diff --git a/lib/features/modeling/behavior/ResizeLaneBehavior.js b/lib/features/modeling/behavior/ResizeLaneBehavior.js
index ee9d3ab0..92c5e533 100644
--- a/lib/features/modeling/behavior/ResizeLaneBehavior.js
+++ b/lib/features/modeling/behavior/ResizeLaneBehavior.js
@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ var SLIGHTLY_HIGHER_PRIORITY = 1001;
  */
 function ResizeLaneBehavior(eventBus, modeling) {
 
+  eventBus.on('resize.start', SLIGHTLY_HIGHER_PRIORITY + 500, function(event) {
+    var context = event.context,
+        shape = context.shape;
+
+    if (is(shape, 'bpmn:Lane') || is(shape, 'bpmn:Participant')) {
+
+      // should we resize the opposite lane(s) in
+      // order to compensate for the resize operation?
+      context.balanced = !hasPrimaryModifier(event);
+    }
+  });
+
   /**
    * Intercept resize end and call resize lane function instead.
    */
@@ -23,23 +35,17 @@ function ResizeLaneBehavior(eventBus, modeling) {
     var context = event.context,
         shape = context.shape,
         canExecute = context.canExecute,
-        newBounds = context.newBounds,
-        balanced;
+        newBounds = context.newBounds;
 
     if (is(shape, 'bpmn:Lane') || is(shape, 'bpmn:Participant')) {
 
       if (canExecute) {
-
-        // should we resize the opposite lane(s) in
-        // order to compensate for the resize operation?
-        balanced = !hasPrimaryModifier(event);
-
         // ensure we have actual pixel values for new bounds
         // (important when zoom level was > 1 during move)
         newBounds = roundBounds(newBounds);
 
         // perform the actual resize
-        modeling.resizeLane(shape, newBounds, balanced);
+        modeling.resizeLane(shape, newBounds, context.balanced);
       }
 
       // stop propagation
diff --git a/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnapping.js b/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnapping.js
index 654f5e7b..3d046a5d 100644
--- a/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnapping.js
+++ b/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnapping.js
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ function BpmnSnapping(eventBus, canvas, bpmnRules, elementRegistry) {
     }
 
     if (is(shape, 'bpmn:Lane') || is(shape, 'bpmn:Participant')) {
-      context.resizeConstraints = getParticipantSizeConstraints(shape, context.direction);
+      context.resizeConstraints = getParticipantSizeConstraints(shape, context.direction, context.balanced);
     }
 
     if (is(shape, 'bpmn:TextAnnotation')) {
diff --git a/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnappingUtil.js b/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnappingUtil.js
index 9c13640f..8aa60c52 100644
--- a/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnappingUtil.js
+++ b/lib/features/snapping/BpmnSnappingUtil.js
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ var LANE_MIN_HEIGHT = 60,
     LANE_BOTTOM_PADDING = 20;
 
 
-function getParticipantSizeConstraints(laneShape, resizeDirection) {
+function getParticipantSizeConstraints(laneShape, resizeDirection, balanced) {
 
   var lanesRoot = getLanesRoot(laneShape);
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function getParticipantSizeConstraints(laneShape, resizeDirection) {
       }
 
       // max top size (based on next element)
-      if (abs(laneTrbl.top - otherTrbl.bottom) < 10) {
+      if (balanced && abs(laneTrbl.top - otherTrbl.bottom) < 10) {
         addMax(maxTrbl, 'top', otherTrbl.top + LANE_MIN_HEIGHT);
       }
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ function getParticipantSizeConstraints(laneShape, resizeDirection) {
       }
 
       // max bottom size (based on previous element)
-      if (abs(laneTrbl.bottom - otherTrbl.top) < 10) {
+      if (balanced && abs(laneTrbl.bottom - otherTrbl.top) < 10) {
         addMin(maxTrbl, 'bottom', otherTrbl.bottom - LANE_MIN_HEIGHT);
       }