diff --git a/packages/fiber/src/core/hooks.tsx b/packages/fiber/src/core/hooks.tsx
index 40ab66cd5f..326ede0800 100644
--- a/packages/fiber/src/core/hooks.tsx
+++ b/packages/fiber/src/core/hooks.tsx
@@ -92,16 +92,27 @@ export type Extensions<T> = (loader: Loader<T>) => void
 
 const memoizedLoaders = new WeakMap<LoaderProto<any>, Loader<any>>()
 
+const isConstructor = <T,>(value: unknown): value is LoaderProto<T> =>
+  typeof value === 'function' && value?.prototype?.constructor === value
+
 function loadingFn<T>(extensions?: Extensions<T>, onProgress?: (event: ProgressEvent) => void) {
-  return function (Proto: LoaderProto<T>, ...input: string[]) {
-    // Construct new loader and run extensions
-    let loader = memoizedLoaders.get(Proto)!
-    if (!loader) {
-      loader = new Proto()
-      memoizedLoaders.set(Proto, loader)
+  return async function (Proto: Loader<T> | LoaderProto<T>, ...input: string[]) {
+    let loader: Loader<any>
+
+    // Construct and cache loader if constructor was passed
+    if (isConstructor(Proto)) {
+      loader = memoizedLoaders.get(Proto)!
+      if (!loader) {
+        loader = new Proto()
+        memoizedLoaders.set(Proto, loader)
+      }
+    } else {
+      loader = Proto
     }
 
+    // Apply loader extensions
     if (extensions) extensions(loader)
+
     // Go through the urls and load them
     return Promise.all(
       input.map(
@@ -128,14 +139,14 @@ type GLTFLike = { scene: THREE.Object3D }
  * @see https://docs.pmnd.rs/react-three-fiber/api/hooks#useloader
  */
 export function useLoader<T, U extends string | string[] | string[][]>(
-  Proto: LoaderProto<T>,
+  loader: Loader<T> | LoaderProto<T>,
   input: U,
   extensions?: Extensions<T>,
   onProgress?: (event: ProgressEvent) => void,
 ) {
   // Use suspense to load async assets
   const keys = (Array.isArray(input) ? input : [input]) as string[]
-  const results = suspend(loadingFn(extensions, onProgress), [Proto, ...keys], { equal: is.equ })
+  const results = suspend(loadingFn(extensions, onProgress), [loader, ...keys], { equal: is.equ })
   // Return the object(s)
   return (Array.isArray(input) ? results : results[0]) as unknown as U extends any[]
     ? LoaderResult<T>[]
@@ -146,18 +157,21 @@ export function useLoader<T, U extends string | string[] | string[][]>(
  * Preloads an asset into cache as a side-effect.
  */
 useLoader.preload = function <T, U extends string | string[] | string[][]>(
-  Proto: LoaderProto<T>,
+  loader: Loader<T> | LoaderProto<T>,
   input: U,
   extensions?: Extensions<T>,
 ): void {
   const keys = (Array.isArray(input) ? input : [input]) as string[]
-  return preload(loadingFn(extensions), [Proto, ...keys])
+  return preload(loadingFn(extensions), [loader, ...keys])
 }
 
 /**
  * Removes a loaded asset from cache.
  */
-useLoader.clear = function <T, U extends string | string[] | string[][]>(Proto: LoaderProto<T>, input: U): void {
+useLoader.clear = function <T, U extends string | string[] | string[][]>(
+  loader: Loader<T> | LoaderProto<T>,
+  input: U,
+): void {
   const keys = (Array.isArray(input) ? input : [input]) as string[]
-  return clear([Proto, ...keys])
+  return clear([loader, ...keys])
 }
diff --git a/packages/fiber/tests/hooks.test.tsx b/packages/fiber/tests/hooks.test.tsx
index e3e4dec5d0..90edb1de54 100644
--- a/packages/fiber/tests/hooks.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/fiber/tests/hooks.test.tsx
@@ -159,6 +159,24 @@ describe('hooks', () => {
     expect(extensions).toBeCalledTimes(1)
   })
 
+  it('can handle useLoader with an existing loader instance', async () => {
+    class Loader extends THREE.Loader {
+      load(_url: string, onLoad: (result: null) => void): void {
+        onLoad(null)
+      }
+    }
+
+    const loader = new Loader()
+    let proto!: Loader
+
+    function Test(): null {
+      return useLoader(loader, '', (loader) => (proto = loader))
+    }
+    await act(async () => root.render(<Test />))
+
+    expect(proto).toBe(loader)
+  })
+
   it('can handle useLoader with a loader extension', async () => {
     class Loader extends THREE.Loader {
       load(_url: string, onLoad: (result: null) => void): void {