diff --git a/mne/tests/test_docstring_parameters.py b/mne/tests/test_docstring_parameters.py
index 4405aff43e0..ee17d466251 100644
--- a/mne/tests/test_docstring_parameters.py
+++ b/mne/tests/test_docstring_parameters.py
@@ -372,9 +372,12 @@ def test_no_global_rng():
     """Test that we use local generators and the modern numpy RNG API."""
     root = pyproject_path.parent  # only available in a dev/editable checkout
     bad = []
+    # CI tests an installed wheel from site-packages, where examples/ (if any)
+    # belongs to other packages (e.g. trame-vuetify), not to us
+    installed = root.name in ("site-packages", "dist-packages")
     for sub in ("mne", "examples", "tutorials"):
         base = root / sub
-        if not base.is_dir():  # e.g. examples/tutorials absent from a wheel
+        if not base.is_dir() or (installed and sub != "mne"):
             continue
         for path in sorted(base.rglob("*.py")):
             rel = path.relative_to(root).as_posix()
diff --git a/mne/viz/_brain/_brain.py b/mne/viz/_brain/_brain.py
index 32fd2122120..760066ab1bf 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_brain/_brain.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_brain/_brain.py
@@ -532,7 +532,6 @@ def _setup_canonical_rotation(self):
     def _clean(self):
         # resolve the reference cycle
         self._renderer._window_close_disconnect()
-        self.clear_glyphs()
         self.remove_annotations()
         # clear init actors
         for hemi in self.layered_meshes:
@@ -541,12 +540,6 @@ def _clean(self):
             self.plotter.remove_actor(actor)
         self._silhouette_actors = None
         self._clear_callbacks()
-        self._clear_widgets()
-        if getattr(self, "mpl_canvas", None) is not None:
-            self.mpl_canvas.clear()
-        if getattr(self, "act_data_smooth", None) is not None:
-            for key in list(self.act_data_smooth.keys()):
-                self.act_data_smooth[key] = None
         # XXX this should be done in PyVista
         for renderer in getattr(self._renderer, "_all_renderers", ()):  # VTK only
             renderer.RemoveAllLights()
@@ -564,20 +557,8 @@ def _clean(self):
         # XXX end PyVista
         for key in (
             "plotter",
-            "window",
-            "dock",
-            "tool_bar",
-            "menu_bar",
-            "interactor",
-            "mpl_canvas",
-            "time_actor",
-            "picked_renderer",
-            "act_data_smooth",
             "_scalar_bar",
             "_scalar_bar_ticks",
-            "_hover_caption",
-            "actions",
-            "widgets",
             "geo",
             "_all_data",
         ):
@@ -636,15 +617,6 @@ def _clear_callbacks(self):
         if getattr(self, "iren", None) is not None:
             self.plotter.iren.clear_key_event_callbacks()
 
-    def _clear_widgets(self):
-        if not hasattr(self, "widgets"):
-            return
-        for widget in self.widgets.values():
-            if widget is not None:
-                for key in ("triggered", "floatValueChanged"):
-                    setattr(widget, key, None)
-        self.widgets.clear()
-
     @property
     def interaction(self):
         """The interaction style."""
diff --git a/mne/viz/_brain/_time_viewer.py b/mne/viz/_brain/_time_viewer.py
index 9d7e80069ea..05f6969c2f0 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_brain/_time_viewer.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_brain/_time_viewer.py
@@ -951,6 +951,37 @@ def _configure_ui_events(self):
         subscribe(self, "__colormap_range_updated", self._sync_colormap_widgets)
         subscribe(self, "__surface_updated", self._on_surface_updated)
         subscribe(self, "__overlay_added", self._on_overlay_added)
+        # published before the window closes, while everything is still alive
+        subscribe(self, "figure_closing", self._on_figure_closing)
+
+    def _on_figure_closing(self, event):
+        if event.source is not self:  # forwarded from a linked figure
+            return
+        self.clear_glyphs()
+        self._clear_widgets()
+        if self.mpl_canvas is not None:
+            self.mpl_canvas.clear()
+        if self.act_data_smooth is not None:
+            for key in list(self.act_data_smooth.keys()):
+                self.act_data_smooth[key] = None
+        # resolve the reference cycles
+        for key in (
+            "mpl_canvas",
+            "time_actor",
+            "act_data_smooth",
+            "_hover_caption",
+            "widgets",
+        ):
+            setattr(self, key, None)
+
+    def _clear_widgets(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, "widgets"):
+            return
+        for widget in self.widgets.values():
+            if widget is not None:
+                for key in ("triggered", "floatValueChanged"):
+                    setattr(widget, key, None)
+        self.widgets.clear()
 
     def _on_time_updated(self, event):
         self.plot_time_line(update=True)
diff --git a/mne/viz/_brain/tests/test_brain.py b/mne/viz/_brain/tests/test_brain.py
index 3c797c0a0e8..6b426138393 100644
--- a/mne/viz/_brain/tests/test_brain.py
+++ b/mne/viz/_brain/tests/test_brain.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
 from matplotlib import image
+from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose, assert_array_equal
 
@@ -1430,7 +1431,13 @@ def test_brain_traces_basic(renderer_interactive_pyvistaqt, hemi, src, brain_gc)
     else:  # volume
         assert "annotation" not in brain.widgets
         assert "extract_mode" not in brain.widgets
+    # closing a linked figure must not tear down this one's time viewer
+    fig = Figure()
+    ui_events.link(fig, brain)
+    ui_events.publish(fig, ui_events.FigureClosing())
+    assert brain.widgets and brain.mpl_canvas is not None
     brain.close()
+    assert brain.widgets is None and brain.mpl_canvas is None
 
 
 @testing.requires_testing_data