diff --git a/autoloads/options.gd b/autoloads/options.gd
index b0e43c8..abf0cf7 100644
--- a/autoloads/options.gd
+++ b/autoloads/options.gd
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ var sound_volume = 1.0 setget _set_sound_volume
 var defaults = null
 
 func _ready():
+	pause_mode = PAUSE_MODE_PROCESS
 	# clone self into defaults before loading stored values
 	if defaults == null:
 		defaults = duplicate()