diff --git a/assets/core/networking/scripts/NetworkManager.gd b/assets/core/networking/scripts/NetworkManager.gd
index f6f7db9..ecd8810 100644
--- a/assets/core/networking/scripts/NetworkManager.gd
+++ b/assets/core/networking/scripts/NetworkManager.gd
@@ -375,21 +375,25 @@ func update_node_and_send(node_id: String):
 	if not pending_updates.has(node_id):
 		return  # No updates for this node
 
-	var target_node = node_map.get(node_id)
-	if not target_node:
-		return  # Node not found
+	var updates_for_node = pending_updates[node_id]
+
+	if not node_map.has(node_id):
+		# Handle cases where the node might not exist yet (e.g., during node creation)
+		return  # Node not found (might be created later) 
+
+	var target_node = node_map[node_id]
 
 	# Apply updates to the target node's properties
-	for key in pending_updates[node_id].keys():
-		target_node[key] = pending_updates[node_id][key]
+	for key in updates_for_node.keys():
+		target_node.set(key, updates_for_node[key])
+
+	# Clear updates for this node after applying them
+	pending_updates.erase(node_id)
 
 	# Send an update packet immediately for reliability
-	var packet_data = {"message": "property_update", "updates": {node_id: pending_updates[node_id]}}
+	var packet_data = {"message": "property_update", "updates": {node_id: updates_for_node}}
 	send_p2p_packet(0, packet_data)
 
-	# Clear updates for this node after sending them
-	pending_updates.erase(node_id)
-
 
 func send_pending_updates():
 	if pending_updates.size() == 0: