diff --git a/reader/reusable_read_closer.go b/reader/reusable_read_closer.go
index b33579d..9ec745d 100644
--- a/reader/reusable_read_closer.go
+++ b/reader/reusable_read_closer.go
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ func NewReusableReadCloser(raw interface{}) (*ReusableReadCloser, error) {
 		switch body := raw.(type) {
 
 		case []byte:
-			// if a byte array , create buffer from bytes and use it
-			readBuf = *bytes.NewBuffer(body)
+			// copy: reset writes the buffer back, which must not reach the
+			// caller's slice or another reader built from it
+			readBuf = *bytes.NewBuffer(bytes.Clone(body))
 
 		case *[]byte:
-			// if *[]byte, create buffer from bytes and use it
-			readBuf = *bytes.NewBuffer(*body)
+			readBuf = *bytes.NewBuffer(bytes.Clone(*body))
 
 		case string:
 			// if a string , create buffer from string and use it
diff --git a/reader/reusable_read_closer_test.go b/reader/reusable_read_closer_test.go
index d5c75e5..a55ae35 100644
--- a/reader/reusable_read_closer_test.go
+++ b/reader/reusable_read_closer_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestReusableReader(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		})
 
-		// todo: readers shouldn't be used concurrently, so here we just try to catch pontential read concurring with resets panics
+		// todo: readers shouldn't be used concurrently, so here we just try to catch potential read concurring with resets panics
 		t.Run("concurrent-reset-with-read", func(t *testing.T) {
 			reusableReader, err := NewReusableReadCloser(v)
 			require.Nil(t, err)
@@ -58,3 +58,41 @@ func TestReusableReader(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// Readers must own their bytes. reset writes the buffer back at EOF, so a
+// caller that reuses the slice, and a second reader built from it, must still
+// see the original body.
+func TestReusableReaderCopiesByteSlices(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, build := range map[string]func([]byte) (*ReusableReadCloser, error){
+		"[]byte":  func(b []byte) (*ReusableReadCloser, error) { return NewReusableReadCloser(b) },
+		"*[]byte": func(b []byte) (*ReusableReadCloser, error) { return NewReusableReadCloser(&b) },
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			body := []byte("original")
+			reader, err := build(body)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			copy(body, "modified")
+
+			got, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, "original", string(got))
+			require.Equal(t, "modified", string(body))
+		})
+
+		t.Run(name+" two readers", func(t *testing.T) {
+			body := []byte("original")
+			first, err := build(body)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			second, err := build(body)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			copy(body, "modified")
+
+			for _, reader := range []*ReusableReadCloser{first, second, first} {
+				got, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				require.Equal(t, "original", string(got))
+			}
+			require.Equal(t, "modified", string(body))
+		})
+	}
+}