diff --git a/eframe/src/lib.rs b/eframe/src/lib.rs
index e09f8fd6..1175c2af 100644
--- a/eframe/src/lib.rs
+++ b/eframe/src/lib.rs
@@ -76,12 +76,6 @@ pub use epi::*;
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // When compiling for web
 
-#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use egui::mutex::Mutex;
-
-#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use std::sync::Arc;
-
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 pub mod web;
 
@@ -89,7 +83,8 @@ pub mod web;
 pub use wasm_bindgen;
 
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use web::AppRunner;
+use web::AppRunnerRef;
+
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 pub use web_sys;
 
@@ -107,7 +102,7 @@ pub use web_sys;
 /// /// You can add more callbacks like this if you want to call in to your code.
 /// #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 /// #[wasm_bindgen]
-/// pub fn start(canvas_id: &str) -> Result<Arc<Mutex<AppRunner>>, eframe::wasm_bindgen::JsValue> {
+/// pub fn start(canvas_id: &str) -> Result<AppRunnerRef>, eframe::wasm_bindgen::JsValue> {
 ///     let web_options = eframe::WebOptions::default();
 ///     eframe::start_web(canvas_id, web_options, Box::new(|cc| Box::new(MyEguiApp::new(cc))))
 /// }
@@ -117,7 +112,7 @@ pub fn start_web(
     canvas_id: &str,
     web_options: WebOptions,
     app_creator: AppCreator,
-) -> Result<Arc<Mutex<AppRunner>>, wasm_bindgen::JsValue> {
+) -> Result<AppRunnerRef, wasm_bindgen::JsValue> {
     let handle = web::start(canvas_id, web_options, app_creator)?;
 
     Ok(handle)
diff --git a/eframe/src/web/mod.rs b/eframe/src/web/mod.rs
index f8a4fb49..98de396f 100644
--- a/eframe/src/web/mod.rs
+++ b/eframe/src/web/mod.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ pub mod storage;
 mod text_agent;
 
 pub use backend::*;
-use egui::Vec2;
 pub use events::*;
 pub use storage::*;
 
@@ -21,6 +20,7 @@ use std::sync::{
     Arc,
 };
 
+use egui::Vec2;
 use wasm_bindgen::prelude::*;
 use web_sys::EventTarget;
 
diff --git a/egui_demo_app/src/lib.rs b/egui_demo_app/src/lib.rs
index 786aa40d..8ae3f422 100644
--- a/egui_demo_app/src/lib.rs
+++ b/egui_demo_app/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,13 +6,7 @@ pub(crate) mod frame_history;
 mod wrap_app;
 
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use std::sync::Arc;
-
-#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use eframe::web::AppRunner;
-
-#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use egui::mutex::Mutex;
+use eframe::web::AppRunnerRef;
 
 pub use wrap_app::WrapApp;
 
@@ -31,7 +25,7 @@ use eframe::wasm_bindgen::{self, prelude::*};
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 #[wasm_bindgen]
 pub struct WebHandle {
-    handle: Arc<Mutex<AppRunner>>,
+    handle: AppRunnerRef,
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]