diff --git a/packages/mermaid-layout-elk/src/render.ts b/packages/mermaid-layout-elk/src/render.ts
index 5b12cb33c..df9d17bcf 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid-layout-elk/src/render.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid-layout-elk/src/render.ts
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ export const render = async (
       'nodePlacement.strategy': data4Layout.config.elk?.nodePlacementStrategy,
       'elk.layered.mergeEdges': data4Layout.config.elk?.mergeEdges,
       'elk.direction': 'DOWN',
-      'spacing.baseValue': 25,
+      'spacing.baseValue': 35,
       // 'elk.layered.unnecessaryBendpoints': true,
       // 'elk.layered.cycleBreaking.strategy': data4Layout.config.elk?.cycleBreakingStrategy,
       // 'elk.layered.cycleBreaking.strategy': 'GREEDY_MODEL_ORDER',
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
index 906aae24c..6c8111743 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
@@ -656,7 +656,8 @@ export const insertEdge = function (
 
     animatedEdge =
       edge.animate === true || !!edge.animation || stylesFromClasses.includes('animation');
-    const len = svgPath.node().getTotalLength();
+    const pathNode = svgPath.node();
+    const len = typeof pathNode.getTotalLength === 'function' ? pathNode.getTotalLength() : 0;
     const oValueS = markerOffsets2[edge.arrowTypeStart] || 0;
     const oValueE = markerOffsets2[edge.arrowTypeEnd] || 0;