diff --git a/source/gui/CGUI.cpp b/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
index 96f646a57e..7b5d4b03fa 100644
--- a/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2022 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void CollectVisibleObjectsRecursively(const std::vector<IGUIObject*>& objects, C
 
 } // anonynous namespace
 
-CGUI::CGUI(const std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext>& context)
+CGUI::CGUI(ScriptContext& context)
 	: m_BaseObject(std::make_unique<CGUIDummyObject>(*this)),
 	  m_FocusedObject(nullptr),
 	  m_InternalNameNumber(0),
diff --git a/source/gui/CGUI.h b/source/gui/CGUI.h
index d1b9cd8c31..dd2d39eaf9 100644
--- a/source/gui/CGUI.h
+++ b/source/gui/CGUI.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2022 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ private:
 	using ConstructObjectFunction = IGUIObject* (*)(CGUI&);
 
 public:
-	CGUI(const std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext>& context);
+	CGUI(ScriptContext& context);
 	~CGUI();
 
 	/**
diff --git a/source/gui/GUIManager.cpp b/source/gui/GUIManager.cpp
index c4b289efc2..b6815d2235 100644
--- a/source/gui/GUIManager.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/GUIManager.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2023 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 #include "gui/CGUI.h"
 #include "lib/timer.h"
+#include "lobby/IXmppClient.h"
 #include "ps/CLogger.h"
 #include "ps/Filesystem.h"
 #include "ps/GameSetup/Config.h"
@@ -67,12 +68,12 @@ static Status ReloadChangedFileCB(void* param, const VfsPath& path)
 	return static_cast<CGUIManager*>(param)->ReloadChangedFile(path);
 }
 
-CGUIManager::CGUIManager()
+CGUIManager::CGUIManager(ScriptContext& scriptContext, ScriptInterface& scriptInterface) :
+	m_ScriptContext{scriptContext},
+	m_ScriptInterface{scriptInterface}
 {
-	m_ScriptContext = g_ScriptContext;
-	m_ScriptInterface.reset(new ScriptInterface("Engine", "GUIManager", m_ScriptContext));
-	m_ScriptInterface->SetCallbackData(this);
-	m_ScriptInterface->LoadGlobalScripts();
+	m_ScriptInterface.SetCallbackData(this);
+	m_ScriptInterface.LoadGlobalScripts();
 
 	if (!CXeromyces::AddValidator(g_VFS, "gui_page", "gui/gui_page.rng"))
 		LOGERROR("CGUIManager: failed to load GUI page grammar file 'gui/gui_page.rng'");
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ void CGUIManager::PushPage(const CStrW& pageName, Script::StructuredClone initDa
 	// Store the callback handler in the current GUI page before opening the new one
 	if (!m_PageStack.empty() && !callbackFunction.isUndefined())
 	{
-		m_PageStack.back().SetCallbackFunction(*m_ScriptInterface, callbackFunction);
+		m_PageStack.back().SetCallbackFunction(m_ScriptInterface, callbackFunction);
 
 		// Make sure we unfocus anything on the current page.
 		m_PageStack.back().gui->SendFocusMessage(GUIM_LOST_FOCUS);
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ CGUIManager::SGUIPage::SGUIPage(const CStrW& pageName, const Script::StructuredC
 {
 }
 
-void CGUIManager::SGUIPage::LoadPage(std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext> scriptContext)
+void CGUIManager::SGUIPage::LoadPage(ScriptContext& scriptContext)
 {
 	// If we're hotloading then try to grab some data from the previous page
 	Script::StructuredClone hotloadData;
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ void CGUIManager::TickObjects()
 
 	// We share the script context with everything else that runs in the same thread.
 	// This call makes sure we trigger GC regularly even if the simulation is not running.
-	m_ScriptInterface->GetContext().MaybeIncrementalGC(1.0f);
+	m_ScriptContext.MaybeIncrementalGC(1.0f);
 
 	// Save an immutable copy so iterators aren't invalidated by tick handlers
 	PageStackType pageStack = m_PageStack;
diff --git a/source/gui/GUIManager.h b/source/gui/GUIManager.h
index c0c212b81f..bcfd3f7ebc 100644
--- a/source/gui/GUIManager.h
+++ b/source/gui/GUIManager.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2022 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ class CGUIManager
 {
 	NONCOPYABLE(CGUIManager);
 public:
-	CGUIManager();
+	CGUIManager(ScriptContext& scriptContext, ScriptInterface& scriptInterface);
 	~CGUIManager();
 
-	std::shared_ptr<ScriptInterface> GetScriptInterface()
+	ScriptInterface& GetScriptInterface()
 	{
 		return m_ScriptInterface;
 	}
-	std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext> GetContext() { return m_ScriptContext; }
+	ScriptContext& GetContext() { return m_ScriptContext; }
 	std::shared_ptr<CGUI> GetActiveGUI() { return top(); }
 
 	/**
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ private:
 		/**
 		 * Create the CGUI with it's own ScriptInterface. Deletes the previous CGUI if it existed.
 		 */
-		void LoadPage(std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext> scriptContext);
+		void LoadPage(ScriptContext& scriptContext);
 
 		/**
 		 * Sets the callback handler when a new page is opened that will be performed when the page is closed.
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ private:
 
 	std::shared_ptr<CGUI> top() const;
 
-	std::shared_ptr<ScriptContext> m_ScriptContext;
-	std::shared_ptr<ScriptInterface> m_ScriptInterface;
+	ScriptContext& m_ScriptContext;
+	ScriptInterface& m_ScriptInterface;
 
 	/**
 	 * The page stack must not move pointers on push/pop, or pushing a page in a page's init method
diff --git a/source/gui/tests/test_CGUIText.h b/source/gui/tests/test_CGUIText.h
index c0243b760b..464934bb4b 100644
--- a/source/gui/tests/test_CGUIText.h
+++ b/source/gui/tests/test_CGUIText.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2022 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ public:
 
 	void test_empty()
 	{
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 		CGUIText empty;
 	}
 
 	void test_wrapping()
 	{
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 
 		const CStrW font = L"console";
 		// Make sure this matches the value of the file.
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ public:
 		// +------------------------------+
 		//
 
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 		const CStrW firstWord = L"Shortword";
 		const CStrW secondWord = L"(Veryverylongword)";
 		const CStrW text = firstWord + L" " + secondWord;
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ public:
 
 	void test_overflow()
 	{
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 
 		const CStrW font = L"console";
 		// Make sure this matches the value of the file.
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		TS_ASSERT_OK(g_VFS->Mount(L"", DataDir() / "mods" / "mod" / "", VFS_MOUNT_MUST_EXIST));
 
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 
 		const CStrW font = L"sans-bold-13";
 		CGUIString string;
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ public:
 
 	void test_multiple_blank_spaces()
 	{
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 
 		const CStrW font = L"console";
 		// Make sure this matches the value of the file.
diff --git a/source/gui/tests/test_GUISetting.h b/source/gui/tests/test_GUISetting.h
index e5bc9115fa..e597d6fe6c 100644
--- a/source/gui/tests/test_GUISetting.h
+++ b/source/gui/tests/test_GUISetting.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2023 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public:
 
 	void test_movability()
 	{
-		CGUI gui(g_ScriptContext);
+		CGUI gui{*g_ScriptContext};
 		TestGUIObject object(gui);
 
 		static_assert(std::is_move_constructible_v<CGUISimpleSetting<CStr>>);
diff --git a/source/gui/tests/test_GuiManager.h b/source/gui/tests/test_GuiManager.h
index 3a570dccd7..268115a071 100644
--- a/source/gui/tests/test_GuiManager.h
+++ b/source/gui/tests/test_GuiManager.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2023 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@
 #include "scriptinterface/Object.h"
 
 #include <memory>
+#include <optional>
 
 class TestGuiManager : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 {
 	std::unique_ptr<CConfigDB> configDB;
+	std::optional<ScriptInterface> scriptInterface;
 public:
 
 	void setUp()
@@ -48,12 +50,14 @@ public:
 
 		CXeromyces::Startup();
 
-		g_GUI = new CGUIManager();
+		scriptInterface.emplace("Engine", "GUIManager", *g_ScriptContext);
+		g_GUI = new CGUIManager{*g_ScriptContext, *scriptInterface};
 	}
 
 	void tearDown()
 	{
 		delete g_GUI;
+		scriptInterface.reset();
 		CXeromyces::Terminate();
 		configDB.reset();
 		g_VFS.reset();
@@ -63,8 +67,7 @@ public:
 	void test_EventObject()
 	{
 		// Load up a test page.
-		const ScriptInterface& scriptInterface = *(g_GUI->GetScriptInterface());
-		ScriptRequest rq(scriptInterface);
+		ScriptRequest rq{g_GUI->GetScriptInterface()};
 		JS::RootedValue val(rq.cx);
 		Script::CreateObject(rq, &val);
 
@@ -127,8 +130,7 @@ public:
 		LoadHotkeys(*configDB);
 
 		// Load up a test page.
-		const ScriptInterface& scriptInterface = *(g_GUI->GetScriptInterface());
-		ScriptRequest rq(scriptInterface);
+		ScriptRequest rq{g_GUI->GetScriptInterface()};
 		JS::RootedValue val(rq.cx);
 		Script::CreateObject(rq, &val);
 
@@ -202,8 +204,7 @@ public:
 	void test_PageRegainedFocusEvent()
 	{
 		// Load up a test page.
-		const ScriptInterface& scriptInterface = *(g_GUI->GetScriptInterface());
-		ScriptRequest rq(scriptInterface);
+		ScriptRequest rq{g_GUI->GetScriptInterface()};
 		JS::RootedValue val(rq.cx);
 		Script::CreateObject(rq, &val);
 
diff --git a/source/lobby/scripting/JSInterface_Lobby.cpp b/source/lobby/scripting/JSInterface_Lobby.cpp
index bc29625d9c..264c3b17d1 100644
--- a/source/lobby/scripting/JSInterface_Lobby.cpp
+++ b/source/lobby/scripting/JSInterface_Lobby.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2021 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2024 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void StartXmppClient(const ScriptRequest& rq, const std::wstring& username, cons
 
 	g_XmppClient =
 		IXmppClient::create(
-			g_GUI->GetScriptInterface().get(),
+			&g_GUI->GetScriptInterface(),
 			utf8_from_wstring(username),
 			utf8_from_wstring(password),
 			utf8_from_wstring(room),
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ void StartRegisterXmppClient(const ScriptRequest& rq, const std::wstring& userna
 
 	g_XmppClient =
 		IXmppClient::create(
-			g_GUI->GetScriptInterface().get(),
+			&g_GUI->GetScriptInterface(),
 			utf8_from_wstring(username),
 			utf8_from_wstring(password),
 			std::string(),
diff --git a/source/main.cpp b/source/main.cpp
index b68c64b8d7..39ae9084e8 100644
--- a/source/main.cpp
+++ b/source/main.cpp
@@ -678,9 +678,12 @@ static void RunGameOrAtlas(const PS::span<const char* const> argv)
 			g_Mods.UpdateAvailableMods(modInterface);
 		}
 
+		std::optional<ScriptInterface> guiScriptInterface;
+
 		if (isVisual)
 		{
-			InitGraphics(args, 0, installedMods);
+			guiScriptInterface.emplace("Engine", "gui", *g_ScriptContext);
+			InitGraphics(args, 0, installedMods, *g_ScriptContext, *guiScriptInterface);
 			MainControllerInit();
 		}
 		else if (!InitNonVisual(args))
@@ -709,6 +712,7 @@ static void RunGameOrAtlas(const PS::span<const char* const> argv)
 		modsToInstall.clear();
 
 		ShutdownNetworkAndUI();
+		guiScriptInterface.reset();
 		ShutdownConfigAndSubsequent();
 		MainControllerShutdown();
 		flags &= ~INIT_MODS;
diff --git a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
index 320f97e440..cd83ccb41c 100644
--- a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
@@ -612,7 +612,8 @@ bool Init(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags)
 	return true;
 }
 
-void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& installedMods)
+void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& installedMods,
+	ScriptContext& scriptContext, ScriptInterface& scriptInterface)
 {
 	const bool setup_vmode = (flags & INIT_HAVE_VMODE) == 0;
 
@@ -636,7 +637,7 @@ void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& i
 	if(g_DisableAudio)
 		ISoundManager::SetEnabled(false);
 
-	g_GUI = new CGUIManager();
+	g_GUI = new CGUIManager{scriptContext, scriptInterface};
 
 	CStr8 renderPath = "default";
 	CFG_GET_VAL("renderpath", renderPath);
@@ -668,17 +669,13 @@ void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& i
 		if (!AutostartVisualReplay(args.Get("replay-visual")) && !Autostart(args))
 		{
 			const bool setup_gui = ((flags & INIT_NO_GUI) == 0);
-			// We only want to display the splash screen at startup
-			std::shared_ptr<ScriptInterface> scriptInterface = g_GUI->GetScriptInterface();
-			ScriptRequest rq(scriptInterface);
+
+			ScriptRequest rq{g_GUI->GetScriptInterface()};
 			JS::RootedValue data(rq.cx);
-			if (g_GUI)
-			{
-				Script::CreateObject(rq, &data, "isStartup", true);
-				if (!installedMods.empty())
-					Script::SetProperty(rq, data, "installedMods", installedMods);
-			}
-			InitPs(setup_gui, installedMods.empty() ? L"page_pregame.xml" : L"page_modmod.xml", g_GUI->GetScriptInterface().get(), data);
+			Script::CreateObject(rq, &data, "isStartup", true);
+			if (!installedMods.empty())
+				Script::SetProperty(rq, data, "installedMods", installedMods);
+			InitPs(setup_gui, installedMods.empty() ? L"page_pregame.xml" : L"page_modmod.xml", &g_GUI->GetScriptInterface(), data);
 		}
 	}
 	catch (PSERROR_Game_World_MapLoadFailed& e)
@@ -858,7 +855,7 @@ bool Autostart(const CmdLineArgs& args)
 	{
 		JSI_GUIManager::RegisterScriptFunctions(rq);
 		// TODO: this loads pregame, which is hardcoded to exist by various code paths. That ought be changed.
-		InitPs(false, L"page_pregame.xml", g_GUI->GetScriptInterface().get(), JS::UndefinedHandleValue);
+		InitPs(false, L"page_pregame.xml", &g_GUI->GetScriptInterface(), JS::UndefinedHandleValue);
 	}
 
 	JSI_Game::RegisterScriptFunctions(rq);
diff --git a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.h b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.h
index 4fb6aecc0b..a9ad853250 100644
--- a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.h
+++ b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 class CmdLineArgs;
 class Paths;
+class ScriptContext;
+class ScriptInterface;
 
 /**
  * initialize global modules that are be needed before Init.
@@ -73,7 +75,8 @@ extern void InitInput();
 /**
  * `ShutdownNetworkAndUI` has to be called later.
  */
-extern void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& installedMods = std::vector<CStr>());
+void InitGraphics(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags, const std::vector<CStr>& installedMods,
+	ScriptContext& scriptContext, ScriptInterface& scriptInterface);
 
 /**
  * `ShutdownNetworkAndUI` has to be called later.
diff --git a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/Handlers/GraphicsSetupHandlers.cpp b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/Handlers/GraphicsSetupHandlers.cpp
index 42ec7dee30..7aa2251609 100644
--- a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/Handlers/GraphicsSetupHandlers.cpp
+++ b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/Handlers/GraphicsSetupHandlers.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "renderer/backend/IDevice.h"
 #include "renderer/Renderer.h"
 #include "renderer/SceneRenderer.h"
+#include "scriptinterface/ScriptInterface.h"
 
 #include <optional>
 
@@ -65,6 +66,8 @@ const int g_InitFlags = INIT_HAVE_VMODE | INIT_NO_GUI;
 
 // This isn't used directly. When it's emplaced and when it's reset it does mutate `g_Logger`.
 std::optional<FileLogger> g_FileLogger;
+
+std::optional<ScriptInterface> g_ScriptInterface;
 }
 
 MESSAGEHANDLER(Init)
@@ -131,7 +134,8 @@ MESSAGEHANDLER(InitGraphics)
 
 	g_VideoMode.GetBackendDevice()->OnWindowResize(g_xres, g_yres);
 
-	InitGraphics(g_AtlasGameLoop->args, g_InitFlags, {});
+	g_ScriptInterface.emplace("Engine", "GUIManager", *g_ScriptContext);
+	InitGraphics(g_AtlasGameLoop->args, g_InitFlags, {}, *g_ScriptContext, *g_ScriptInterface);
 }
 
 
@@ -147,6 +151,7 @@ MESSAGEHANDLER(Shutdown)
 	g_AtlasGameLoop->view = AtlasView::GetView_None();
 
 	ShutdownNetworkAndUI();
+	g_ScriptInterface.reset();
 	ShutdownConfigAndSubsequent();
 	g_FileLogger.reset();
 }