diff --git a/src/Virtual.ts b/src/Virtual.ts
index 051de4a..12874d4 100644
--- a/src/Virtual.ts
+++ b/src/Virtual.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ export class Virtual {
   #disconnectDOMObserver: (() => void) | null = null;
   #boundHandleFocusChange: ((event: Event) => Promise<void>) | null = null;
   #userEvent: UserEvent | null = null;
+  #userEventOptions: Parameters<typeof userEvent.setup>[0] | null = null;
 
   #checkContainer() {
     if (!this.#container) {
@@ -223,6 +224,19 @@ export class Virtual {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Lazily create the userEvent session on first use so that `start()` and
+   * pure navigation do not prepare the document / focused element, which can
+   * interfere with a consumer's own (separate) userEvent session.
+   */
+  #getUserEvent() {
+    if (!this.#userEvent) {
+      this.#userEvent = userEvent.setup(this.#userEventOptions!);
+    }
+
+    return this.#userEvent;
+  }
+
   #createCursor(root: Root | undefined) {
     if (!root?.document) {
       return;
@@ -611,11 +625,12 @@ export class Virtual {
       },
     );
 
-    this.#userEvent = userEvent.setup({
+    this.#userEvent = null;
+    this.#userEventOptions = {
       ...defaultUserEventOptions,
       document: container.ownerDocument ?? globalThis.document,
       ...(advanceTimers ? { advanceTimers } : {}),
-    });
+    };
 
     const tree = this.#getAccessibilityTree();
 
@@ -672,6 +687,7 @@ export class Virtual {
     this.#spokenPhraseLog = [];
     this.#boundHandleFocusChange = null;
     this.#userEvent = null;
+    this.#userEventOptions = null;
     return;
   }
 
@@ -802,7 +818,7 @@ export class Virtual {
      *
      * REF: https://www.w3.org/TR/core-aam-1.2/#mapping_actions
      */
-    await this.#userEvent!.click(target);
+    await this.#getUserEvent().click(target);
 
     return;
   }
@@ -914,7 +930,7 @@ export class Virtual {
     ].join("");
 
     this.#focusActiveElement();
-    await this.#userEvent!.keyboard(keyboardCommand);
+    await this.#getUserEvent().keyboard(keyboardCommand);
     await this.#refreshState(true);
 
     return;
@@ -954,7 +970,7 @@ export class Virtual {
     }
 
     const target = getElementNode(this.#activeNode);
-    await this.#userEvent!.type(target, text);
+    await this.#getUserEvent().type(target, text);
     await this.#refreshState(true);
 
     return;
@@ -1059,7 +1075,7 @@ export class Virtual {
     const keys = key.repeat(clickCount);
     const target = getElementNode(this.#activeNode);
 
-    await this.#userEvent!.pointer([{ target }, { keys, target }]);
+    await this.#getUserEvent().pointer([{ target }, { keys, target }]);
 
     return;
   }
diff --git a/test/int/press.int.test.ts b/test/int/press.int.test.ts
index a9bcb5b..c611c73 100644
--- a/test/int/press.int.test.ts
+++ b/test/int/press.int.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,31 @@ describe("press", () => {
     await virtual.stop();
   });
 
+  it("should use the latest options when started again without stopping", async () => {
+    const firstAdvanceTimers = jest.fn();
+    const secondAdvanceTimers = jest.fn();
+    const container = document.body;
+
+    await virtual.start({ container, advanceTimers: firstAdvanceTimers });
+
+    await virtual.next();
+    await virtual.next();
+    await virtual.press("a");
+
+    expect(firstAdvanceTimers).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await virtual.start({ container, advanceTimers: secondAdvanceTimers });
+
+    await virtual.next();
+    await virtual.next();
+    await virtual.press("b");
+
+    expect(getByRole(container, "textbox")).toHaveValue("ab");
+    expect(secondAdvanceTimers).toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await virtual.stop();
+  });
+
   it("should capitalise single character keys when Shift is pressed", async () => {
     const container = document.body;
 
diff --git a/test/int/userEventIsolation.int.test.tsx b/test/int/userEventIsolation.int.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b07ba33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/int/userEventIsolation.int.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { act, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import React, { useState } from "react";
+import { virtual } from "../../src/index.js";
+
+/**
+ * Consumers commonly end up with their own copy of `@testing-library/user-event`
+ * (e.g. bundled by Storybook) alongside the one used by the Virtual Screen
+ * Reader. Load a separate module instance to simulate this.
+ */
+function loadSeparateUserEvent(): typeof import("@testing-library/user-event") {
+  let separateUserEvent: typeof import("@testing-library/user-event");
+
+  jest.isolateModules(() => {
+    separateUserEvent = jest.requireActual("@testing-library/user-event");
+  });
+
+  return separateUserEvent!;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The separate copy is not configured by `@testing-library/react`, so its
+ * interactions are wrapped in `act()` explicitly.
+ */
+const { userEvent: separateUserEvent } = loadSeparateUserEvent();
+
+function ControlledInput() {
+  const [value, setValue] = useState("");
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <label htmlFor="fruit">Choose a fruit</label>
+      <input
+        id="fruit"
+        value={value}
+        onChange={(event) => setValue(event.target.value)}
+      />
+      <p>Current value: {value || "empty"}</p>
+    </>
+  );
+}
+
+describe("userEvent isolation", () => {
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await virtual.stop();
+  });
+
+  it("should not interfere with a separate userEvent session when only navigating", async () => {
+    const user = separateUserEvent.setup();
+
+    render(<ControlledInput />);
+
+    const input = screen.getByLabelText("Choose a fruit");
+
+    await act(() => user.type(input, "lu"));
+
+    expect(input).toHaveValue("lu");
+    expect(screen.getByText("Current value: lu")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    await virtual.start({ container: document.body });
+
+    while ((await virtual.lastSpokenPhrase()) !== "end of document") {
+      await virtual.next();
+    }
+
+    await virtual.stop();
+
+    await act(() => user.clear(input));
+
+    expect(input).toHaveValue("");
+    expect(screen.getByText("Current value: empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});