diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
index 61e8371652..11deb95b14 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
@@ -168,21 +168,18 @@ void Bitstream::persistWriteMappings(const WriteMappings& mappings) {
     _sharedObjectStreamer.persistTransientOffsets(mappings.sharedObjectOffsets);
     
     // find out when shared objects are deleted in order to clear their mappings
-    for (QHash<SoftSharedObjectPointer, int>::const_iterator it = mappings.sharedObjectOffsets.constBegin();
+    for (QHash<SharedObjectPointer, int>::const_iterator it = mappings.sharedObjectOffsets.constBegin();
             it != mappings.sharedObjectOffsets.constEnd(); it++) {
         if (it.key()) {
-            if (it.key()->getHardReferenceCount() > 0) {
-                connect(it.key().data(), SIGNAL(allHardReferencesCleared(QObject*)),
-                    SLOT(clearSharedObject(QObject*)));
-            } else {
-                // invoke on a queued connection so as to run after any other mappings are persisted
-                QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "clearSharedObject", Qt::QueuedConnection,
-                    Q_ARG(QObject*, it.key().data()));
-            }
+            connect(it.key().data(), SIGNAL(destroyed(QObject*)), SLOT(clearSharedObject(QObject*)));
         }
     }
 }
 
+void Bitstream::persistAndResetWriteMappings() {
+    persistWriteMappings(getAndResetWriteMappings());
+}
+
 Bitstream::ReadMappings Bitstream::getAndResetReadMappings() {
     ReadMappings mappings = { _metaObjectStreamer.getAndResetTransientValues(),
         _typeStreamerStreamer.getAndResetTransientValues(),
@@ -200,6 +197,10 @@ void Bitstream::persistReadMappings(const ReadMappings& mappings) {
     _sharedObjectStreamer.persistTransientValues(mappings.sharedObjectValues);
 }
 
+void Bitstream::persistAndResetReadMappings() {
+    persistReadMappings(getAndResetReadMappings());
+}
+
 Bitstream& Bitstream::operator<<(bool value) {
     if (value) {
         _byte |= (1 << _position);
@@ -472,7 +473,7 @@ Bitstream& Bitstream::operator>(QScriptString& string) {
     return *this;
 }
 
-Bitstream& Bitstream::operator<(const SoftSharedObjectPointer& object) {
+Bitstream& Bitstream::operator<(const SharedObjectPointer& object) {
     if (!object) {
         return *this << (int)0;
     }
@@ -505,7 +506,6 @@ Bitstream& Bitstream::operator>(SharedObjectPointer& object) {
 }
 
 void Bitstream::clearSharedObject(QObject* object) {
-    object->disconnect(this);
     int id = _sharedObjectStreamer.takePersistentID(static_cast<SharedObject*>(object));
     if (id != 0) {
         emit sharedObjectCleared(id);
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
index fa6975adc1..9c42828a66 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
@@ -55,26 +55,26 @@ private:
 
 /// Provides a means to stream repeated values efficiently.  The value is first streamed along with a unique ID.  When
 /// subsequently streamed, only the ID is sent.
-template<class K, class V = K> class RepeatedValueStreamer {
+template<class T, class P = T> class RepeatedValueStreamer {
 public:
     
     RepeatedValueStreamer(Bitstream& stream) : _stream(stream), _idStreamer(stream),
         _lastPersistentID(0), _lastTransientOffset(0) { }
     
-    QHash<K, int> getAndResetTransientOffsets();
+    QHash<T, int> getAndResetTransientOffsets();
     
-    void persistTransientOffsets(const QHash<K, int>& transientOffsets);
+    void persistTransientOffsets(const QHash<T, int>& transientOffsets);
     
-    QHash<int, V> getAndResetTransientValues();
+    QHash<int, T> getAndResetTransientValues();
     
-    void persistTransientValues(const QHash<int, V>& transientValues);
+    void persistTransientValues(const QHash<int, T>& transientValues);
     
-    int takePersistentID(K value) { return _persistentIDs.take(value); }
+    int takePersistentID(P value) { return _persistentIDs.take(value); }
     
-    void removePersistentValue(int id) { _persistentValues.remove(id); }
+    void removePersistentValue(int id) { _persistentIDs.remove(_persistentValues.take(id)); }
     
-    RepeatedValueStreamer& operator<<(K value);
-    RepeatedValueStreamer& operator>>(V& value);
+    RepeatedValueStreamer& operator<<(T value);
+    RepeatedValueStreamer& operator>>(T& value);
     
 private:
     
@@ -82,24 +82,24 @@ private:
     IDStreamer _idStreamer;
     int _lastPersistentID;
     int _lastTransientOffset;
-    QHash<K, int> _persistentIDs;
-    QHash<K, int> _transientOffsets;
-    QHash<int, V> _persistentValues;
-    QHash<int, V> _transientValues;
+    QHash<P, int> _persistentIDs;
+    QHash<T, int> _transientOffsets;
+    QHash<int, T> _persistentValues;
+    QHash<int, T> _transientValues;
 };
 
-template<class K, class V> inline QHash<K, int> RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::getAndResetTransientOffsets() {
-    QHash<K, int> transientOffsets;
+template<class T, class P> inline QHash<T, int> RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::getAndResetTransientOffsets() {
+    QHash<T, int> transientOffsets;
     _transientOffsets.swap(transientOffsets);
     _lastTransientOffset = 0;
     _idStreamer.setBitsFromValue(_lastPersistentID);
     return transientOffsets;
 }
 
-template<class K, class V> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::persistTransientOffsets(
-        const QHash<K, int>& transientOffsets) {
+template<class T, class P> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::persistTransientOffsets(
+        const QHash<T, int>& transientOffsets) {
     int oldLastPersistentID = _lastPersistentID;
-    for (typename QHash<K, int>::const_iterator it = transientOffsets.constBegin(); it != transientOffsets.constEnd(); it++) {
+    for (typename QHash<T, int>::const_iterator it = transientOffsets.constBegin(); it != transientOffsets.constEnd(); it++) {
         int& id = _persistentIDs[it.key()];
         if (id == 0) {
             id = oldLastPersistentID + it.value();
@@ -109,17 +109,17 @@ template<class K, class V> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::persistTrans
     _idStreamer.setBitsFromValue(_lastPersistentID);
 }
 
-template<class K, class V> inline QHash<int, V> RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::getAndResetTransientValues() {
-    QHash<int, V> transientValues;
+template<class T, class P> inline QHash<int, T> RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::getAndResetTransientValues() {
+    QHash<int, T> transientValues;
     _transientValues.swap(transientValues);
     _idStreamer.setBitsFromValue(_lastPersistentID);
     return transientValues;
 }
 
-template<class K, class V> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::persistTransientValues(
-        const QHash<int, V>& transientValues) {
+template<class T, class P> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::persistTransientValues(
+        const QHash<int, T>& transientValues) {
     int oldLastPersistentID = _lastPersistentID;
-    for (typename QHash<int, V>::const_iterator it = transientValues.constBegin(); it != transientValues.constEnd(); it++) {
+    for (typename QHash<int, T>::const_iterator it = transientValues.constBegin(); it != transientValues.constEnd(); it++) {
         int& id = _persistentIDs[it.value()];
         if (id == 0) {
             id = oldLastPersistentID + it.key();
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ template<class K, class V> inline void RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::persistTrans
     _idStreamer.setBitsFromValue(_lastPersistentID);
 }
 
-template<class K, class V> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>& RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::operator<<(K value) {
+template<class T, class P> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>& RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::operator<<(T value) {
     int id = _persistentIDs.value(value);
     if (id == 0) {
         int& offset = _transientOffsets[value];
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ template<class K, class V> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>& RepeatedValueStre
     return *this;
 }
 
-template<class K, class V> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>& RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>::operator>>(V& value) {
+template<class T, class P> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>& RepeatedValueStreamer<T, P>::operator>>(T& value) {
     int id;
     _idStreamer >> id;
     if (id <= _lastPersistentID) {
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ template<class K, class V> inline RepeatedValueStreamer<K, V>& RepeatedValueStre
         
     } else {
         int offset = id - _lastPersistentID;
-        typename QHash<int, V>::iterator it = _transientValues.find(offset);
+        typename QHash<int, T>::iterator it = _transientValues.find(offset);
         if (it == _transientValues.end()) {
             _stream > value;
             _transientValues.insert(offset, value);
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ public:
         QHash<const TypeStreamer*, int> typeStreamerOffsets;
         QHash<AttributePointer, int> attributeOffsets;
         QHash<QScriptString, int> scriptStringOffsets;
-        QHash<SoftSharedObjectPointer, int> sharedObjectOffsets;
+        QHash<SharedObjectPointer, int> sharedObjectOffsets;
     };
 
     class ReadMappings {
@@ -230,12 +230,18 @@ public:
     /// Persists a set of write mappings recorded earlier.
     void persistWriteMappings(const WriteMappings& mappings);
 
+    /// Immediately persists and resets the write mappings.
+    void persistAndResetWriteMappings();
+
     /// Returns the set of transient mappings gathered during reading and resets them.
     ReadMappings getAndResetReadMappings();
     
     /// Persists a set of read mappings recorded earlier.
     void persistReadMappings(const ReadMappings& mappings);
 
+    /// Immediately persists and resets the read mappings.
+    void persistAndResetReadMappings();
+
     /// Removes a shared object from the read mappings.
     void clearSharedObject(int id) { _sharedObjectStreamer.removePersistentValue(id); }
 
@@ -308,7 +314,7 @@ public:
     Bitstream& operator<(const QScriptString& string);
     Bitstream& operator>(QScriptString& string);
     
-    Bitstream& operator<(const SoftSharedObjectPointer& object);
+    Bitstream& operator<(const SharedObjectPointer& object);
     Bitstream& operator>(SharedObjectPointer& object);
 
 signals:
@@ -331,7 +337,7 @@ private:
     RepeatedValueStreamer<const TypeStreamer*> _typeStreamerStreamer;
     RepeatedValueStreamer<AttributePointer> _attributeStreamer;
     RepeatedValueStreamer<QScriptString> _scriptStringStreamer;
-    RepeatedValueStreamer<SoftSharedObjectPointer, SharedObjectPointer> _sharedObjectStreamer;
+    RepeatedValueStreamer<SharedObjectPointer, SharedObject*> _sharedObjectStreamer;
 
     QHash<int, QPointer<SharedObject> > _transientSharedObjects;
 
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
index 0c7b8ce8ab..052f480fcf 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/DatagramSequencer.cpp
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@ void ReliableChannel::sendMessage(const QVariant& message) {
     _dataStream << (quint32)0;    
     _bitstream << message;
     _bitstream.flush();
+    _bitstream.persistAndResetWriteMappings();
     
     quint32 length = _buffer.pos() - placeholder;
     _buffer.writeBytes(placeholder, sizeof(quint32), (const char*)&length);
@@ -745,6 +746,7 @@ void ReliableChannel::readData(QDataStream& in) {
                     QVariant message;
                     _bitstream >> message;
                     _bitstream.reset();
+                    _bitstream.persistAndResetReadMappings();
                     emit receivedMessage(message);
                     continue;
                 }
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
index b542299d00..b67354828a 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
@@ -18,29 +18,15 @@
 
 REGISTER_META_OBJECT(SharedObject)
 
-static int sharedObjectPointerMetaTypeId = qRegisterMetaType<SharedObjectPointer>();
-static int softSharedObjectPointerMetaTypeId = qRegisterMetaType<SoftSharedObjectPointer>();
-
-SharedObject::SharedObject() :
-    _id(++_lastID),
-    _hardReferenceCount(0),
-    _softReferenceCount(0) {
+SharedObject::SharedObject() : _id(++_lastID), _referenceCount(0) {
 }
 
-void SharedObject::decrementHardReferenceCount() {
-    _hardReferenceCount--;
-    if (_hardReferenceCount == 0) {
-        if (_softReferenceCount == 0) {
-            delete this;
-        } else {
-            emit allHardReferencesCleared(this);
-        }
-    }
+void SharedObject::incrementReferenceCount() {
+    _referenceCount++;
 }
 
-void SharedObject::decrementSoftReferenceCount() {
-    _softReferenceCount--;
-    if (_hardReferenceCount == 0 && _softReferenceCount == 0) {
+void SharedObject::decrementReferenceCount() {
+    if (--_referenceCount == 0) {
         delete this;
     }
 }
@@ -62,13 +48,13 @@ SharedObject* SharedObject::clone() const {
 }
 
 bool SharedObject::equals(const SharedObject* other) const {
-    // default behavior is to compare the properties
     if (!other) {
         return false;
     }
     if (other == this) {
         return true;
     }
+    // default behavior is to compare the properties
     const QMetaObject* metaObject = this->metaObject();
     if (metaObject != other->metaObject()) {
         return false;
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
index f83079b0fa..344a77cc94 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
@@ -27,14 +27,10 @@ public:
 
     int getID() { return _id; }
 
-    int getHardReferenceCount() const { return _hardReferenceCount; }
-    
-    void incrementHardReferenceCount() { _hardReferenceCount++; }
-    void decrementHardReferenceCount();
+    int getReferenceCount() const { return _referenceCount; }
+    void incrementReferenceCount();
+    void decrementReferenceCount();
 
-    void incrementSoftReferenceCount() { _softReferenceCount++; }
-    void decrementSoftReferenceCount();
-    
     /// Creates a new clone of this object.
     virtual SharedObject* clone() const;
 
@@ -44,31 +40,20 @@ public:
     // Dumps the contents of this object to the debug output.
     virtual void dump(QDebug debug = QDebug(QtDebugMsg)) const;
 
-signals:
-    
-    /// Emitted when only soft reference counts remain.
-    void allHardReferencesCleared(QObject* object);
-
 private:
     
     int _id;
-    int _hardReferenceCount;
-    int _softReferenceCount;
+    int _referenceCount;
     
     static int _lastID;
 };
 
-typedef void (SharedObject::*SharedObjectFn)();
-
 /// A pointer to a shared object.
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc = &SharedObject::incrementHardReferenceCount,
-    SharedObjectFn Dec = &SharedObject::decrementHardReferenceCount> class SharedObjectPointerTemplate {
+template<class T> class SharedObjectPointerTemplate {
 public:
     
     SharedObjectPointerTemplate(T* data = NULL);
-    SharedObjectPointerTemplate(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& other);
-    template<class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> SharedObjectPointerTemplate(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& other);
+    SharedObjectPointerTemplate(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other);
     ~SharedObjectPointerTemplate();
 
     T* data() const { return _data; }
@@ -76,7 +61,7 @@ public:
     /// "Detaches" this object, making a new copy if its reference count is greater than one.
     bool detach();
 
-    void swap(SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& other) { qSwap(_data, other._data); }
+    void swap(SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) { qSwap(_data, other._data); }
 
     void reset();
 
@@ -85,96 +70,86 @@ public:
     T& operator*() const { return *_data; }
     T* operator->() const { return _data; }
     
-    template<class X> SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc, Dec> staticCast() const;
+    template<class X> SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X> staticCast() const;
     
-    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& operator=(T* data);
-    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& operator=(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& other) {
-        return *this = other.data(); }
-    template<class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& operator=(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& other) { return *this = other.data(); }
+    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& operator=(T* data);
+    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& operator=(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other);
 
-    bool operator==(T* data) const { return _data == data; }
-    bool operator!=(T* data) const { return _data != data; }
+    bool operator==(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) const { return _data == other._data; }
+    bool operator!=(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) const { return _data != other._data; }
     
-    template<class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> bool operator==(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& other) const { return _data == other.data(); }
-    template<class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> bool operator!=(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& other) const { return _data != other.data(); }
-        
 private:
 
     T* _data;
 };
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline
-        SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::SharedObjectPointerTemplate(T* data) : _data(data) {
+template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::SharedObjectPointerTemplate(T* data) : _data(data) {
     if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Inc)();
+        _data->incrementReferenceCount();
     }
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline
-    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::SharedObjectPointerTemplate(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& other) : _data(other.data()) {
+template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::SharedObjectPointerTemplate(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) :
+    _data(other._data) {
+    
     if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Inc)();
+        _data->incrementReferenceCount();
     }
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> template<class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> inline
-    SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::SharedObjectPointerTemplate(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& other) : _data(other.data()) {
+template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::~SharedObjectPointerTemplate() {
     if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Inc)();
+        _data->decrementReferenceCount();
     }
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline
-        SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::~SharedObjectPointerTemplate() {
-    if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Dec)();
-    }
-}
-
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline bool SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::detach() {
-    if (_data && _data->getHardReferenceCount() > 1) {
-        (_data->*Dec)();
-        ((_data = _data->clone())->*Inc)();
+template<class T> inline bool SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::detach() {
+    if (_data && _data->getReferenceCount() > 1) {
+        _data->decrementReferenceCount();
+        (_data = _data->clone())->incrementReferenceCount();
         return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline void SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::reset() {
+template<class T> inline void SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::reset() {
     if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Dec)();
+        _data->decrementReferenceCount();
     }
     _data = NULL;
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> template<class X> inline
-        SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc, Dec> SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::staticCast() const {
-    return SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc, Dec>(static_cast<X*>(_data));
+template<class T> template<class X> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X> SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::staticCast() const {
+    return SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X>(static_cast<X*>(_data));
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> inline
-        SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>::operator=(T* data) {
+template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::operator=(T* data) {
     if (_data) {
-        (_data->*Dec)();
+        _data->decrementReferenceCount();
     }
     if ((_data = data)) {
-        (_data->*Inc)();
+        _data->incrementReferenceCount();
     }
     return *this;
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec> uint qHash(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& pointer, uint seed = 0) {
+template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::operator=(
+        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) {
+    if (_data) {
+        _data->decrementReferenceCount();
+    }
+    if ((_data = other._data)) {
+        _data->incrementReferenceCount();
+    }
+    return *this;
+}
+
+template<class T> uint qHash(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& pointer, uint seed = 0) {
     return qHash(pointer.data(), seed);
 }
 
-template<class T, SharedObjectFn Inc, SharedObjectFn Dec, class X, SharedObjectFn Inc2, SharedObjectFn Dec2> bool equals(
-        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T, Inc, Dec>& first, const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X, Inc2, Dec2>& second) {
+template<class T, class X> bool equals(const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& first,
+        const SharedObjectPointerTemplate<X>& second) {
     return first ? first->equals(second) : !second;
 }
 
@@ -186,11 +161,6 @@ typedef QSet<SharedObjectPointer> SharedObjectSet;
 
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(SharedObjectSet)
 
-typedef SharedObjectPointerTemplate<SharedObject, &SharedObject::incrementSoftReferenceCount,
-    &SharedObject::decrementSoftReferenceCount> SoftSharedObjectPointer;
-
-Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(SoftSharedObjectPointer)
-
 /// Allows editing shared object instances.
 class SharedObjectEditor : public QWidget {
     Q_OBJECT
diff --git a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
index f06658da68..b1f3315bc0 100644
--- a/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelTests.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
 
+#include <MetavoxelMessages.h>
+
 #include "MetavoxelTests.h"
 
 REGISTER_META_OBJECT(TestSharedObjectA)
@@ -245,6 +247,9 @@ void Endpoint::sendDatagram(const QByteArray& datagram) {
 }
 
 void Endpoint::handleHighPriorityMessage(const QVariant& message) {
+    if (message.userType() == ClearSharedObjectMessage::Type) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (_other->_highPriorityMessagesSent.isEmpty()) {
         throw QString("Received unsent/already sent high priority message.");
     }
@@ -274,6 +279,10 @@ void Endpoint::readMessage(Bitstream& in) {
 }
 
 void Endpoint::handleReliableMessage(const QVariant& message) {
+    if (message.userType() == ClearSharedObjectMessage::Type ||
+            message.userType() == ClearMainChannelSharedObjectMessage::Type) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (_other->_reliableMessagesSent.isEmpty()) {
         throw QString("Received unsent/already sent reliable message.");
     }