diff --git a/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaEggLoader.cxx b/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaEggLoader.cxx
index 6a8358295b..2417658345 100755
--- a/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaEggLoader.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaEggLoader.cxx
@@ -1727,6 +1727,11 @@ bool MayaEggLoader::ConvertEggData(EggData *data, bool merge, bool model, bool a
       }
     }
 
+    // Check the "Display Colors" box by default, so that vertex
+    // colors (if any) will be visible.
+    MPlug displayColors = mfn.findPlug("displayColors");
+    displayColors.setBool(true);
+
     mesh->_shapeNode = mfn.object();
     mfn.getPath(mesh->_shape_dag_path);
     mesh->ConnectTextures();