diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.I b/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.I
index d8e90ff15f..ae9ed95cb9 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.I
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.I
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ add_vertices(int v1, int v2, int v3, int v4) {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: GeomPrimitive::get_index_format
-//       Access: Protected
+//       Access: Public
 //  Description: Returns a registered format appropriate for using to
 //               store the index table.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ get_index_format() const {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: GeomPrimitive::make_index_data
-//       Access: Protected
+//       Access: Public
 //  Description: Creates and returns a new, empty index table.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE PT(GeomVertexArrayData) GeomPrimitive::
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.h b/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.h
index 008bac417d..15639bad4a 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/geomPrimitive.h
@@ -182,7 +182,6 @@ public:
   bool release(PreparedGraphicsObjects *prepared_objects);
   int release_all();
 
-protected:
   INLINE CPT(GeomVertexArrayFormat) get_index_format() const;
   INLINE PT(GeomVertexArrayData) make_index_data() const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.I b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.I
index 7804d8d2e9..947efbd278 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.I
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.I
@@ -165,6 +165,36 @@ get_num_threads() {
   return _thread_mgr->get_num_threads();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::get_num_pending_reads
+//       Access: Published, Static
+//  Description: Returns the number of read requests that are waiting
+//               to be serviced by a thread.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE int VertexDataPage::
+get_num_pending_reads() {
+  MutexHolder holder(_tlock);
+  if (_thread_mgr == (PageThreadManager *)NULL) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return _thread_mgr->get_num_pending_reads();
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::get_num_pending_writes
+//       Access: Published, Static
+//  Description: Returns the number of write requests that are waiting
+//               to be serviced by a thread.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE int VertexDataPage::
+get_num_pending_writes() {
+  MutexHolder holder(_tlock);
+  if (_thread_mgr == (PageThreadManager *)NULL) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  return _thread_mgr->get_num_pending_writes();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: VertexDataPage::get_page_data
 //       Access: Public
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.cxx
index d3fb0d3355..d88c2cbd85 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.cxx
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ VertexDataPage::
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: VertexDataPage::stop_threads
 //       Access: Published, Static
-//  Description: Call this to stop the paging thread, if it was
-//               started.  This may block until all of the thread's
-//               pending tasks have been completed.
+//  Description: Call this to stop the paging threads, if they were
+//               started.  This may block until all of the pending
+//               tasks have been completed.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void VertexDataPage::
 stop_threads() {
@@ -174,6 +174,32 @@ stop_threads() {
   }
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::flush_threads
+//       Access: Published, Static
+//  Description: Waits for all of the pending thread tasks to finish
+//               before returning.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void VertexDataPage::
+flush_threads() {
+  int num_threads = vertex_data_page_threads;
+  if (num_threads == 0) {
+    stop_threads();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  PT(PageThreadManager) thread_mgr;
+  {
+    MutexHolder holder(_tlock);
+    thread_mgr = _thread_mgr;
+  }
+
+  if (thread_mgr != (PageThreadManager *)NULL) {
+    thread_mgr->stop_threads();
+    thread_mgr->start_threads(num_threads);
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: VertexDataPage::make_block
 //       Access: Protected, Virtual
@@ -641,14 +667,7 @@ PageThreadManager(int num_threads) :
   _shutdown(false),
   _pending_cvar(_tlock)
 {
-  _threads.reserve(num_threads);
-  for (int i = 0; i < num_threads; ++i) {
-    ostringstream name_strm;
-    name_strm << "VertexDataPage" << i;
-    PT(PageThread) thread = new PageThread(this, name_strm.str());
-    thread->start(TP_low, true);
-    _threads.push_back(thread);
-  }
+  start_threads(num_threads);
 }
  
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -749,6 +768,49 @@ get_num_threads() const {
   return (int)_threads.size();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::get_num_pending_reads
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Returns the number of read requests waiting on the
+//               queue.  Assumes _tlock is held.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+int VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::
+get_num_pending_reads() const {
+  return (int)_pending_reads.size();
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::get_num_pending_writes
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Returns the number of write requests waiting on the
+//               queue.  Assumes _tlock is held.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+int VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::
+get_num_pending_writes() const {
+  return (int)_pending_writes.size();
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::start_threads
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Adds the indicated of threads to the list of active
+//               threads.  Assumes _tlock is *not* held.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::
+start_threads(int num_threads) {
+  MutexHolder holder(_tlock);
+  _shutdown = false;
+
+  _threads.reserve(num_threads);
+  for (int i = 0; i < num_threads; ++i) {
+    ostringstream name_strm;
+    name_strm << "VertexDataPage" << _threads.size();
+    PT(PageThread) thread = new PageThread(this, name_strm.str());
+    thread->start(TP_low, true);
+    _threads.push_back(thread);
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::stop_threads
 //       Access: Public
@@ -758,14 +820,16 @@ get_num_threads() const {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void VertexDataPage::PageThreadManager::
 stop_threads() {
+  PageThreads threads;
   {
     MutexHolder holder(_tlock);
     _shutdown = true;
     _pending_cvar.signal_all();
+    threads.swap(_threads);
   }
 
   PageThreads::iterator ti;
-  for (ti = _threads.begin(); ti != _threads.end(); ++ti) {
+  for (ti = threads.begin(); ti != threads.end(); ++ti) {
     PageThread *thread = (*ti);
     thread->join();
   }
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.h b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.h
index ee23458797..7ed23a7518 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/vertexDataPage.h
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE bool save_to_disk();
 
   INLINE static int get_num_threads();
+  INLINE static int get_num_pending_reads();
+  INLINE static int get_num_pending_writes();
   static void stop_threads();
+  static void flush_threads();
 
 public:
   INLINE unsigned char *get_page_data(bool force);
@@ -132,6 +135,9 @@ private:
     void add_page(VertexDataPage *page, RamClass ram_class);
     void remove_page(VertexDataPage *page);
     int get_num_threads() const;
+    int get_num_pending_reads() const;
+    int get_num_pending_writes() const;
+    void start_threads(int num_threads);
     void stop_threads();
 
   private: