diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/commands/CommandStudio.java b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/commands/CommandStudio.java
index 217da715f..6a4e93f80 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/commands/CommandStudio.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/commands/CommandStudio.java
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ public class CommandStudio implements DecreeExecutor {
     public void noise() {
         if (noGUI()) return;
         sender().sendMessage(C.GREEN + "Opening Noise Explorer!");
-        NoiseExplorerGUI.launch();
+        NoiseExplorerGUI.launch(engine());
     }
 
     @Decree(description = "Preview the palettes around you (External GUI)", aliases = "pal", origin = DecreeOrigin.PLAYER)
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ public class CommandStudio implements DecreeExecutor {
     ) {
         if (noGUI()) return;
         sender().sendMessage(C.GREEN + "Opening Noise Explorer!");
-        NoiseExplorerGUI.launchGeneratorKey(generator == null ? null : generator.getLoadKey(), generator, seed);
+        NoiseExplorerGUI.launchGeneratorKey(engine(), generator == null ? null : generator.getLoadKey(), generator, seed);
     }
 
     @Decree(description = "Hotload a studio", aliases = {"reload", "h"})
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/GuiHost.java b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/GuiHost.java
index 51dc56454..0de92faf5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/GuiHost.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/GuiHost.java
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ package com.volmit.iris.core.gui;
 
 import com.volmit.iris.Iris;
 import com.volmit.iris.core.events.IrisEngineHotloadEvent;
+import com.volmit.iris.core.project.IrisProject;
 import com.volmit.iris.core.service.PreservationSVC;
+import com.volmit.iris.core.service.StudioSVC;
 import com.volmit.iris.core.tools.IrisToolbelt;
 import com.volmit.iris.engine.framework.Engine;
 import com.volmit.iris.engine.platform.PlatformChunkGenerator;
@@ -94,7 +96,15 @@ public final class GuiHost {
         return new Dimension(Math.min(preferred.width, usable.width), Math.min(preferred.height, usable.height));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The engine of the open studio project, which reads the pack folder you edit, or else the first Iris world.
+     * A normal Iris world runs on its own copy of the pack, made when the world was created.
+     */
     public static Engine findActiveEngine() {
+        Engine studioEngine = findStudioEngine();
+        if (studioEngine != null) {
+            return studioEngine;
+        }
         try {
             for (World world : new ArrayList<>(Bukkit.getWorlds())) {
                 Engine engine = engineOf(world);
@@ -107,6 +117,18 @@ public final class GuiHost {
         return null;
     }
 
+    private static Engine findStudioEngine() {
+        try {
+            StudioSVC studio = Iris.service(StudioSVC.class);
+            IrisProject project = studio == null || !studio.isProjectOpen() ? null : studio.getActiveProject();
+            PlatformChunkGenerator provider = project == null ? null : project.getActiveProvider();
+            Engine engine = provider == null ? null : provider.getEngine();
+            return engine == null || engine.isClosed() ? null : engine;
+        } catch (Throwable ignored) {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
     public static Engine findEngine(UUID worldId) {
         World world = Bukkit.getWorld(worldId);
         return world == null ? null : engineOf(world);
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/NoiseExplorerGUI.java b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/NoiseExplorerGUI.java
index c19868931..4b1afa6a8 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/NoiseExplorerGUI.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/volmit/iris/core/gui/NoiseExplorerGUI.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import com.volmit.iris.engine.object.NoiseStyle;
 import com.volmit.iris.util.function.NoiseProvider;
 import com.volmit.iris.util.math.RNG;
 import com.volmit.iris.util.noise.CNG;
+import org.bukkit.World;
 
 import javax.swing.AbstractAction;
 import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
@@ -208,23 +209,26 @@ public final class NoiseExplorerGUI extends JPanel {
         GuiHost.registerHotloadHook(hotloadHook);
     }
 
-    public static void launch() {
-        Engine engine = GuiHost.findActiveEngine();
+    /**
+     * @param engine the engine whose pack generators to list, or null for the open studio or first Iris world
+     */
+    public static void launch(Engine engine) {
+        Engine sourceEngine = engine != null ? engine : GuiHost.findActiveEngine();
         EventQueue.invokeLater(() -> {
             StudioTheme.install();
-            NoiseExplorerGUI explorer = new NoiseExplorerGUI(ExplorerMode.NOISE, engine, null, null, null, DEFAULT_SEED, null);
+            NoiseExplorerGUI explorer = new NoiseExplorerGUI(ExplorerMode.NOISE, sourceEngine, null, null, null, DEFAULT_SEED, null);
             buildNoiseFrame("Noise Explorer", explorer);
         });
     }
 
-    public static void launchGeneratorKey(String generatorKey, IrisGenerator fallbackGenerator, long initialSeed) {
-        Engine engine = GuiHost.findActiveEngine();
+    public static void launchGeneratorKey(Engine engine, String generatorKey, IrisGenerator fallbackGenerator, long initialSeed) {
+        Engine sourceEngine = engine != null ? engine : GuiHost.findActiveEngine();
         String displayName = generatorKey == null || generatorKey.isBlank() ? "Custom Generator" : generatorKey;
         EventQueue.invokeLater(() -> {
             StudioTheme.install();
             NoiseExplorerGUI explorer = new NoiseExplorerGUI(
                     ExplorerMode.NOISE,
-                    engine,
+                    sourceEngine,
                     generatorKey,
                     fallbackGenerator,
                     displayName,
@@ -1080,13 +1084,22 @@ public final class NoiseExplorerGUI extends JPanel {
         });
     }
 
+    // A hotload replaces the engine; the explorer stays on the world it was opened for.
+    private Engine engineAfterHotload() {
+        if (paletteStart != null) {
+            return GuiHost.findEngine(paletteStart.worldId());
+        }
+        World world = activeEngine == null ? null : activeEngine.getWorld().realWorld();
+        return world == null ? GuiHost.findActiveEngine() : GuiHost.findEngine(world.getUID());
+    }
+
     void resetViewport() {
         viewport = initialViewport;
         requestPreview();
     }
 
     private void handleHotload() {
-        Engine refreshedEngine = paletteStart == null ? GuiHost.findActiveEngine() : GuiHost.findEngine(paletteStart.worldId());
+        Engine refreshedEngine = engineAfterHotload();
         EventQueue.invokeLater(() -> {
             if (disposed) {
                 return;