diff --git a/grudge/discretization.py b/grudge/discretization.py
index 5b232f548dcdb11ce38f6c245be517a06211e50e..833cd7e9a04940d325595091147ea416573e9fb1 100644
--- a/grudge/discretization.py
+++ b/grudge/discretization.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class DiscretizationCollection:
                  DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
             discr_tag_to_group_factory = quad_tag_to_group_factory
 
-        self._setup_actx = array_context
+        self._setup_actx = array_context.clone()
 
         from meshmode.discretization.poly_element import \
                 PolynomialWarpAndBlendGroupFactory