diff --git a/CHAT_CONTEXT.md b/CHAT_CONTEXT.md
index 69785696..ae8ded13 100644
--- a/CHAT_CONTEXT.md
+++ b/CHAT_CONTEXT.md
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ It is not:
 - Editor-authored mutations should flow through commands.
 - The editor viewport is derived from the document.
 - The runner is a sibling system, not an editor hack.
-- Canonical save format is project JSON, not glTF/GLB.
-- Export/package output is downstream from the document/runtime build.
+- Canonical document format is project JSON, not glTF/GLB.
+- Portable save/load for asset-bearing scenes should use a project package built around that JSON.
+- Runner/deployment output is downstream from the document/runtime build and is separate from editable project save/load.
 - Model instances are separate from typed entities.
 
 ---
@@ -76,6 +77,9 @@ These are fixed for the early milestones unless a later slice explicitly changes
 - version the document from day one
 - keep migrations explicit
 - early project persistence can be local draft storage plus JSON import/export
+- once binary assets exist, portable save/load should use a project package such as `scene.json` plus bundled assets
+- canonical JSON stays the source document format underneath that project package
+- runner package output is a separate deployable artifact
 - binary assets must survive reload via embedded or project-scoped persistent storage
 - never rely on Blob URLs as the only persisted asset reference
 
diff --git a/src/app/App.tsx b/src/app/App.tsx
index 1a597fb6..96cb725f 100644
--- a/src/app/App.tsx
+++ b/src/app/App.tsx
@@ -818,6 +818,7 @@ export function App({ store, initialStatusMessage }: AppProps) {
         }
 
         if (!cancelled) {
+          loadedModelAssetsRef.current = {};
           setLoadedModelAssets({});
         }
 
diff --git a/src/runner-web/RunnerCanvas.tsx b/src/runner-web/RunnerCanvas.tsx
index 9d36344b..dd8c7a74 100644
--- a/src/runner-web/RunnerCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/runner-web/RunnerCanvas.tsx
@@ -74,14 +74,14 @@ export function RunnerCanvas({
     }
   }, [onFirstPersonTelemetryChange, onInteractionPromptChange, onRuntimeMessageChange]);
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    hostRef.current?.loadScene(runtimeScene);
-  }, [runtimeScene]);
-
   useEffect(() => {
     hostRef.current?.updateAssets(projectAssets, loadedModelAssets);
   }, [projectAssets, loadedModelAssets]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    hostRef.current?.loadScene(runtimeScene);
+  }, [runtimeScene]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     hostRef.current?.setNavigationMode(navigationMode);
   }, [navigationMode]);