diff --git a/src/lib/libeventloop.js b/src/lib/libeventloop.js
index 042dcad37b652..fb6742fdf4c97 100644
--- a/src/lib/libeventloop.js
+++ b/src/lib/libeventloop.js
@@ -198,11 +198,14 @@ LibraryJSEventLoop = {
 
   $MainLoop__internal: true,
   $MainLoop__deps: ['$setMainLoop', '$callUserCallback', 'emscripten_set_main_loop_timing'],
-  $MainLoop__postset: `
-    Module['requestAnimationFrame'] = MainLoop.requestAnimationFrame;
-    Module['pauseMainLoop'] = MainLoop.pause;
-    Module['resumeMainLoop'] = MainLoop.resume;
-    MainLoop.init();`,
+  $MainLoop__postset: () => {
+    addAtExit('MainLoop.disposeImmediate();');
+    return `
+      Module['requestAnimationFrame'] = MainLoop.requestAnimationFrame;
+      Module['pauseMainLoop'] = MainLoop.pause;
+      Module['resumeMainLoop'] = MainLoop.resume;
+      MainLoop.init();`;
+  },
   $MainLoop: {
     // The main loop tick function that will be called at each iteration.
     // This will be non-null whenever a loop function is registered.
@@ -225,6 +228,11 @@ LibraryJSEventLoop = {
     preMainLoop: [],
     postMainLoop: [],
 
+    /** @type {?function(function(): ?, ...?): ?} */
+    setImmediate: null,
+    // Replaced when the immediate scheduler allocates browser resources.
+    disposeImmediate() {},
+
     pause() {
       if (MainLoop.scheduler) {
         MainLoop.scheduler = null;
@@ -368,27 +376,26 @@ LibraryJSEventLoop = {
 #if RUNTIME_DEBUG
           dbg('setImmediate: using polyfill');
 #endif
-          // Emulate setImmediate. (note: not a complete polyfill, we don't emulate clearImmediate() to keep code size to minimum, since not needed)
+          // A private channel keeps ticks local to this module, including in
+          // a Worker. A global message listener would retain the module and
+          // receive ticks posted by other instances.
           var setImmediates = [];
-          var emscriptenMainLoopMessageId = 'setimmediate';
-          /** @param {Event} event */
-          var MainLoop_setImmediate_messageHandler = (event) => {
-            if (event.data === emscriptenMainLoopMessageId) {
-              event.stopPropagation();
-              setImmediates.shift()();
-            }
+          var channel = new MessageChannel();
+          channel.port1.onmessage = () => setImmediates.shift()?.();
+          MainLoop.disposeImmediate = () => {
+            setImmediates.length = 0;
+            channel.port1.onmessage = null;
+            channel.port1.close();
+            channel.port2.close();
+            // A runner unwinding through exit must not enqueue more work or
+            // recreate the channel. Cleanup may also be called more than once.
+            MainLoop.setImmediate = (func) => {};
+            MainLoop.disposeImmediate = () => {};
           };
-          addEventListener('message', MainLoop_setImmediate_messageHandler, true);
-          MainLoop.setImmediate = /** @type{function(function(): ?, ...?): number} */((func) => {
+          MainLoop.setImmediate = (func) => {
             setImmediates.push(func);
-            if (ENVIRONMENT_IS_WORKER) {
-              // The postMessge API in a Worker, sends message to the main
-              // thread and does not support the `targetOrigin` (*) argument.
-              postMessage(emscriptenMainLoopMessageId);
-            } else {
-              postMessage(emscriptenMainLoopMessageId, '*');
-            }
-          });
+            channel.port2.postMessage(0);
+          };
         }
       }
       MainLoop.scheduler = function MainLoop_scheduler_setImmediate() {
diff --git a/src/preamble.js b/src/preamble.js
index 54b537db5e8cc..b5d27614b759e 100644
--- a/src/preamble.js
+++ b/src/preamble.js
@@ -245,6 +245,12 @@ function postRun() {
  * @param {string|number=} what
  */
 function abort(what) {
+#if librarySymbols.includes('MainLoop')
+  // abort skips atexit, but must release the scheduler's browser resources.
+  // Do this before onAbort, which may itself throw. Early startup can abort
+  // before the MainLoop object has been initialized.
+  MainLoop?.disposeImmediate();
+#endif
 #if expectToReceiveOnModule('onAbort')
   Module['onAbort']?.(what);
 #endif
diff --git a/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.c b/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0d6c39e7981bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.c
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 The Emscripten Authors
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+ */
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <emscripten.h>
+#include <emscripten/eventloop.h>
+
+static int frames;
+
+static void resume(void* unused) {
+  emscripten_resume_main_loop();
+}
+
+static void tick(void) {
+  ++frames;
+  if (frames == 2) {
+    emscripten_pause_main_loop();
+    emscripten_set_timeout(resume, 10, NULL);
+  } else if (frames == 4) {
+    assert(emscripten_set_main_loop_timing(EM_TIMING_SETTIMEOUT, 1) == 0);
+  } else if (frames == 6) {
+    assert(emscripten_set_main_loop_timing(EM_TIMING_SETIMMEDIATE, 0) == 0);
+  } else if (frames == 8) {
+    emscripten_cancel_main_loop();
+    emscripten_set_main_loop(tick, 0, 0);
+    assert(emscripten_set_main_loop_timing(EM_TIMING_SETIMMEDIATE, 0) == 0);
+  } else if (frames == 16) {
+    int mode = EM_ASM_INT({ return Module['testMode']; });
+    if (mode >= 2) {
+      EM_ASM({ abort('expected scheduler abort'); });
+    } else if (mode == 1) {
+      // Exit with a registered loop, without first cancelling it.
+      emscripten_force_exit(0);
+    } else {
+      emscripten_cancel_main_loop();
+      exit(0);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+int main(void) {
+  emscripten_set_main_loop(tick, 0, 0);
+  assert(emscripten_set_main_loop_timing(EM_TIMING_SETIMMEDIATE, 0) == 0);
+}
diff --git a/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.html b/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a0803ac172666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.html
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<script>
+if (FORCE_FALLBACK) {
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'scheduler', { value: undefined });
+  globalThis.setImmediate = undefined;
+}
+
+// Observe resource ownership without retaining module callbacks or channels.
+const listeners = [];
+const nativeAdd = globalThis.addEventListener;
+const nativeRemove = globalThis.removeEventListener;
+globalThis.addEventListener = function(type, callback, options) {
+  if (type === 'message') listeners.push({ callback: new WeakRef(callback), removed: false });
+  return nativeAdd.call(this, type, callback, options);
+};
+globalThis.removeEventListener = function(type, callback, options) {
+  for (const listener of listeners) {
+    if (type === 'message' && listener.callback.deref() === callback) listener.removed = true;
+  }
+  return nativeRemove.call(this, type, callback, options);
+};
+let openPorts = 0;
+const NativeChannel = globalThis.MessageChannel;
+globalThis.MessageChannel = class extends NativeChannel {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    for (const port of [this.port1, this.port2]) {
+      ++openPorts;
+      let closed = false;
+      const close = port.close.bind(port);
+      port.close = () => {
+        if (!closed) --openPorts;
+        closed = true;
+        close();
+      };
+    }
+  }
+};
+const errors = [];
+globalThis.addEventListener('error', event => {
+  if (event.message.includes('expected scheduler abort')) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+    event.stopImmediatePropagation();
+  } else {
+    errors.push(event.message);
+  }
+}, true);
+globalThis.addEventListener('unhandledrejection', event => {
+  // scheduler.postTask reports a thrown callback through its promise.
+  if (String(event.reason).includes('expected scheduler abort')) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+    event.stopImmediatePropagation();
+  } else {
+    errors.push(String(event.reason));
+  }
+}, true);
+// Also usable by a local CDP/GC diagnostic after the test completes. The
+// portable regression below asserts deterministic listener/port cleanup.
+globalThis.schedulerWeakRefs = [];
+</script>
+<script src="browser_reporting.js"></script>
+<script src="a.out.js"></script>
+<script>const firstFactory = createModule;</script>
+<script src="a.out.js"></script>
+<script>
+const secondFactory = createModule;
+const delay = ms => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+
+async function run(factory, mode) {
+  let resolve;
+  let reject;
+  const done = new Promise((yes, no) => { resolve = yes; reject = no; });
+  // The debug runtime adds getters that close over the module to its options.
+  // Avoid V8 retaining the first instance via an object-literal allocation site.
+  const options = Object.assign(Object.create(null), {
+    testMode: mode,
+    onExit(status) {
+      if (mode < 2 && status === 0) resolve();
+      else reject(new Error('unexpected exit: ' + status));
+    },
+    onAbort(reason) {
+      if (mode >= 2 && reason === 'expected scheduler abort') resolve();
+      else reject(new Error('unexpected abort: ' + reason));
+      // Cleanup must also happen if the application's callback throws.
+      if (mode === 3) throw new Error('expected scheduler abort callback');
+    },
+  });
+  const module = await factory(options);
+  schedulerWeakRefs.push({ module: new WeakRef(module), buffer: new WeakRef(module.HEAPU8.buffer) });
+  await done;
+}
+
+async function checkReleased() {
+  // Allow queued native tasks/messages to run after shutdown.
+  await delay(20);
+  const liveListeners = listeners.filter(entry => !entry.removed && entry.callback.deref());
+  if (liveListeners.length || openPorts || errors.length) {
+    throw new Error(`scheduler resources after shutdown: ${liveListeners.length} listeners, ${openPorts} ports, errors: ${errors}`);
+  }
+}
+
+(async () => {
+  for (const mode of (EXIT_RUNTIME_ENABLED ? [0, 1, 2, 3] : [2, 3])) {
+    await run(firstFactory, mode);
+    await checkReleased();
+    await run(secondFactory, mode);
+    await checkReleased();
+  }
+  // One instance may exit while another is still receiving ticks. Separately
+  // evaluated factories must not share queues or intercept each other's work.
+  await Promise.all([run(firstFactory, EXIT_RUNTIME_ENABLED ? 0 : 2), run(secondFactory, EXIT_RUNTIME_ENABLED ? 1 : 3)]);
+  await checkReleased();
+  reportResultToServer(0);
+})().catch(error => reportResultToServer(String(error)));
+</script>
diff --git a/test/codesize/test_codesize_hello_dylink_all.json b/test/codesize/test_codesize_hello_dylink_all.json
index 823f5fce3301c..2ca8eba6be094 100644
--- a/test/codesize/test_codesize_hello_dylink_all.json
+++ b/test/codesize/test_codesize_hello_dylink_all.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "a.out.js": 270584,
+  "a.out.js": 271051,
   "a.out.nodebug.wasm": 588266,
-  "total": 858850,
+  "total": 859317,
   "sent": [
     "IMG_Init",
     "IMG_Load",
diff --git a/test/test_browser.py b/test/test_browser.py
index ce35e41905e63..2970f182f8b37 100644
--- a/test/test_browser.py
+++ b/test/test_browser.py
@@ -1830,10 +1830,34 @@ def test_emscripten_main_loop_and_blocker_exit(self):
   def test_emscripten_main_loop_setimmediate(self, args):
     self.btest_exit('test_emscripten_main_loop_setimmediate.c', cflags=args)
 
+  @also_with_proxy_to_pthread
   def test_emscripten_main_loop_setimmediate_polyfill(self):
-    create_file('remove_setimmediate.js', 'globalThis.setImmediate = undefined;')
+    create_file('remove_setimmediate.js', '''
+      globalThis.setImmediate = undefined;
+      Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'scheduler', { value: undefined });
+    ''')
     self.btest_exit('test_emscripten_main_loop_setimmediate.c', cflags=['-sRUNTIME_DEBUG', '--pre-js=remove_setimmediate.js'])
 
+  @parameterized({
+    'default': (False, True, []),
+    'fallback': (True, True, []),
+    'default_closure': (False, True, ['-O2', '--closure=1']),
+    'fallback_closure': (True, True, ['-O2', '--closure=1']),
+    'default_no_exit_runtime': (False, False, []),
+    'fallback_no_exit_runtime': (True, False, []),
+  })
+  def test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime(self, fallback, exit_runtime, args):
+    self.compile_btest('browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.c', [
+      '-sMODULARIZE', '-sEXPORT_NAME=createModule', f'-sEXIT_RUNTIME={int(exit_runtime)}',
+      '-sEXPORTED_RUNTIME_METHODS=HEAPU8', '-sENVIRONMENT=web',
+    ] + args, reporting=Reporting.NONE)
+    self.add_browser_reporting()
+    html = read_file(test_file('browser/test_main_loop_scheduler_lifetime.html'))
+    html = html.replace('FORCE_FALLBACK', str(fallback).lower())
+    html = html.replace('EXIT_RUNTIME_ENABLED', str(exit_runtime).lower())
+    create_file('test.html', html)
+    self.run_browser('test.html', '/report_result?0')
+
   @parameterized({
     '': ([],),
     'O1': (['-O1'],),