diff --git a/code/glTF2/glTF2Exporter.cpp b/code/glTF2/glTF2Exporter.cpp
index 4724c2ef4..dc0b76443 100644
--- a/code/glTF2/glTF2Exporter.cpp
+++ b/code/glTF2/glTF2Exporter.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,9 @@ void glTF2Exporter::GetMatTex(const aiMaterial* mat, Ref<Texture>& texture, aiTe
                     if (path[0] == '*') { // embedded
                         aiTexture* tex = mScene->mTextures[atoi(&path[1])];
 
-                        uint8_t* data = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(tex->pcData);
+                        // copy data since lifetime control is handed over to the asset
+                        uint8_t* data = new uint8_t[tex->mWidth];
+                        memcpy(data, tex->pcData, tex->mWidth);
                         texture->source->SetData(data, tex->mWidth, *mAsset);
 
                         if (tex->achFormatHint[0]) {