diff --git a/filter.go b/filter.go
index bc8be51..087c1aa 100644
--- a/filter.go
+++ b/filter.go
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 package conntrack
 
 import (
+	"maps"
+
 	"github.com/ti-mo/netfilter"
 )
 
 // Filter is an object used to limit dump and flush operations to flows matching
 // certain fields. Use [NewFilter] to create a new filter, then chain methods to
-// set filter fields. Methods mutate the Filter in place and return it for
-// chaining purposes.
+// set filter fields.
+//
+// Methods return a new Filter with the specified field set.
 //
 // Pass a filter to [Conn.DumpFilter] or [Conn.FlushFilter].
 type Filter interface {
-	// Family sets the address (L3) family to filter on, similar to conntrack's
+	// Family sets the address (L3) family to filter on, similar to conntrack's.
 	// -f/--family.
 	//
 	// Common values are [netfilter.ProtoIPv4] and [netfilter.ProtoIPv6].
@@ -74,8 +77,9 @@ type filter struct {
 }
 
 func (f *filter) Family(l3 netfilter.ProtoFamily) Filter {
-	f.l3 = l3
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.l3 = l3
+	})
 }
 
 func (f *filter) family() netfilter.ProtoFamily {
@@ -83,28 +87,40 @@ func (f *filter) family() netfilter.ProtoFamily {
 }
 
 func (f *filter) Mark(mark uint32) Filter {
-	f.f[ctaMark] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mark)
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.f[ctaMark] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mark)
+	})
 }
 
 func (f *filter) MarkMask(mask uint32) Filter {
-	f.f[ctaMarkMask] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mask)
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.f[ctaMarkMask] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mask)
+	})
 }
 
 func (f *filter) Status(status Status) Filter {
-	f.f[ctaStatus] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(uint32(status))
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.f[ctaStatus] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(uint32(status))
+	})
 }
 
 func (f *filter) StatusMask(mask uint32) Filter {
-	f.f[ctaStatusMask] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mask)
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.f[ctaStatusMask] = netfilter.Uint32Bytes(mask)
+	})
 }
 
 func (f *filter) Zone(zone uint16) Filter {
-	f.f[ctaZone] = netfilter.Uint16Bytes(zone)
-	return f
+	return f.withClone(func(cpy *filter) {
+		cpy.f[ctaZone] = netfilter.Uint16Bytes(zone)
+	})
+}
+
+func (f *filter) withClone(fn func(cpy *filter)) *filter {
+	clone := *f
+	clone.f = maps.Clone(f.f)
+	fn(&clone)
+	return &clone
 }
 
 func (f *filter) marshal() []netfilter.Attribute {
diff --git a/filter_test.go b/filter_test.go
index b356304..972d6ef 100644
--- a/filter_test.go
+++ b/filter_test.go
@@ -45,3 +45,21 @@ func TestFilterMarshal(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, want, got)
 }
+
+func TestFilterMutate(t *testing.T) {
+	f := NewFilter().
+		Mark(1).
+		Family(1)
+
+	mod := f.
+		Mark(2).
+		Family(2)
+
+	// Ensure original filter is unchanged.
+	assert.NotEqual(t, f, mod)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte{0, 0, 0, 1}, f.(*filter).f[ctaMark])
+	assert.Equal(t, netfilter.ProtoFamily(1), f.(*filter).l3)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte{0, 0, 0, 2}, mod.(*filter).f[ctaMark])
+	assert.Equal(t, netfilter.ProtoFamily(2), mod.(*filter).l3)
+}