diff --git a/src/zeroband/utils/state_dict_send_recv.py b/src/zeroband/utils/state_dict_send_recv.py
index 66366dd9..5ca3f19d 100644
--- a/src/zeroband/utils/state_dict_send_recv.py
+++ b/src/zeroband/utils/state_dict_send_recv.py
@@ -152,12 +152,13 @@ def recv_state_dict(pg: ProcessGroup, src_rank: int, og_state_dict: dict) -> dic
     for job in jobs:
         job.wait()
 
+    # Clone received payloads so the returned state dict does not alias og_state_dict tensors.
+    new_tensors: list[torch.Tensor] = []
     for tensor, data in zip(tensors, datas):
-        if isinstance(tensor, DTensor):
-            tensor = tensor.to_local()
-        tensor.copy_(data)
+        buffer = tensor.to_local() if isinstance(tensor, DTensor) else tensor
+        new_tensors.append(data.clone().to(dtype=buffer.dtype))
 
-    state_dict = _load_sendable_state_dict(tensors, state_dict)
+    state_dict = _load_sendable_state_dict(new_tensors, state_dict)
 
     # logger = get_logger()
     # logger.debug(f"recv tensors {get_tensor_list_signature(tensors)}")
diff --git a/tests/test_dist/test_send_state_dict.py b/tests/test_dist/test_send_state_dict.py
index e4e1f22f..0698baeb 100644
--- a/tests/test_dist/test_send_state_dict.py
+++ b/tests/test_dist/test_send_state_dict.py
@@ -46,6 +46,35 @@ def test_load_state_dict():
     assert state_dict_to_send["nested_data"]["foo"] == state_dict_copy["nested_data"]["foo"]
 
 
+def test_recv_state_dict_no_tensor_aliasing():
+    """recv_state_dict must not return tensors that alias og_state_dict buffers."""
+    og_state_dict = {
+        "step": 10,
+        "world": "template",
+        "optim_sates": torch.zeros(10),
+        "nested_data": {"foo": "bar", "tensor": torch.zeros(10)},
+    }
+    received_payload = {
+        "step": 0,
+        "world": "karl is having his best life",
+        "optim_sates": torch.ones(10),
+        "nested_data": {"foo": "bar", "tensor": torch.ones(10)},
+    }
+
+    non_tensored_state, template_tensors = _get_sendable_state_dict(og_state_dict)
+    _, payload_tensors = _get_sendable_state_dict(received_payload)
+
+    new_tensors = [data.clone() for data in payload_tensors]
+    result = _load_sendable_state_dict(new_tensors, non_tensored_state)
+
+    assert (result["optim_sates"] == received_payload["optim_sates"]).all()
+    assert id(result["optim_sates"]) != id(og_state_dict["optim_sates"])
+    assert (result["nested_data"]["tensor"] == received_payload["nested_data"]["tensor"]).all()
+    assert id(result["nested_data"]["tensor"]) != id(og_state_dict["nested_data"]["tensor"])
+    assert result["step"] == received_payload["step"]
+    assert result["world"] == received_payload["world"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.skip(reason="hang")
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("world_size", [2])
 def test_send_recv_state_dict(world_size: int, random_available_port: int, mock_env):
@@ -70,19 +99,19 @@ def foo(**kwargs):
             rank = int(os.environ.get("RANK"))
 
             if rank == 0:
-                send_state_dict(state_dict_to_send, 1, world_size)
+                send_state_dict(edm.global_pg, state_dict_to_send, 1)
             else:
-                state_dict = recv_state_dict(pg=edm.global_pg, rank=0, world_size=world_size)
+                state_dict = recv_state_dict(edm.global_pg, 0, state_dict_to_recv)
 
-                assert (state_dict["optim_sates"] == state_dict_to_recv["optim_sates"]).all()
+                assert (state_dict["optim_sates"] == state_dict_to_send["optim_sates"]).all()
                 assert id(state_dict["optim_sates"]) != id(state_dict_to_recv["optim_sates"])
 
-                assert (state_dict["nested_data"]["tensor"] == state_dict_to_recv["nested_data"]["tensor"]).all()
+                assert (state_dict["nested_data"]["tensor"] == state_dict_to_send["nested_data"]["tensor"]).all()
                 assert id(state_dict["nested_data"]["tensor"]) != id(state_dict_to_recv["nested_data"]["tensor"])
 
-                assert state_dict["step"] == state_dict_to_recv["step"]
-                assert state_dict["world"] == state_dict_to_recv["world"]
-                assert state_dict["nested_data"]["foo"] == state_dict_to_recv["nested_data"]["foo"]
+                assert state_dict["step"] == state_dict_to_send["step"]
+                assert state_dict["world"] == state_dict_to_send["world"]
+                assert state_dict["nested_data"]["foo"] == state_dict_to_send["nested_data"]["foo"]
 
             del edm