diff --git a/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx b/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
index f336b057f8..e8e4912d06 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
@@ -196,14 +196,6 @@ ConfigVariableString red_blue_stereo_colors
           "be a two-word string, where each word is one of 'red', 'blue', "
           "'green', or 'alpha'."));
 
-ConfigVariableBool auto_generate_mipmaps
-("auto-generate-mipmaps", false,
- PRC_DESC("Set this true to use the hardware to generate mipmaps "
-          "automatically in all cases, if supported.  Set it false "
-          "to generate mipmaps in software when possible.  This is "
-          "false by default because some drivers (Intel) seem to do a "
-          "poor job of generating mipmaps when needed."));
-
 ConfigVariableBool color_scale_via_lighting
 ("color-scale-via-lighting", true,
  PRC_DESC("When this is true, Panda will try to implement ColorAttribs and "
diff --git a/panda/src/display/config_display.h b/panda/src/display/config_display.h
index 27e6b219a1..81e8cc6756 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/config_display.h
+++ b/panda/src/display/config_display.h
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool copy_texture_inverted;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool window_inverted;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool red_blue_stereo;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableString red_blue_stereo_colors;
-extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool auto_generate_mipmaps;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool color_scale_via_lighting;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool alpha_scale_via_texture;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool allow_incomplete_render;
diff --git a/panda/src/egg2pg/eggLoader.cxx b/panda/src/egg2pg/eggLoader.cxx
index 05a31fa566..111ce54fc3 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg2pg/eggLoader.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/egg2pg/eggLoader.cxx
@@ -934,6 +934,21 @@ load_texture(TextureDef &def, EggTexture *egg_tex) {
     options.set_texture_flags(options.get_texture_flags() | LoaderOptions::TF_preload_simple);
   }
 
+  if (!egg_ignore_filters && !egg_ignore_mipmaps) {
+    switch (egg_tex->get_minfilter()) {
+    case EggTexture::FT_nearest:
+    case EggTexture::FT_linear:
+    case EggTexture::FT_unspecified:
+      break;
+      
+    case EggTexture::FT_nearest_mipmap_nearest:
+    case EggTexture::FT_linear_mipmap_nearest:
+    case EggTexture::FT_nearest_mipmap_linear:
+    case EggTexture::FT_linear_mipmap_linear:
+      options.set_texture_flags(options.get_texture_flags() | LoaderOptions::TF_generate_mipmaps);
+    }
+  }
+
   PT(Texture) tex;
   switch (egg_tex->get_texture_type()) {
   case EggTexture::TT_unspecified:
diff --git a/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx b/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
index 58facda9f3..636b0fe984 100644
--- a/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
@@ -660,11 +660,6 @@ reset() {
   _supports_generate_mipmap =
     has_extension("GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap") || is_at_least_version(1, 4);
 
-  // Temporary hack.  There is an issue with auto-generating mipmaps
-  // for pre-compressed images, on certain drivers.  Until I check in
-  // a fix, let's turn off this feature in general.
-  _supports_generate_mipmap = false;
-
   _supports_multitexture = false;
 
   _supports_mesa_6 = false;
@@ -7278,9 +7273,12 @@ upload_texture_image(CLP(TextureContext) *gtc,
 
       if (num_ram_mipmap_levels == 1) {
         // No RAM mipmap levels available.  Should we generate some?
-        if (!_supports_generate_mipmap ||
-            (!auto_generate_mipmaps && image_compression == Texture::CM_off)) {
-          // Yes, the GL won't generate them, so we need to.
+        if (!_supports_generate_mipmap || !driver_generate_mipmaps || 
+            image_compression != Texture::CM_off) {
+          // Yes, the GL can't or won't generate them, so we need to.
+          // Note that some drivers (nVidia) will *corrupt memory* if
+          // you ask them to generate mipmaps for a pre-compressed
+          // texture.
           tex->generate_ram_mipmap_images();
           num_ram_mipmap_levels = tex->get_num_ram_mipmap_images();
         }
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.cxx
index dbc0092ba6..93fb99db73 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.cxx
@@ -125,6 +125,15 @@ ConfigVariableBool driver_compress_textures
           "and will always be handed to the graphics driver, regardless "
           "of this setting."));
 
+ConfigVariableBool driver_generate_mipmaps
+("driver-generate-mipmaps", false,
+ PRC_DESC("Set this true to use the hardware to generate mipmaps "
+          "automatically in all cases, if supported.  Set it false "
+          "to generate mipmaps in software when possible.  This is "
+          "false by default because some drivers (Intel) seem to do a "
+          "poor job of generating mipmaps when needed; also, generating "
+          "mipmaps in software may allow smoother texture loads."));
+
 ConfigVariableBool vertex_buffers
 ("vertex-buffers", true,
  PRC_DESC("Set this true to allow the use of vertex buffers (or buffer "
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.h b/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.h
index 9539973941..93fce7a909 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/config_gobj.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableList exclude_texture_scale;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool keep_texture_ram;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool compressed_textures;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool driver_compress_textures;
+extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool driver_generate_mipmaps;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool vertex_buffers;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool vertex_arrays;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_GOBJ ConfigVariableBool display_lists;
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/texture.I b/panda/src/gobj/texture.I
index ab10e1db46..0530410a6c 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/texture.I
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/texture.I
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ load(const PNMImage &pnmimage, const LoaderOptions &options) {
   ++_properties_modified;
   ++_image_modified;
   if (do_load_one(pnmimage, get_name(), 0, 0, options)) {
-    consider_auto_compress_ram_image();
+    bool generate_mipmaps = ((options.get_texture_flags() & LoaderOptions::TF_generate_mipmaps) != 0);
+    consider_auto_process_ram_image(generate_mipmaps || uses_mipmaps(), true);
     return true;
   }
   return false;
@@ -272,7 +273,6 @@ load(const PNMImage &pnmimage, int z, int n, const LoaderOptions &options) {
   ++_properties_modified;
   ++_image_modified;
   if (do_load_one(pnmimage, get_name(), z, n, options)) {
-    consider_auto_compress_ram_image();
     return true;
   }
   return false;
@@ -1296,6 +1296,19 @@ has_ram_mipmap_image(int n) const {
   return do_has_ram_mipmap_image(n);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Texture::has_all_ram_mipmap_images
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns true if all expected mipmap levels have been
+//               defined and exist in the system RAM, or false if even
+//               one mipmap level is missing.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE bool Texture::
+has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const {
+  MutexHolder holder(_lock);
+  return do_has_all_ram_mipmap_images();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::get_ram_mipmap_image_size
 //       Access: Published
@@ -1403,6 +1416,26 @@ clear_ram_mipmap_images() {
   do_clear_ram_mipmap_images();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Texture::generate_ram_mipmap_images
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Automatically fills in the n mipmap levels of the
+//               Texture, based on the texture's source image.  This
+//               requires the texture's uncompressed ram image to be
+//               available in system memory.  If it is not already, it
+//               will be fetched if possible.
+//
+//               This call is not normally necessary, since the mipmap
+//               levels will be generated automatically if needed.
+//               But there may be certain cases in which you would
+//               like to call this explicitly.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void Texture::
+generate_ram_mipmap_images() {
+  MutexHolder holder(_lock);
+  do_generate_ram_mipmap_images();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::get_simple_x_size
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/texture.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/texture.cxx
index 51cac8dded..e2512fb22c 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/texture.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/texture.cxx
@@ -859,42 +859,6 @@ get_num_loadable_ram_mipmap_images() const {
   return n;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Texture::has_all_ram_mipmap_images
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Returns true if all expected mipmap levels have been
-//               defined and exist in the system RAM, or false if even
-//               one mipmap level is missing.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-bool Texture::
-has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const {
-  MutexHolder holder(_lock);
-  if (_ram_images.empty() || _ram_images[0]._image.empty()) {
-    // If we don't even have a base image, the answer is no.
-    return false;
-  }
-  if (!is_mipmap(_minfilter)) {
-    // If we have a base image and don't require mipmapping, the
-    // answer is yes.
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  // Check that we have enough mipmap levels to meet the size
-  // requirements.
-  int size = max(_x_size, max(_y_size, _z_size));
-  int n = 0;
-  int x = 1;
-  while (x < size) {
-    x = (x << 1);
-    ++n;
-    if (n >= (int)_ram_images.size() || _ram_images[n]._image.empty()) {
-      return false;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return true;
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::get_ram_mipmap_image
 //       Access: Published
@@ -959,67 +923,6 @@ clear_ram_mipmap_image(int n) {
   _ram_images[n]._page_size = 0;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Texture::generate_ram_mipmap_images
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Automatically fills in the n mipmap levels of the
-//               Texture, based on the texture's source image.  This
-//               requires the texture's uncompressed ram image to be
-//               available in system memory.  If it is not already, it
-//               will be fetched if possible.
-//
-//               This call is not normally necessary, since the mipmap
-//               levels will be generated automatically if needed.
-//               But there may be certain cases in which you would
-//               like to call this explicitly.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void Texture::
-generate_ram_mipmap_images() {
-  MutexHolder holder(_lock);
-
-  do_get_uncompressed_ram_image();
-  nassertv(do_has_ram_image());
-  nassertv(_ram_image_compression == CM_off);
-  nassertv(_component_type != T_float);
-  do_clear_ram_mipmap_images();
-
-  if (gobj_cat.is_debug()) {
-    gobj_cat.debug()
-      << "Generating mipmap levels for " << *this << "\n";
-  }
-
-  if (_texture_type == Texture::TT_3d_texture && _z_size != 1) {
-    // Eek, a 3-D texture.
-    int x_size = _x_size;
-    int y_size = _y_size;
-    int z_size = _z_size;
-    int n = 0;
-    while (x_size > 1 || y_size > 1 || z_size > 1) {
-      _ram_images.push_back(RamImage());
-      filter_3d_mipmap_level(_ram_images[n + 1], _ram_images[n],
-                             x_size, y_size, z_size);
-      x_size = max(x_size >> 1, 1);
-      y_size = max(y_size >> 1, 1);
-      z_size = max(z_size >> 1, 1);
-      ++n;
-    }
-
-  } else {
-    // A 1-D, 2-D, or cube map texture.
-    int x_size = _x_size;
-    int y_size = _y_size;
-    int n = 0;
-    while (x_size > 1 || y_size > 1) {
-      _ram_images.push_back(RamImage());
-      filter_2d_mipmap_pages(_ram_images[n + 1], _ram_images[n],
-                             x_size, y_size);
-      x_size = max(x_size >> 1, 1);
-      y_size = max(y_size >> 1, 1);
-      ++n;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::modify_simple_ram_image
 //       Access: Published
@@ -2097,8 +2000,9 @@ do_read(const Filename &fullpath, const Filename &alpha_fullpath,
   } else {
     if ((options.get_texture_flags() & LoaderOptions::TF_preload) != 0) {
       // If we intend to keep the ram image around, consider
-      // compressing it.
-      consider_auto_compress_ram_image();
+      // compressing it etc.
+      bool generate_mipmaps = ((options.get_texture_flags() & LoaderOptions::TF_generate_mipmaps) != 0);
+      consider_auto_process_ram_image(generate_mipmaps || uses_mipmaps(), true);
     }
   }
 
@@ -3029,8 +2933,11 @@ do_reload_ram_image(bool allow_compression) {
           _ram_images = tex->_ram_images;
           _loaded_from_image = true;
 
-          if (allow_compression && consider_auto_compress_ram_image()) {
-            if (cache->get_cache_compressed_textures()) {
+          bool was_compressed = (_ram_image_compression != CM_off);
+          if (consider_auto_process_ram_image(uses_mipmaps(), allow_compression)) {
+            bool is_compressed = (_ram_image_compression != CM_off);
+            if (!was_compressed && is_compressed &&
+                cache->get_cache_compressed_textures()) {
               // We've re-compressed the image after loading it from the
               // cache.  To keep the cache current, rewrite it to the
               // cache now, in its newly compressed form.
@@ -3153,38 +3060,44 @@ do_make_ram_mipmap_image(int n) {
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Texture::consider_auto_compress_ram_image
+//     Function: Texture::consider_auto_process_ram_image
 //       Access: Protected
 //  Description: Should be called after a texture has been loaded into
-//               RAM, this considers compressing the RAM image, if
-//               cpu-compress-textures has been set and the default
-//               GSG has been set and supports it.
-
+//               RAM, this considers generating mipmaps and/or
+//               compressing the RAM image.
+//
 //               Returns true if the image was modified by this
 //               operation, false if it wasn't.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 bool Texture::
-consider_auto_compress_ram_image() {
-  if (!driver_compress_textures) {
+consider_auto_process_ram_image(bool generate_mipmaps, bool allow_compression) {
+  bool modified = false;
+
+  if (generate_mipmaps && !driver_generate_mipmaps && 
+      _ram_images.size() == 1) {
+    do_generate_ram_mipmap_images();
+    modified = true;
+  }
+
+  if (allow_compression && !driver_compress_textures) {
     CompressionMode compression = _compression;
-    if (compression == CM_default) {
-      if (!compressed_textures) {
-        return false;
-      }
+    if (compression == CM_default && compressed_textures) {
       compression = CM_on;
     }
     if (compression != CM_off && _ram_image_compression == CM_off) {
       GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg = GraphicsStateGuardianBase::get_default_gsg();
       if (do_compress_ram_image(compression, QL_default, gsg)) {
-        gobj_cat.info()
-          << "Compressed " << get_name() << " with " 
-          << _ram_image_compression << "\n";
-        return true;
+        if (gobj_cat.is_debug()) {
+          gobj_cat.debug()
+            << "Compressed " << get_name() << " with " 
+            << _ram_image_compression << "\n";
+        }
+        modified = true;
       }
     }
   }
 
-  return false;
+  return modified;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -3324,6 +3237,39 @@ do_uncompress_ram_image() {
   return false;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Texture::do_has_all_ram_mipmap_images
+//       Access: Protected
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool Texture::
+do_has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const {
+  if (_ram_images.empty() || _ram_images[0]._image.empty()) {
+    // If we don't even have a base image, the answer is no.
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (!is_mipmap(_minfilter)) {
+    // If we have a base image and don't require mipmapping, the
+    // answer is yes.
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // Check that we have enough mipmap levels to meet the size
+  // requirements.
+  int size = max(_x_size, max(_y_size, _z_size));
+  int n = 0;
+  int x = 1;
+  while (x < size) {
+    x = (x << 1);
+    ++n;
+    if (n >= (int)_ram_images.size() || _ram_images[n]._image.empty()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::do_reconsider_z_size
 //       Access: Protected
@@ -3866,8 +3812,10 @@ do_get_uncompressed_ram_image() {
     // We have an image in-ram, but it's compressed.  Try to
     // uncompress it first.
     if (do_uncompress_ram_image()) {
-      gobj_cat.info()
-        << "Uncompressed " << get_name() << "\n";
+      if (gobj_cat.is_debug()) {
+        gobj_cat.debug()
+          << "Uncompressed " << get_name() << "\n";
+      }
       return _ram_images[0]._image;
     }
   }
@@ -4172,6 +4120,103 @@ do_clear_ram_mipmap_images() {
   }
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Texture::do_generate_ram_mipmap_images
+//       Access: Protected
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void Texture::
+do_generate_ram_mipmap_images() {
+  nassertv(do_has_ram_image());
+  nassertv(_component_type != T_float);
+  if (do_get_expected_num_mipmap_levels() == 1) {
+    // Don't bother.
+    return;
+  }
+
+  RamImage orig_compressed_image;
+  CompressionMode orig_compression_mode = CM_off;
+
+  if (_ram_image_compression != CM_off) {
+    // The RAM image is compressed.  This means we need to uncompress
+    // it in order to generate mipmap images.  Save the original
+    // first, to avoid lossy recompression.
+    orig_compressed_image = _ram_images[0];
+    orig_compression_mode = _ram_image_compression;
+
+    // Now try to get the uncompressed source image.
+    do_get_uncompressed_ram_image();
+
+    nassertv(_ram_image_compression == CM_off);
+  }
+
+  do_clear_ram_mipmap_images();
+
+  if (gobj_cat.is_debug()) {
+    gobj_cat.debug()
+      << "Generating mipmap levels for " << *this << "\n";
+  }
+
+  if (_texture_type == Texture::TT_3d_texture && _z_size != 1) {
+    // Eek, a 3-D texture.
+    int x_size = _x_size;
+    int y_size = _y_size;
+    int z_size = _z_size;
+    int n = 0;
+    while (x_size > 1 || y_size > 1 || z_size > 1) {
+      _ram_images.push_back(RamImage());
+      filter_3d_mipmap_level(_ram_images[n + 1], _ram_images[n],
+                             x_size, y_size, z_size);
+      x_size = max(x_size >> 1, 1);
+      y_size = max(y_size >> 1, 1);
+      z_size = max(z_size >> 1, 1);
+      ++n;
+    }
+
+  } else {
+    // A 1-D, 2-D, or cube map texture.
+    int x_size = _x_size;
+    int y_size = _y_size;
+    int n = 0;
+    while (x_size > 1 || y_size > 1) {
+      _ram_images.push_back(RamImage());
+      filter_2d_mipmap_pages(_ram_images[n + 1], _ram_images[n],
+                             x_size, y_size);
+      x_size = max(x_size >> 1, 1);
+      y_size = max(y_size >> 1, 1);
+      ++n;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (orig_compression_mode != CM_off) {
+    // Now attempt to recompress the mipmap images according to the
+    // original compression mode.  We don't need to bother compressing
+    // the first image (it was already compressed, after all), so
+    // temporarily remove it from the top of the mipmap stack, and
+    // compress all of the rest of them instead.
+    nassertv(_ram_images.size() > 1);
+    int l0_x_size = _x_size;
+    int l0_y_size = _y_size;
+    int l0_z_size = _z_size;
+    _x_size = do_get_expected_mipmap_x_size(1);
+    _y_size = do_get_expected_mipmap_y_size(1);
+    _z_size = do_get_expected_mipmap_z_size(1);
+    RamImage uncompressed_image = _ram_images[0];
+    _ram_images.erase(_ram_images.begin());
+
+    bool success = do_compress_ram_image(orig_compression_mode, QL_default, NULL);
+    // Now restore the toplevel image.
+    if (success) {
+      _ram_images.insert(_ram_images.begin(), orig_compressed_image);
+    } else {
+      _ram_images.insert(_ram_images.begin(), uncompressed_image);
+    }
+    _x_size = l0_x_size;
+    _y_size = l0_y_size;
+    _z_size = l0_z_size;
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Texture::do_set_pad_size
 //       Access: Protected
@@ -5328,6 +5373,13 @@ do_squish(Texture::CompressionMode compression, int squish_flags) {
   if (_ram_images.empty()) {
     return false;
   }
+
+  if (!do_has_all_ram_mipmap_images()) {
+    // If we're about to compress the RAM image, we should ensure that
+    // we have all of the mipmap levels first.
+    do_generate_ram_mipmap_images();
+  }
+
   RamImages compressed_ram_images;
   compressed_ram_images.reserve(_ram_images.size());
   for (size_t n = 0; n < _ram_images.size(); ++n) {
@@ -5562,28 +5614,31 @@ make_from_bam(const FactoryParams &params) {
         }
       }
 
+      LoaderOptions options = manager->get_loader_options();
+      if (false) {  // temporary hack standin
+        options.set_texture_flags(options.get_texture_flags() | LoaderOptions::TF_generate_mipmaps);
+      }
+
       switch (texture_type) {
       case TT_1d_texture:
       case TT_2d_texture:
         if (alpha_filename.empty()) {
           me = TexturePool::load_texture(filename, primary_file_num_channels,
-                                         false, manager->get_loader_options());
+                                         false, options);
         } else {
           me = TexturePool::load_texture(filename, alpha_filename,
                                          primary_file_num_channels, 
                                          alpha_file_channel,
-                                         false, manager->get_loader_options());
+                                         false, options);
         }
         break;
 
       case TT_3d_texture:
-        me = TexturePool::load_3d_texture(filename, false, 
-                                          manager->get_loader_options());
+        me = TexturePool::load_3d_texture(filename, false, options);
         break;
 
       case TT_cube_map:
-        me = TexturePool::load_cube_map(filename, false, 
-                                        manager->get_loader_options());
+        me = TexturePool::load_cube_map(filename, false, options);
         break;
       }
     }
@@ -5822,7 +5877,7 @@ write_datagram(BamWriter *manager, Datagram &me) {
   me.add_string(alpha_filename);
   me.add_uint8(_primary_file_num_channels);
   me.add_uint8(_alpha_file_channel);
-  me.add_uint8(has_rawdata);
+  me.add_bool(has_rawdata);
   me.add_uint8(_texture_type);
 
   // The data beginning at this point is handled by fillin().
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/texture.h b/panda/src/gobj/texture.h
index 4bf9ac48e9..655c7d6d52 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/texture.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/texture.h
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE int get_num_ram_mipmap_images() const;
   INLINE bool has_ram_mipmap_image(int n) const;
   int get_num_loadable_ram_mipmap_images() const;
-  bool has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const;
+  INLINE bool has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const;
   INLINE size_t get_ram_mipmap_image_size(int n) const;
   INLINE size_t get_ram_mipmap_page_size(int n) const;
   INLINE size_t get_expected_ram_mipmap_image_size(int n) const;
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   void set_ram_mipmap_image(int n, PTA_uchar image, size_t page_size = 0);
   void clear_ram_mipmap_image(int n);
   INLINE void clear_ram_mipmap_images();
-  void generate_ram_mipmap_images();
+  INLINE void generate_ram_mipmap_images();
 
   INLINE int get_simple_x_size() const;
   INLINE int get_simple_y_size() const;
@@ -480,11 +480,13 @@ protected:
   PTA_uchar do_modify_ram_mipmap_image(int n);
   PTA_uchar do_make_ram_mipmap_image(int n);
 
-  bool consider_auto_compress_ram_image();
+  bool consider_auto_process_ram_image(bool generate_mipmaps, 
+                                       bool allow_compression);
   bool do_compress_ram_image(CompressionMode compression,
                              QualityLevel quality_level,
                              GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg);
   bool do_uncompress_ram_image();
+  bool do_has_all_ram_mipmap_images() const;
 
   bool do_reconsider_z_size(int z);
   bool do_reconsider_image_properties(int x_size, int y_size, int num_components,
@@ -533,6 +535,7 @@ protected:
   INLINE void do_clear_ram_image();
   void do_clear_simple_ram_image();
   void do_clear_ram_mipmap_images();
+  void do_generate_ram_mipmap_images();
   void do_set_pad_size(int x, int y, int z);
 
   // This nested class declaration is used below.
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/texturePool.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/texturePool.cxx
index e4c9f0c964..122070695e 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/texturePool.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/texturePool.cxx
@@ -921,14 +921,20 @@ try_load_cache(PT(Texture) &tex, BamCache *cache, const Filename &filename,
               // But drop the RAM until we need it.
               tex->clear_ram_image();
 
-            } else if (tex->consider_auto_compress_ram_image()) {
-              if (cache->get_cache_compressed_textures()) {
-                // We've re-compressed the image after loading it from the
-                // cache.  To keep the cache current, rewrite it to the
-                // cache now, in its newly compressed form.
-                record->set_data(tex, false);
-                cache->store(record);
-                compressed_cache_record = true;
+            } else {
+              bool was_compressed = (tex->get_ram_image_compression() != Texture::CM_off);
+              if (tex->consider_auto_process_ram_image(tex->uses_mipmaps(), true)) {
+                bool is_compressed = (tex->get_ram_image_compression() != Texture::CM_off);
+                if (!was_compressed && is_compressed &&
+                    cache->get_cache_compressed_textures()) {
+                  // We've re-compressed the image after loading it
+                  // from the cache.  To keep the cache current,
+                  // rewrite it to the cache now, in its newly
+                  // compressed form.
+                  record->set_data(tex, false);
+                  cache->store(record);
+                  compressed_cache_record = true;
+                }
               }
             }
             tex->set_keep_ram_image(false);
diff --git a/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.cxx b/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.cxx
index 2303c0aba1..1c5230e0fc 100644
--- a/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.cxx
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ output(ostream &out) const {
     write_flag(out, sep, "LF_no_disk_cache", LF_no_disk_cache);
     write_flag(out, sep, "LF_no_ram_cache", LF_no_ram_cache);
   }
+  write_flag(out, sep, "LF_allow_instance", LF_allow_instance);
   if (sep.empty()) {
     out << "0";
   }
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ output(ostream &out) const {
   sep = "";
   write_texture_flag(out, sep, "TF_preload", TF_preload);
   write_texture_flag(out, sep, "TF_preload_simple", TF_preload_simple);
+  write_texture_flag(out, sep, "TF_allow_1d", TF_allow_1d);
+  write_texture_flag(out, sep, "TF_generate_mipmaps", TF_generate_mipmaps);
   if (sep.empty()) {
     out << "0";
   }
diff --git a/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.h b/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.h
index f61c07bf92..c1f02f1114 100644
--- a/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.h
+++ b/panda/src/putil/loaderOptions.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
     TF_preload           = 0x0004,  // Texture will have RAM image
     TF_preload_simple    = 0x0008,  // Texture will have simple RAM image
     TF_allow_1d          = 0x0010,  // If texture is Nx1, make a 1-d texture
+    TF_generate_mipmaps  = 0x0020,  // Consider generating mipmaps
   };
 
   LoaderOptions(int flags = LF_search | LF_report_errors);