diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 09e2279..5cd0baf 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1680,6 +1680,13 @@ function M.load_textures(asset_aliases)
             diffuse_texture_handle = ok_d and diffuse_h or nil,
             height_texture_handle  = ok_h and height_h  or nil,
         }
+        -- v0.5.3: keep atlas_by_alias in sync with the replaced atlas
+        -- record. Built at load time off the pre-load stub; without this
+        -- refresh the v3 vertex/material render path resolves through
+        -- atlas_by_alias to the stub and falls back to MISSING_ASSET_COLOR.
+        if m.atlas_by_alias then
+            m.atlas_by_alias[atlas_alias] = m.atlases[atlas_idx]
+        end
     end
 
     -- Update m.tile_size from first atlas only when the atlas declares a uniform
diff --git a/manifest.lib b/manifest.lib
index 9c70cef..6f71f74 100644
--- a/manifest.lib
+++ b/manifest.lib
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"id":"lib-core.maps","version":"0.5.2","api_min":"0.1"}
+{"id":"lib-core.maps","version":"0.5.3","api_min":"0.1"}