diff --git a/client/src/scenes/GameScene.ts b/client/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
index 4b9a0c6..3845cde 100644
--- a/client/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
+++ b/client/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
@@ -130,13 +130,12 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }).setScrollFactor(0).setDepth(1000);
     this.updateModeText();
 
-    // Spawn initial entities
-    this.spawnEntities(this.worldState.entities);
-
-    // Listen for state updates
-    this.client.onStateUpdate = (update: StateUpdate) => {
-      this.handleStateUpdate(update);
-    };
+    // Spawn initial entities, then listen for state updates
+    this.spawnEntities(this.worldState.entities).then(() => {
+      this.client.onStateUpdate = (update: StateUpdate) => {
+        this.handleStateUpdate(update);
+      };
+    });
 
     this.client.onPlayerLeft = (_data) => {
       // Entity removal will be handled by next state update
diff --git a/client/src/sprites/CharacterCompositor.ts b/client/src/sprites/CharacterCompositor.ts
index 463cf55..1732391 100644
--- a/client/src/sprites/CharacterCompositor.ts
+++ b/client/src/sprites/CharacterCompositor.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ function appearanceKey(appearance: Appearance): string {
 
 export class CharacterCompositor {
   private scene: Phaser.Scene;
-  private loadedImages: Set<string> = new Set();
+  private loadingImages: Map<string, Promise<void>> = new Map();
 
   constructor(scene: Phaser.Scene) {
     this.scene = scene;
@@ -35,33 +35,32 @@ export class CharacterCompositor {
     // Already composited
     if (this.scene.textures.exists(key)) return key;
 
-    // Collect all image paths needed
-    const imagesToLoad: { key: string; path: string }[] = [];
+    // Collect all image keys needed and ensure each is loaded
     const skinKey = `skin_${appearance.skinId}`;
-    if (!this.scene.textures.exists(skinKey) && !this.loadedImages.has(skinKey)) {
-      imagesToLoad.push({ key: skinKey, path: this.skinPath(appearance.skinId) });
-      this.loadedImages.add(skinKey);
+    const pendingLoads: Promise<void>[] = [];
+
+    if (!this.scene.textures.exists(skinKey)) {
+      if (!this.loadingImages.has(skinKey)) {
+        this.loadingImages.set(skinKey, this.loadImage(skinKey, this.skinPath(appearance.skinId)));
+      }
+      pendingLoads.push(this.loadingImages.get(skinKey)!);
     }
 
     for (const slot of ACCESSORY_SLOTS) {
       const fileId = appearance.accessories[slot];
       if (!fileId) continue;
       const accKey = `acc_${slot}_${fileId}`;
-      if (!this.scene.textures.exists(accKey) && !this.loadedImages.has(accKey)) {
-        imagesToLoad.push({ key: accKey, path: this.accessoryPath(slot, fileId) });
-        this.loadedImages.add(accKey);
+      if (!this.scene.textures.exists(accKey)) {
+        if (!this.loadingImages.has(accKey)) {
+          this.loadingImages.set(accKey, this.loadImage(accKey, this.accessoryPath(slot, fileId)));
+        }
+        pendingLoads.push(this.loadingImages.get(accKey)!);
       }
     }
 
-    // Load any missing images
-    if (imagesToLoad.length > 0) {
-      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
-        for (const img of imagesToLoad) {
-          this.scene.load.image(img.key, img.path);
-        }
-        this.scene.load.once('complete', resolve);
-        this.scene.load.start();
-      });
+    // Wait for all pending loads to complete
+    if (pendingLoads.length > 0) {
+      await Promise.all(pendingLoads);
     }
 
     // Composite onto offscreen canvas
@@ -96,6 +95,14 @@ export class CharacterCompositor {
     return key;
   }
 
+  private loadImage(key: string, path: string): Promise<void> {
+    return new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      this.scene.load.image(key, path);
+      this.scene.load.once(`filecomplete-image-${key}`, () => resolve());
+      this.scene.load.start();
+    });
+  }
+
   getKey(appearance: Appearance): string {
     return appearanceKey(appearance);
   }