diff --git a/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_metadata.py b/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_metadata.py
index 39a1b6d2b..b496e4f65 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_metadata.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_metadata.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 import contextlib
 from collections.abc import Callable
+from copy import deepcopy
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -709,7 +710,7 @@ class LeRobotDatasetMetadata:
 
         obj.root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=False)
 
-        features = {**features, **DEFAULT_FEATURES}
+        features = {**deepcopy(features), **DEFAULT_FEATURES}
         _validate_feature_names(features)
 
         obj.tasks = None
diff --git a/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_tools.py b/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_tools.py
index 91dc66af2..9aca859b4 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_tools.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/datasets/dataset_tools.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import logging
 import shutil
 from collections.abc import Callable
 from concurrent.futures import ProcessPoolExecutor, ThreadPoolExecutor, as_completed
+from copy import deepcopy
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import datasets
@@ -1101,7 +1102,9 @@ def _copy_episodes_metadata_and_stats(
     if dst_meta.video_keys and src_dataset.meta.video_keys:
         for key in dst_meta.video_keys:
             if key in src_dataset.meta.features:
-                dst_meta.info.features[key]["info"] = src_dataset.meta.info.features[key].get("info", {})
+                dst_meta.info.features[key]["info"] = deepcopy(
+                    src_dataset.meta.info.features[key].get("info", {})
+                )
 
     write_info(dst_meta.info, dst_meta.root)
 
diff --git a/tests/datasets/test_datasets.py b/tests/datasets/test_datasets.py
index 19c314fd6..1d2fb1d55 100644
--- a/tests/datasets/test_datasets.py
+++ b/tests/datasets/test_datasets.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ from lerobot.robots import make_robot_from_config
 from lerobot.transforms import ImageTransforms, ImageTransformsConfig
 from lerobot.utils.constants import ACTION, DONE, OBS_IMAGES, OBS_STATE, OBS_STR, REWARD
 from lerobot.utils.feature_utils import hw_to_dataset_features
-from tests.fixtures.constants import DUMMY_CHW, DUMMY_HWC, DUMMY_REPO_ID
+from tests.fixtures.constants import DUMMY_CHW, DUMMY_HWC, DUMMY_MOTOR_FEATURES, DUMMY_REPO_ID
 from tests.mocks.mock_robot import MockRobotConfig
 from tests.utils import require_x86_64_kernel
 
@@ -133,6 +133,21 @@ def test_dataset_feature_with_forward_slash_raises_error():
         )
 
 
+def test_create_does_not_mutate_input_features(tmp_path, empty_lerobot_dataset_factory):
+    # ``create`` must deep-copy features so a dataset built from another's features stays independent.
+    dataset = empty_lerobot_dataset_factory(
+        root=tmp_path / "ds1", features=DUMMY_MOTOR_FEATURES, use_videos=False
+    )
+    dataset_copy = empty_lerobot_dataset_factory(
+        root=tmp_path / "ds2", features=dataset.meta.features, use_videos=False
+    )
+
+    original_shape = dataset.meta.info.features["state"]["shape"]
+    dataset_copy.meta.info.features["state"]["shape"] = (999,)
+
+    assert dataset.meta.info.features["state"]["shape"] == original_shape
+
+
 def test_add_frame_missing_task(tmp_path, empty_lerobot_dataset_factory):
     features = {"state": {"dtype": "float32", "shape": (1,), "names": None}}
     dataset = empty_lerobot_dataset_factory(root=tmp_path / "test", features=features)