diff --git a/examples/common/Character.ts b/examples/common/Character.ts
index 0895378..dc28567 100644
--- a/examples/common/Character.ts
+++ b/examples/common/Character.ts
@@ -72,12 +72,14 @@ export class Character {
     const nextFrame = () => {
       // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion
       this.node.texture = this.rightFrames[curI]!;
-      this.node.textureOptions.flipX = flipX;
       curI++;
       if (curI > iEnd) {
         curI = iStart;
       }
     };
+    // textureOptions must be replaced wholesale, never mutated in place —
+    // nodes created without options share a frozen default object.
+    this.node.textureOptions = { flipX };
     nextFrame();
     this.curIntervalAnimation = setInterval(nextFrame, intervalMs);
   }
diff --git a/examples/tests/texture-cleanup-critical.ts b/examples/tests/texture-cleanup-critical.ts
index 187d70d..73531e3 100644
--- a/examples/tests/texture-cleanup-critical.ts
+++ b/examples/tests/texture-cleanup-critical.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ See docs/ManualRegressionTests.md for more information.
     fontSize: 40,
   });
 
+  // textureOptions must be replaced wholesale, never mutated in place —
+  // nodes created without options share a frozen default object.
+  screen.textureOptions = { preload: true };
+
   // Create a new random texture every 10ms
   setInterval(() => {
     screen.texture = renderer.createTexture('NoiseTexture', {
@@ -58,6 +62,5 @@ See docs/ManualRegressionTests.md for more information.
       h: 500,
       cacheId: Math.floor(Math.random() * 100000),
     });
-    screen.textureOptions.preload = true;
   }, 100);
 }