diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.cpp b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.cpp
index 57008b025..50e75ffa3 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.cpp
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,12 @@ void MaterialAsset::initializeAsset()
 
    mScriptPath = getOwned() ? expandAssetFilePath(mScriptFile) : mScriptPath;
 
+   if (mMatDefinitionName == StringTable->EmptyString())
+   {
+      mLoadedState = Failed;
+      return;
+   }
+
    if (Torque::FS::IsScriptFile(mScriptPath))
    {
       if (!Sim::findObject(mMatDefinitionName))
@@ -180,6 +186,10 @@ void MaterialAsset::initializeAsset()
               mLoadedState = Failed;
           }
       }
+      else
+      {
+         mLoadedState = DefinitionAlreadyExists;
+      }
    }
 
    loadMaterial();
@@ -189,6 +199,12 @@ void MaterialAsset::onAssetRefresh()
 {
    mScriptPath = getOwned() ? expandAssetFilePath(mScriptFile) : mScriptPath;
 
+   if (mMatDefinitionName == StringTable->EmptyString())
+   {
+      mLoadedState = Failed;
+      return;
+   }
+
    if (Torque::FS::IsScriptFile(mScriptPath))
    {
       //Since we're refreshing, we can assume that the file we're executing WILL have an existing definition.
@@ -204,7 +220,6 @@ void MaterialAsset::onAssetRefresh()
 
       //And now that we've executed, switch back to the prior behavior
       Con::setVariable("$Con::redefineBehavior", redefineBehaviorPrev.c_str());
-      
    }
 
    loadMaterial();
@@ -232,7 +247,7 @@ void MaterialAsset::loadMaterial()
    if (mMaterialDefinition)
       SAFE_DELETE(mMaterialDefinition);
 
-   if (mLoadedState == ScriptLoaded && mMatDefinitionName != StringTable->EmptyString())
+   if ((mLoadedState == ScriptLoaded || mLoadedState == DefinitionAlreadyExists) && mMatDefinitionName != StringTable->EmptyString())
    {
       Material* matDef;
       if (!Sim::findObject(mMatDefinitionName, matDef))
diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.h b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.h
index 07ec0227a..75b1f6b96 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.h
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/MaterialAsset.h
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ public:
    enum MaterialAssetErrCode
    {
       ScriptLoaded = AssetErrCode::Extended,
+      DefinitionAlreadyExists,
       Extended
    };