location{SourceID: override.source.ID}
+	mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, Path{}, location, LayerCLI)
+	current := result.root
+	currentPath := Path{}
+	for index, segment := range override.path.segments {
+		path := currentPath.Key(segment.key)
+		position := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, segment.key)
+		if index < len(override.path.segments)-1 {
+			if position < 0 {
+				child := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{}}
+				current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: child})
+				collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, child, path, LayerCLI)
+				current = child
+			} else {
+				current = current.Mapping[position].Value
+				mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, path, location, LayerCLI)
+			}
+			currentPath = path
+			continue
+		}
+
+		previous := cloneOrigin(result.origins[path.String()])
+		var displaced []displacedDefinition
+		if position < 0 {
+			incoming := document.Clone(override.value)
+			current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: incoming})
+			collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, incoming, path, LayerCLI)
+		} else {
+			existing := current.Mapping[position].Value
+			displaced = affectedOverrideOrigins(existing, override.value, result.origins, path)
+			if existing.Kind == document.Mapping && override.value.Kind == document.Mapping {
+				mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, path, location, LayerCLI)
+				mergeOverlayMappings(result, existing, override.value, path, LayerCLI, false)
+			} else {
+				deleteOriginSubtree(result.origins, path)
+				current.Mapping[position] = document.Entry{Key: segment.key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: document.Clone(override.value)}
+				collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, current.Mapping[position].Value, path, LayerCLI)
+			}
+		}
+		result.overlays = append(result.overlays, overlayRecord{change: Change{
+			Path: path.clone(), Origin: overlayOrigin(LayerCLI, location), Previous: previousOrigins(previous),
+		}, displaced: displaced})
+		result.applications = append(result.applications, historyApplication{
+			layer: LayerCLI, path: path.clone(), value: override.value,
+			origin: overlayOrigin(LayerCLI, location),
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func affectedOverrideOrigins(existing, incoming *document.Node, origins map[string]Origin, path Path) []displacedDefinition {
+	displaced := []displacedDefinition{{path: path.clone(), origin: cloneOrigin(origins[path.String()])}}
+	if existing.Kind == document.Mapping && incoming.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		for _, entry := range incoming.Mapping {
+			position := documentEntryIndex(existing.Mapping, entry.Key)
+			if position < 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			childPath := path.Key(entry.Key)
+			childExisting := existing.Mapping[position].Value
+			if childExisting.Kind == document.Mapping && entry.Value.Kind == document.Mapping {
+				displaced = append(displaced, affectedOverrideOrigins(childExisting, entry.Value, origins, childPath)...)
+			} else {
+				displaced = append(displaced, displacedOrigins(childExisting, origins, childPath)...)
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		displaced = displacedOrigins(existing, origins, path)
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(displaced, func(left, right displacedDefinition) int {
+		return strings.Compare(left.path.String(), right.path.String())
+	})
+	return displaced
+}
diff --git a/override_value.go b/override_value.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9092456
--- /dev/null
+++ b/override_value.go
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"math"
+	"reflect"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type overrideValueBuilder struct {
+	sourceID string
+	active   map[valueVisit]bool
+	bytes    int64
+	nodes    int
+}
+
+func (b *overrideValueBuilder) build(value any, path Path, depth int) (*document.Node, *Diagnostic) {
+	if depth > maxDocumentDepth {
+		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the depth limit")
+	}
+	b.nodes++
+	if b.nodes > maxDocumentNodes {
+		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
+	}
+	location := document.Location{SourceID: b.sourceID}
+	switch value := value.(type) {
+	case nil:
+		return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
+	case string:
+		if !b.addBytes(len(value)) {
+			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the record string-byte limit")
+		}
+		return &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: value, Location: location}, nil
+	case bool:
+		return &document.Node{Kind: document.Boolean, Text: strconv.FormatBool(value), Location: location}, nil
+	case int:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case int8:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case int16:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case int32:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(int64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case int64:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatInt(value, 10), location), nil
+	case uint:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case uint8:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case uint16:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case uint32:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(uint64(value), 10), location), nil
+	case uint64:
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatUint(value, 10), location), nil
+	case float32:
+		if math.IsNaN(float64(value)) || math.IsInf(float64(value), 0) {
+			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override float must be finite")
+		}
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatFloat(float64(value), 'g', -1, 32), location), nil
+	case float64:
+		if math.IsNaN(value) || math.IsInf(value, 0) {
+			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override float must be finite")
+		}
+		return overrideNumber(strconv.FormatFloat(value, 'g', -1, 64), location), nil
+	case []any:
+		if value == nil {
+			return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
+		}
+		leave, diagnostic := b.enter(reflect.ValueOf(value), path)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return nil, diagnostic
+		}
+		defer leave()
+		if len(value) > maxDocumentNodes-b.nodes {
+			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
+		}
+		node := &document.Node{Kind: document.Sequence, Location: location, Sequence: make([]*document.Node, len(value))}
+		for index, child := range value {
+			built, diagnostic := b.build(child, path.Index(index), depth+1)
+			if diagnostic != nil {
+				return nil, diagnostic
+			}
+			node.Sequence[index] = built
+		}
+		return node, nil
+	case map[string]any:
+		if value == nil {
+			return &document.Node{Kind: document.Null, Location: location}, nil
+		}
+		leave, diagnostic := b.enter(reflect.ValueOf(value), path)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return nil, diagnostic
+		}
+		defer leave()
+		if len(value) > (maxDocumentNodes-b.nodes)/2 {
+			return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path, "configuration override exceeds the node limit")
+		}
+		keys := make([]string, 0, len(value))
+		for key := range value {
+			keys = append(keys, key)
+		}
+		slices.Sort(keys)
+		node := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: make([]document.Entry, 0, len(keys))}
+		for _, key := range keys {
+			b.nodes++ // mapping key
+			if !b.addBytes(len(key)) {
+				return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideLimitExceeded, path.Key(key), "configuration override exceeds the record string-byte limit")
+			}
+			built, diagnostic := b.build(value[key], path.Key(key), depth+1)
+			if diagnostic != nil {
+				return nil, diagnostic
+			}
+			node.Mapping = append(node.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: key, KeyLocation: location, ValueLocation: location, Value: built})
+		}
+		return node, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override value has an unsupported type")
+	}
+}
+
+func (b *overrideValueBuilder) addBytes(count int) bool {
+	if count < 0 || int64(count) > maxSourceBytes-b.bytes {
+		return false
+	}
+	b.bytes += int64(count)
+	return true
+}
+
+func (b *overrideValueBuilder) enter(value reflect.Value, path Path) (func(), *Diagnostic) {
+	visit, ok := visitFor(value)
+	if !ok {
+		return func() {}, nil
+	}
+	if b.active[visit] {
+		return nil, overrideValueDiagnostic(CodeOverrideInvalidValue, path, "configuration override values must not contain cycles")
+	}
+	b.active[visit] = true
+	return func() { delete(b.active, visit) }, nil
+}
+
+func overrideValueDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, message string) *Diagnostic {
+	return &Diagnostic{Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path.clone(), Message: message}
+}
+
+func overrideNumber(text string, location document.Location) *document.Node {
+	return &document.Node{Kind: document.Number, Text: text, Location: location}
+}
diff --git a/profile.go b/profile.go
index 75becba..a638d4b 100644
--- a/profile.go
+++ b/profile.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
 	yamladapter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/yaml"
 )
 
@@ -67,9 +66,14 @@ func loadProfileDocument(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedS
 		value.Primary = nil
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(sources), []Diagnostic{value}
 	}
+	rootClosed := false
+	defer func() {
+		if !rootClosed {
+			_ = root.Close()
+		}
+	}()
 	relative, err := filepath.Rel(rootPath, canonical)
 	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) || relative == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(sources), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeProfileOutsideRoot, "selected profile could not be addressed inside the configuration root", nil)}
 	}
 
@@ -79,32 +83,29 @@ func loadProfileDocument(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedS
 	sources = append(cloneSourceInfos(sources), profileSource)
 	data, diagnostic := readProfileFile(root, relative, sourceID, limits.bytes-base.inputBytes)
 	if diagnostic != nil {
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, sources, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
 	profileRoot, issues := yamladapter.Parse(bytes.NewReader(data), sourceID, yamladapter.Limits{Depth: maxDocumentDepth, Nodes: maxDocumentNodes})
 	if len(issues) != 0 {
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, sources, parserDiagnostics(sourceID, issues)
 	}
 	nodeCount := countInputNodes(profileRoot)
 	if base.inputNodes+nodeCount > limits.nodes {
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, sources, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeProfileLimitExceeded, "selected profile exceeds the aggregate node limit", profileLocation)}
 	}
 	if diagnostics := profileDirectiveDiagnostics(profileRoot, Path{}); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, sources, diagnostics
 	}
 	if versionNode := fragmentVersionClaim(profileRoot, rule); versionNode != nil {
 		location := publicLocation(versionNode.Location)
-		_ = root.Close()
 		return nil, sources, []Diagnostic{{
 			Code: CodeProfileVersion, Severity: SeverityError, Path: rule.Path.clone(),
 			Message: "profiles cannot contribute to or replace the schema-version path", Primary: &location,
 		}}
 	}
-	if err := root.Close(); err != nil {
+	closeErr := root.Close()
+	rootClosed = true
+	if closeErr != nil {
 		return nil, sources, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportRead, "configuration root could not be closed after reading the selected profile", nil)}
 	}
 
@@ -128,28 +129,3 @@ func readProfileFile(root *os.Root, relative, sourceID string, remaining int64)
 	}
 	return data, nil
 }
-
-func profileDirectiveDiagnostics(node *document.Node, current Path) []Diagnostic {
-	if node.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-			childPath := current.Key(entry.Key)
-			if entry.Key == "_configkit" {
-				location := publicLocation(entry.KeyLocation)
-				return []Diagnostic{{
-					Code: CodeProfileDirective, Severity: SeverityError, Path: childPath,
-					Message: "profiles cannot contain configuration directives", Primary: &location,
-				}}
-			}
-			if diagnostics := profileDirectiveDiagnostics(entry.Value, childPath); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-				return diagnostics
-			}
-		}
-	} else if node.Kind == document.Sequence {
-		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
-			if diagnostics := profileDirectiveDiagnostics(child, current.Index(index)); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-				return diagnostics
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}