diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/world_map/world_map.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/world_map/world_map.gd
index a3158b89..022b2f17 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/world_map/world_map.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/world_map/world_map.gd
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ var _city_screen: CanvasLayer = null
 var _chronicle_panel: CanvasLayer = null
 var _combat: RefCounted = null
 var _city_actions: RefCounted = null
+var _arena: RefCounted = null  # WorldMapArena — kept alive so its signals survive
 
 var _selected_unit: RefCounted = null
 var _reachable_hexes: Dictionary = {}
@@ -52,7 +53,8 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	_setup_renderers()
 	_connect_signals()
 	if EnvConfig.get_bool("AI_ARENA"):
-		WorldMapArenaScript.new().setup(self)
+		_arena = WorldMapArenaScript.new()
+		(_arena as WorldMapArenaScript).setup(self)
 	_start_game()