diff --git a/src/three/plugins/images/ImageFormatPlugin.js b/src/three/plugins/images/ImageFormatPlugin.js
index 2f24669be..0b6308f88 100644
--- a/src/three/plugins/images/ImageFormatPlugin.js
+++ b/src/three/plugins/images/ImageFormatPlugin.js
@@ -142,22 +142,16 @@ export class ImageFormatPlugin {
 
 		}
 
-		return mesh;
-
-	}
-
-	preprocessNode( tile ) {
-
-		// generate children
-		const { tiling } = this;
-		const maxLevel = tiling.maxLevel;
-		const level = tile[ TILE_LEVEL ];
-		if ( level < maxLevel && tile.parent !== null ) {
+		// Only expose descendants while the tile content is resident so unload can clear the
+		// branch and a later reload will recreate it symmetrically.
+		if ( level < tiling.maxLevel && tile.children.length === 0 ) {
 
 			this.expandChildren( tile );
 
 		}
 
+		return mesh;
+
 	}
 
 	disposeTile( tile ) {
@@ -173,6 +167,14 @@ export class ImageFormatPlugin {
 
 		}
 
+
+		tile.children.forEach( child => {
+
+			this.tiles.processNodeQueue.remove( child );
+
+		} );
+		tile.children.length = 0;
+
 	}
 
 	// Local functions