diff --git a/engine/render/r_texture.cpp b/engine/render/r_texture.cpp
index 07fdda80..ea901cde 100644
--- a/engine/render/r_texture.cpp
+++ b/engine/render/r_texture.cpp
@@ -310,8 +310,9 @@ r_tex_c::r_tex_c(r_ITexManager* manager, std::unique_ptr<image_c> img, int flags
 {
 	Init(manager, {}, flags);
 
-	// Direct upload
-	img = BuildMipSet(std::move(img));
+	// Direct upload. The result has to land in the member `img`, which is what
+	// PerformUpload reads — assigning to the parameter left it null.
+	this->img = BuildMipSet(std::move(img));
 	PerformUpload(this);
 }