diff --git a/packages/superdough/nodePools.mjs b/packages/superdough/nodePools.mjs
index ae59a2ce9..08ec9ce51 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/nodePools.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/nodePools.mjs
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ export const releaseNodeToPool = (node) => {
     // not reusable
     return;
   }
+  if (node[IS_WORKLET_DEAD]) {
+    // Worklet already terminated, don't pool it
+    return;
+  }
   // Fallback to a type-based key if the node was not created via getNodeFromPool
   const key = node[POOL_KEY];
   if (key == null) return;
diff --git a/packages/superdough/synth.mjs b/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
index 87b25ff22..b10136abf 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/synth.mjs
@@ -181,8 +181,9 @@ export function registerSynthSounds() {
         }
       });
       o.port.postMessage({ type: 'initialize' });
-      o.port.onMessage = (e) => {
+      o.port.onmessage = (e) => {
         if (e.data.type === 'died') markWorkletAsDead(o);
+        o.port.onmessage = null;
       };
       const gainAdjustment = 1 / Math.sqrt(voices);
       getPitchEnvelope(o.parameters.get('detune'), value, begin, holdend);
diff --git a/packages/superdough/wavetable.mjs b/packages/superdough/wavetable.mjs
index 9545fa1bb..a74b3747c 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/wavetable.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/wavetable.mjs
@@ -244,8 +244,9 @@ export async function onTriggerSynth(t, value, onended, tables, cps, frameLen) {
     }
   });
   source.port.postMessage({ type: 'initialize', payload });
-  source.port.onMessage = (e) => {
+  source.port.onmessage = (e) => {
     if (e.data.type === 'died') markWorkletAsDead(source);
+    source.port.onmessage = null;
   };
   if (ac.currentTime > t) {
     logger(`[wavetable] still loading sound "${s}:${n}"`, 'highlight');
diff --git a/packages/superdough/worklets.mjs b/packages/superdough/worklets.mjs
index 2a07e56ce..73fbe9456 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/worklets.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/worklets.mjs
@@ -458,6 +458,7 @@ registerProcessor('distort-processor', DistortProcessor);
 class SuperSawOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
   constructor() {
     super();
+    this.isAlive = true; // used internally to prevent multiple death messages
     this.port.onmessage = (e) => {
       const { type, payload } = e.data || {};
       if (type === 'initialize') {
@@ -519,6 +520,10 @@ class SuperSawOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
   process(_input, outputs, params) {
     if (currentTime >= params.end[0]) {
       // should terminate
+      if (this.isAlive) {
+        this.port.postMessage({ type: 'died' });
+        this.isAlive = false;
+      }
       return false;
     }
     if (currentTime <= params.begin[0]) {
@@ -1144,6 +1149,7 @@ class WavetableOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
 
   constructor(options) {
     super(options);
+    this.isAlive = true; // used internally to prevent multiple death messages
     this.port.onmessage = (e) => {
       const { type, payload } = e.data || {};
       if (type === 'initialize') {
@@ -1153,8 +1159,9 @@ class WavetableOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
     this.initialize();
   }
   initialize(options) {
-    this.frameLen = 0;
-    this.numFrames = 0;
+    this.table = null;
+    this.frameLen = null;
+    this.numFrames = null;
     this.phase = [];
     if (options?.frames) {
       const key = options.key;
@@ -1311,6 +1318,10 @@ class WavetableOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
 
   process(_inputs, outputs, parameters) {
     if (currentTime >= parameters.end[0]) {
+      if (this.isAlive) {
+        this.port.postMessage({ type: 'died' });
+        this.isAlive = false;
+      }
       return false;
     }
     if (currentTime <= parameters.begin[0]) {
@@ -1318,7 +1329,7 @@ class WavetableOscillatorProcessor extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
     }
     const outL = outputs[0][0];
     const outR = outputs[0][1] || outputs[0][0];
-    if (!this.tables) {
+    if (!this.table) {
       outL.fill(0);
       if (outR !== outL) outR.set(outL);
       return true;