diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca67bed9..00e8c2e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ npm run build        # writes dist/ and regenerates index.html; the folder is wh
 The browser suite and the three example games need a machine with a GPU:
 
 ```bash
-node tools/seed-e2e.mjs && node tools/e2e.mjs      # the editor, 1606 checks (GM_STEPS=20 for one step)
+node tools/seed-e2e.mjs && node tools/e2e.mjs      # the editor, 1607 checks (GM_STEPS=20 for one step)
                                                    #   every tool signs in first – see the Accounts page
 node tools/seed-jumprun.mjs && node tools/smoke-jumprun.mjs
 node tools/seed-tetris.mjs && node tools/smoke-tetris.mjs
diff --git a/src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands.ts b/src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands.ts
index 40447aef..e229c595 100644
--- a/src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands.ts
+++ b/src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
   type ObjectRef,
   restoreObject,
 } from '../model/instance';
-import { swapReferences } from '../model/objectRefs';
+import { dropReferencesToGone, shownObjectIds } from '../model/objectRefs';
 import { placementRejection } from '../model/placement';
 import { Recorder } from '../util/recorder';
 import {
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ export class PlaceAssetCommand implements Command {
 }
 
 /**
- * Removes objects together with everything parented below them, as one undo step. A reference the
- * rest of the holder had on one of them (#258) goes with it.
+ * Removes objects together with everything parented below them, as one undo step. A reference on one
+ * of them (#258) goes with it – in the holder, and for a container template in every placement (#269).
  */
 export class RemoveSceneObjectsCommand implements Command {
   readonly label: string;
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ export class RemoveSceneObjectsCommand implements Command {
   execute(project: Project): void {
     const holder = requireHolder(project, this.holderId);
     for (const id of this.objectIds) requireStructuralObject(project, holder, id);
+    const before = shownObjectIds(project);
     this.removed = removeSubtrees(holder, this.objectIds);
-    const gone = new Set(this.removed.map((r) => r.item.id));
-    swapReferences(holder.objects, (ref) => (gone.has(ref) ? '' : undefined), this.references);
+    dropReferencesToGone(project, before, this.references);
   }
 
   undo(project: Project): void {
diff --git a/src/core/model/objectRefs.ts b/src/core/model/objectRefs.ts
index 59f802bf..60f06261 100644
--- a/src/core/model/objectRefs.ts
+++ b/src/core/model/objectRefs.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,18 @@
  * empty for none. Inside a container the id is the one the template gives it, so every placement of
  * the container points at its own copy – which is why a reference is looked up from where it sits.
  */
-import { findAsset, type Project } from './Project';
+import { findAsset, type ObjectHolder, objectHolders, type Project } from './Project';
 import { treeOrder, type ObjectTree } from './hierarchy';
-import { resolveObjects } from './instance';
-import { mapNested, type PropertyBag, type PropertyValue, tagged, tagOf, untag } from './Properties';
+import { instanceChildId, instanceTargetOf, isEmptyEdit, resolveObjects } from './instance';
+import {
+  mapNested,
+  type PropertyBag,
+  type PropertyValue,
+  sameValue,
+  tagged,
+  tagOf,
+  untag,
+} from './Properties';
 import { objectName, type SceneObject } from './SceneObject';
 import { Recorder } from '../util/recorder';
 
@@ -72,22 +80,65 @@ export function objectChoices(project: Project, holder: ObjectTree, objectId: st
 
 /**
  * Renames the references the objects' own values and their container edits hold, as `swap` says,
- * through `recorder` so an undo takes it back.
+ * through `recorder` so an undo takes it back. `fromId` is the object the reference sits on.
  */
 export function swapReferences(
   objects: readonly SceneObject[],
-  swap: (ref: string) => string | undefined,
+  swap: (ref: string, fromId: string) => string | undefined,
   recorder: Recorder,
 ): void {
-  const inBag = (bag: PropertyBag) => {
+  const inBag = (bag: PropertyBag, fromId: string) => {
     for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(bag)) {
-      const next = withReferences(value, swap);
+      const next = withReferences(value, (ref) => swap(ref, fromId));
       if (next !== value) recorder.set(bag, key, next);
     }
   };
   for (const object of objects) {
-    inBag(object.overrides);
-    for (const edit of Object.values(object.instanceEdits)) inBag(edit.overrides);
+    inBag(object.overrides, object.id);
+    for (const [path, edit] of Object.entries(object.instanceEdits))
+      inBag(edit.overrides, instanceChildId(object.id, path));
+  }
+}
+
+/** The ids every holder shows, container content included – what a reference there can name. */
+export function shownObjectIds(project: Project): Map<ObjectHolder, Set<string>> {
+  return new Map(
+    objectHolders(project).map((h) => [h, new Set(resolveObjects(project, h).map((o) => o.id))]),
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Empties every reference that named an object shown `before` and gone now – in the holder it was
+ * removed from and in every placement of a container it was removed from (#269). A container edit
+ * emptied down to what its template says goes, so the placement follows the template again.
+ */
+export function dropReferencesToGone(
+  project: Project,
+  before: Map<ObjectHolder, Set<string>>,
+  recorder: Recorder,
+): void {
+  const edits: { holder: ObjectHolder; object: SceneObject; path: string; was: PropertyBag }[] = [];
+  for (const [holder, now] of shownObjectIds(project)) {
+    const was = before.get(holder);
+    if (!was || [...was].every((id) => now.has(id))) continue;
+    for (const object of holder.objects)
+      for (const [path, edit] of Object.entries(object.instanceEdits))
+        edits.push({ holder, object, path, was: { ...edit.overrides } });
+    const swap = (ref: string, fromId: string) => {
+      const named = referenceCandidates(fromId, ref).find((id) => was.has(id));
+      return named && !now.has(named) ? '' : undefined;
+    };
+    swapReferences(holder.objects, swap, recorder);
+  }
+  // Only once every holder is done: the base of a nested placement is the edits of the one around it.
+  for (const { holder, object, path, was } of edits) {
+    const edit = object.instanceEdits[path]!;
+    const emptied = Object.keys(was).filter((key) => edit.overrides[key] !== was[key]);
+    const base = emptied.length && instanceTargetOf(project, holder, instanceChildId(object.id, path))?.base;
+    if (!base) continue;
+    for (const key of emptied)
+      if (sameValue(edit.overrides[key], base.overrides[key])) recorder.delete(edit.overrides, key);
+    if (isEmptyEdit(edit)) recorder.delete(object.instanceEdits, path);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/core/object-references.test.ts b/tests/core/object-references.test.ts
index bbf109fe..e94d7102 100644
--- a/tests/core/object-references.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/object-references.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  * own copy of it.
  */
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { CreateAssetCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/assetCommands';
 import { CreateContainerCommand, UnpackContainerCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/containerCommands';
 import { PasteObjectsCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/pasteCommands';
 import { AddPortsCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/portCommands';
@@ -17,10 +18,10 @@ import {
 import { AddStructFieldCommand, AddVariableCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/variableCommands';
 import type { BehaviorAsset, ContainerAsset } from '../../src/core/model/Asset';
 import { copyObjects } from '../../src/core/model/clipboard';
-import { instanceChildId } from '../../src/core/model/instance';
+import { instanceChildId, resolvedHolder } from '../../src/core/model/instance';
 import { objectChoices, objectReference, referencedId } from '../../src/core/model/objectRefs';
 import { NO_OBJECT } from '../../src/core/model/Properties';
-import { findAsset } from '../../src/core/model/Project';
+import { findAsset, findObjectHolder } from '../../src/core/model/Project';
 import { makeItem } from '../../src/core/properties/listItems';
 import { coerceValue, variableDef } from '../../src/core/properties/PropertySchema';
 import {
@@ -249,3 +250,109 @@ describe('removing and pasting', () => {
     expect(f.object(pasteAlone.rootIds[0]!).overrides.target).toEqual({ $object: f.crate });
   });
 });
+
+describe('removing an object from a container template (#269)', () => {
+  /**
+   * Watcher, Crate and Barrel made into a container whose Watcher points at nothing, placed in
+   * "Level" and in "Level 2", each placement's Watcher pointed at its own Crate.
+   */
+  function placedTwice() {
+    const f = watching();
+    const barrel = place(f, f.spriteId, { x: 20, y: 0 });
+    const create = new CreateContainerCommand(f.sceneId, [f.watcherId, f.crate, barrel]);
+    f.stack.execute(create);
+    const asset = findAsset(f.project, create.assetId) as ContainerAsset;
+    const [tWatcher, tCrate, tBarrel] = asset.objects.map((o) => o.id) as [string, string, string];
+    f.stack.execute(new SetOverrideCommand(asset.id, tWatcher, 'target', NO_OBJECT));
+    const level2 = new CreateAssetCommand('scene', 'Level 2');
+    f.stack.execute(level2);
+    const other = new PlaceAssetCommand(level2.asset.id, asset.id, { x: 0, y: 0 });
+    f.stack.execute(other);
+    const placements = [
+      [f.sceneId, create.objectId],
+      [level2.asset.id, other.objectId],
+    ] as const;
+    for (const [sceneId, placed] of placements)
+      f.stack.execute(
+        new SetOverrideCommand(sceneId, instanceChildId(placed, tWatcher), 'target', objectReference(tCrate)),
+      );
+    return { ...f, asset, tWatcher, tCrate, tBarrel, level2: level2.asset.id, placements };
+  }
+
+  /** What the inspector shows as `target` on the object, container content resolved. */
+  function targetOf(f: SceneFixture, holderId: string, objectId: string) {
+    const holder = resolvedHolder(f.project, findObjectHolder(f.project, holderId)!);
+    return holder.objects.find((o) => o.id === objectId)!.overrides.target;
+  }
+
+  /** The edit a placement holds for its Watcher. */
+  function editOf(f: ReturnType<typeof placedTwice>, sceneId: string, placed: string) {
+    const holder = findObjectHolder(f.project, sceneId)!;
+    return holder.objects.find((o) => o.id === placed)!.instanceEdits[f.tWatcher];
+  }
+
+  it('empties the placements pointing at it in every scene, and undo brings them back', () => {
+    const f = placedTwice();
+    f.stack.execute(new RemoveSceneObjectsCommand(f.asset.id, [f.tCrate]));
+    for (const [sceneId, placed] of f.placements) {
+      expect(targetOf(f, sceneId, instanceChildId(placed, f.tWatcher))).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+      // None is what the template says too, so the placement follows it again.
+      expect(editOf(f, sceneId, placed)).toBeUndefined();
+    }
+    f.stack.undo();
+    for (const [sceneId, placed] of f.placements) {
+      expect(targetOf(f, sceneId, instanceChildId(placed, f.tWatcher))).toEqual({ $object: f.tCrate });
+      expect(editOf(f, sceneId, placed)?.overrides.target).toEqual({ $object: f.tCrate });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('leaves a placement at None where the template names something else', () => {
+    const f = placedTwice();
+    f.stack.execute(new SetOverrideCommand(f.asset.id, f.tWatcher, 'target', objectReference(f.tBarrel)));
+    f.stack.execute(new RemoveSceneObjectsCommand(f.asset.id, [f.tCrate]));
+    const [sceneId, placed] = f.placements[0];
+    expect(targetOf(f, sceneId, instanceChildId(placed, f.tWatcher))).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+    expect(editOf(f, sceneId, placed)?.overrides.target).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+  });
+
+  it('empties a reference from outside the placement, and leaves one to what stays alone', () => {
+    const f = placedTwice();
+    const [, placed] = f.placements[0];
+    const toCrate = place(f, f.behavior.id, { x: 0, y: 0 });
+    const toBarrel = place(f, f.behavior.id, { x: 0, y: 0 });
+    const crate = objectReference(instanceChildId(placed, f.tCrate));
+    const barrel = objectReference(instanceChildId(placed, f.tBarrel));
+    f.stack.execute(new SetOverrideCommand(f.sceneId, toCrate, 'target', crate));
+    f.stack.execute(new SetOverrideCommand(f.sceneId, toBarrel, 'target', barrel));
+    f.stack.execute(new RemoveSceneObjectsCommand(f.asset.id, [f.tCrate]));
+    expect(f.object(toCrate).overrides.target).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+    expect(f.object(toBarrel).overrides.target).toEqual(barrel);
+    f.stack.undo();
+    expect(f.object(toCrate).overrides.target).toEqual(crate);
+  });
+
+  it('reaches placements nested in another container, template and scene alike', () => {
+    const f = placedTwice();
+    const [, placed] = f.placements[0];
+    // The placement in "Level" becomes the content of Outer and takes its edit into Outer's template.
+    const outer = new CreateContainerCommand(f.sceneId, [placed]);
+    f.stack.execute(outer);
+    const outerAsset = findAsset(f.project, outer.assetId) as ContainerAsset;
+    const inner = outerAsset.objects[0]!.id;
+    const outerPlaced = new PlaceAssetCommand(f.level2, outerAsset.id, { x: 0, y: 0 });
+    f.stack.execute(outerPlaced);
+    const nestedWatcher = instanceChildId(outerPlaced.objectId, `${inner}/${f.tWatcher}`);
+    f.stack.execute(new SetOverrideCommand(f.level2, nestedWatcher, 'target', objectReference(f.tBarrel)));
+
+    f.stack.execute(new RemoveSceneObjectsCommand(f.asset.id, [f.tCrate]));
+    expect(targetOf(f, outerAsset.id, instanceChildId(inner, f.tWatcher))).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+    expect(targetOf(f, f.level2, nestedWatcher)).toEqual({ $object: f.tBarrel });
+    f.stack.execute(new RemoveSceneObjectsCommand(f.asset.id, [f.tBarrel]));
+    expect(targetOf(f, f.level2, nestedWatcher)).toEqual(NO_OBJECT);
+
+    f.stack.undo();
+    f.stack.undo();
+    expect(targetOf(f, outerAsset.id, instanceChildId(inner, f.tWatcher))).toEqual({ $object: f.tCrate });
+    expect(targetOf(f, f.level2, nestedWatcher)).toEqual({ $object: f.tBarrel });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tools/e2e/57-object-references.mjs b/tools/e2e/57-object-references.mjs
index 0c76e4bc..5673c842 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/57-object-references.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/57-object-references.mjs
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
  * a right-click and a second press of the eyedropper leave it as it was. From a list item in a
  * Variables tab it goes to the scene view and comes back with Take.
  *
+ * Removing an object in the Container tab empties a reference a placement of it holds (#269).
+ *
  * Everything it adds carries an `or57` id and goes again at the end.
  */
 import { LANES, MAKE_OBJECT } from './lib/scaffold.mjs';
@@ -268,6 +270,76 @@ export async function objectReferences(t) {
     JSON.stringify({ tabShown, inTab, fromList, listCandidate, backIn, crowd }),
   );
 
+  // 57h. A container placed in the scene, its Aim pointed at its own Crate there (#269). Removing
+  //      the Crate in the Container tab empties that reference too: the row says None, not
+  //      (missing). One undo brings both back.
+  await t.showTab('scene');
+  await mutate(`
+    const p = __gm.state.project;
+    const scene = __gm.state.activeScene;
+    ${MAKE_OBJECT}
+    const sprite = p.assets.find((a) => a.type === 'sprite');
+    p.assets.push({
+      id: 'or57-box',
+      type: 'container',
+      name: 'Box 57',
+      props: {},
+      objects: [make('or57-t-aim', 'or57-aim', '', 0, 'Aim 57'), make('or57-t-crate', sprite.id, '', 50, 'Crate 57')],
+    });
+    const placed = make('or57-placed', 'or57-box', '', ${LANES.containerReference}, 'Box 57');
+    placed.instanceEdits = {
+      'or57-t-aim': { position: {}, overrides: { target: { $object: 'or57-t-crate' } } },
+    };
+    scene.objects.push(placed);
+  `);
+  const placedTarget = () =>
+    json(
+      "__gm.state.activeScene.objects.find((o) => o.id === 'or57-placed')?.instanceEdits['or57-t-aim']?.overrides.target ?? null",
+    );
+  const targetRow = async () => {
+    const field = await json("__gm.inspectorField('target')");
+    const hits = (await json("__gm.locateAll('None')")) ?? [];
+    return {
+      none: hits.some((p) => field && p.x >= field.left && Math.abs(p.y - field.y) < 12),
+      missing: await inInspector('(missing)'),
+      crate: await inInspector('Crate 57'),
+    };
+  };
+  const placedAim = { kind: 'object', holderId: sceneId, objectId: 'or57-placed~or57-t-aim' };
+  await select(placedAim);
+  await sleep(200);
+  const rowBefore = await targetRow();
+
+  await select({ kind: 'object', holderId: 'or57-box', objectId: 'or57-t-crate' });
+  await sleep(200);
+  const tabThen = await json('__gm.tab()');
+  await press('Delete');
+  await sleep(150);
+  const templateLeft = await json(
+    "__gm.state.project.assets.find((a) => a.id === 'or57-box').objects.map((o) => o.id)",
+  );
+  const emptied = await placedTarget();
+  await t.showTab('scene');
+  await select(placedAim);
+  await sleep(200);
+  const rowAfter = await targetRow();
+  await shot('04-container-reference');
+  await undo();
+  await sleep(150);
+  const restored = await placedTarget();
+  check(
+    'removing an object in the Container tab empties the placement pointing at it, undo brings it back',
+    rowBefore.crate &&
+      !rowBefore.missing &&
+      tabThen === 'container' &&
+      JSON.stringify(templateLeft) === JSON.stringify(['or57-t-aim']) &&
+      JSON.stringify(emptied) === JSON.stringify({ $object: '' }) &&
+      rowAfter.none &&
+      !rowAfter.missing &&
+      JSON.stringify(restored) === JSON.stringify({ $object: 'or57-t-crate' }),
+    JSON.stringify({ rowBefore, tabThen, templateLeft, emptied, rowAfter, restored }),
+  );
+
   // Clean up. Back to the scene view first: removing Aim 57 closes 57g's Variables tab, and the
   // editor then shows whatever document earlier steps left open, not the scene view.
   await t.showTab('scene');
@@ -276,6 +348,6 @@ export async function objectReferences(t) {
     const p = __gm.state.project;
     const scene = __gm.state.activeScene;
     scene.objects = scene.objects.filter((o) => !o.id.startsWith('or57-'));
-    p.assets = p.assets.filter((a) => a.id !== 'or57-aim');
+    p.assets = p.assets.filter((a) => a.id !== 'or57-aim' && a.id !== 'or57-box');
   `);
 }
diff --git a/tools/e2e/lib/scaffold.mjs b/tools/e2e/lib/scaffold.mjs
index fc8a6cfb..6a801859 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/lib/scaffold.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/lib/scaffold.mjs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export const LANES = {
   vectorArt: -5100,
   pixelArt: -5400,
   eyedropper: -5800,
+  containerReference: -6200,
 };
 
 /**