diff --git a/game_root.cpp b/game_root.cpp
index 210bd2d..0e66495 100644
--- a/game_root.cpp
+++ b/game_root.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ void GameRoot::set_game_mode(Ref<GameMode> prototype) {
     // allow "unsetting" the gamemode by passing an invalid gamemode
     // shorthand for this behaviour is reset_game_mode
     if(prototype.is_null() || !prototype.is_valid()) {
+        this->game_mode->_end();
         this->game_mode.unref();
         return;
     }
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ void GameRoot::set_game_mode(Ref<GameMode> prototype) {
     this->game_mode = prototype->duplicate(false);
     // .. except for the game state, which should be cloned as well
     this->game_mode->set_game_state(prototype->get_game_state()->duplicate(false));
+    this->game_mode->_begin();
     uint32_t new_player_id = this->find_empty_player_slot();
     do {
         IPlayer *player = this->spawn_player(new_player_id);