diff --git a/rust/src/boid/boid_2d.rs b/rust/src/boid/boid_2d.rs
index ad732d1..aedb366 100644
--- a/rust/src/boid/boid_2d.rs
+++ b/rust/src/boid/boid_2d.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub struct Boid2D {
     #[export]
     /// The properties of this boid.
     /// Note: this cannot be changed in runtime, aside from removing and readding the node.
-    properties: Gd<BoidProperties>,
+    properties: Option<Gd<BoidProperties>>,
     props: BoidProperties,
     vel: Vec2,
     flock_id: Option<InstanceId>,
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ impl INode2D for Boid2D {
     }
 
     fn ready(&mut self) {
-        self.props = self.properties.bind().clone();
+        if let Some(props) = self.properties.as_ref() {
+            self.props = props.bind().clone();
+        }
     }
 
     fn exit_tree(&mut self) {
diff --git a/rust/src/boid/boid_3d.rs b/rust/src/boid/boid_3d.rs
index 6647d52..516ed67 100644
--- a/rust/src/boid/boid_3d.rs
+++ b/rust/src/boid/boid_3d.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub struct Boid3D {
     #[export]
     /// The properties of this boid.
     /// Note: this cannot be changed in runtime, aside from removing and readding the node.
-    properties: Gd<BoidProperties>,
+    properties: Option<Gd<BoidProperties>>,
     props: BoidProperties,
     vel: Vec3,
     flock_id: Option<InstanceId>,
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ impl INode3D for Boid3D {
     }
 
     fn ready(&mut self) {
-        self.props = self.properties.bind().clone();
+        if let Some(props) = self.properties.as_ref() {
+            self.props = props.bind().clone();
+        }
     }
 
     fn exit_tree(&mut self) {
diff --git a/rust/src/boid/boid_properties.rs b/rust/src/boid/boid_properties.rs
index aebd960..2bec1f1 100644
--- a/rust/src/boid/boid_properties.rs
+++ b/rust/src/boid/boid_properties.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use godot::prelude::*;
 
 #[derive(Default, Clone, Debug, GodotClass)]
-#[class(tool, init, base=Resource)]
+#[class(init, base=Resource)]
 /// Properties for a 2D/3D boid.
 pub struct BoidProperties {
     #[export]
diff --git a/rust/src/flock/flock_2d.rs b/rust/src/flock/flock_2d.rs
index 27fdac3..3279862 100644
--- a/rust/src/flock/flock_2d.rs
+++ b/rust/src/flock/flock_2d.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pub struct Flock2D {
     #[export]
     /// Properties of this flock.
     /// Note: this cannot be changed in runtime, aside from removing and readding the node.
-    properties: Gd<FlockProperties>,
+    properties: Option<Gd<FlockProperties>>,
     props: FlockProperties,
     #[export]
     /// A target node for the flock to follow.
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ impl INode2D for Flock2D {
     }
 
     fn ready(&mut self) {
-        self.props = self.properties.bind().clone();
+        if let Some(props) = self.properties.as_ref() {
+            self.props = props.bind().clone();
+        }
     }
 
     fn exit_tree(&mut self) {
diff --git a/rust/src/flock/flock_3d.rs b/rust/src/flock/flock_3d.rs
index a47e50d..bfed5cd 100644
--- a/rust/src/flock/flock_3d.rs
+++ b/rust/src/flock/flock_3d.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ pub struct Flock3D {
     #[export]
     /// Properties of this flock.
     /// Note: this cannot be changed in runtime, aside from removing and readding the node.
-    properties: Gd<FlockProperties>,
+    properties: Option<Gd<FlockProperties>>,
     props: FlockProperties,
     #[export]
     /// A target node for the flock to follow.
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ impl INode3D for Flock3D {
     }
 
     fn ready(&mut self) {
-        self.props = self.properties.bind().clone();
+        if let Some(props) = self.properties.as_ref() {
+            self.props = props.bind().clone();
+        }
     }
 
     fn exit_tree(&mut self) {