diff --git a/src/braket/default_simulator/openqasm/program_context.py b/src/braket/default_simulator/openqasm/program_context.py
index 0f74f562..592a83cd 100644
--- a/src/braket/default_simulator/openqasm/program_context.py
+++ b/src/braket/default_simulator/openqasm/program_context.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from collections.abc import Iterable
+from copy import copy
 from dataclasses import fields
 from functools import singledispatchmethod
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
@@ -1970,7 +1971,7 @@ def _initialize_paths_from_circuit(self) -> None:
         existing variables from the shared variable table to the path.
         """
         initial_path = self._paths[0]
-        initial_path._instructions = list(self._circuit.instructions)
+        initial_path._instructions = [copy(ins) for ins in self._circuit.instructions]
         initial_path.shots = self._shots
 
         for name, value in self.variable_table.items():
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/braket/default_simulator/test_mcm.py b/test/unit_tests/braket/default_simulator/test_mcm.py
index 9110ac9f..4435cac7 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/braket/default_simulator/test_mcm.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/braket/default_simulator/test_mcm.py
@@ -3284,6 +3284,39 @@ def test_measure_only_in_if_branch_z(self, simulator):
         assert counter == {"00": 1000}
 
 
+class TestMCMNonContiguousClassicalIndices:
+    """MCMs that write non-contiguous classical indices."""
+
+    def test_minimal_unassigned_low_bit_stays_zero(self, simulator):
+        """Untouched ``q[0]`` stays 0 when only ``c[1]`` is assigned."""
+        qasm = """
+        OPENQASM 3.0;
+        qubit[2] q;
+        bit[2] c;
+        h q[1];
+        c[1] = measure q[1];
+        if (c[1]) { x q[1]; }
+        """
+        result = simulator.run_openqasm(OpenQASMProgram(source=qasm, inputs={}), shots=2000)
+        counter = Counter(["".join(m) for m in result.measurements])
+        assert counter == {"00": 2000}
+
+    def test_if_branch_preserves_captured_bit_position(self, simulator):
+        """``if (c[N])`` keeps the captured value at ``q[N]``'s position."""
+        qasm = """
+        OPENQASM 3.0;
+        qubit[3] q;
+        bit[3] c;
+        h q[1];
+        c[1] = measure q[1];
+        if (c[1]) { x q[2]; }
+        c[2] = measure q[2];
+        """
+        result = simulator.run_openqasm(OpenQASMProgram(source=qasm, inputs={}), shots=2000)
+        counter = Counter(["".join(m) for m in result.measurements])
+        assert set(counter) == {"000", "011"}
+
+
 class TestMCMBranchedInstructionRouting:
     """Cover branched-mode instruction routing (add_*_instruction, add_measure, etc.)."""