diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.cxx
index d5829461c6..70e5154d51 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.cxx
@@ -101,6 +101,41 @@ issue(GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg) const {
   gsg->issue_color_scale(this);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ColorScaleAttrib::lower_attrib_can_override
+//       Access: Public, Virtual
+//  Description: Intended to be overridden by derived RenderAttrib
+//               types to specify how two consecutive RenderAttrib
+//               objects of the same type interact.
+//
+//               This should return false if a RenderAttrib on a
+//               higher node will compose into a RenderAttrib on a
+//               lower node that has a higher override value, or false
+//               if the lower RenderAttrib will completely replace the
+//               state.
+//
+//               The default behavior is false: normally, a
+//               RenderAttrib in the graph cannot completely override
+//               a RenderAttrib above it, regardless of its override
+//               value--instead, the two attribs are composed.  But
+//               for some kinds of RenderAttribs, it is useful to
+//               allow this kind of override.
+//
+//               This method only handles the one special case of a
+//               lower RenderAttrib with a higher override value.  If
+//               the higher RenderAttrib has a higher override value,
+//               it always completely overrides.  And if both
+//               RenderAttribs have the same override value, they are
+//               always composed.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool ColorScaleAttrib::
+lower_attrib_can_override() const {
+  // A ColorScaleAttrib doesn't compose through an override.  This
+  // allows us to meaningfully set an override on a lower node, which
+  // prevents any color scales from coming in from above.
+  return true;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ColorScaleAttrib::output
 //       Access: Public, Virtual
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.h b/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.h
index b86e22ae4d..24bc9e3c56 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.h
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/colorScaleAttrib.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
 public:
   virtual void issue(GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg) const;
+  virtual bool lower_attrib_can_override() const;
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
 protected:
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.cxx
index ff08b43d56..630f9d5ca6 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.cxx
@@ -105,6 +105,38 @@ void RenderAttrib::
 issue(GraphicsStateGuardianBase *) const {
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: RenderAttrib::lower_attrib_can_override
+//       Access: Public, Virtual
+//  Description: Intended to be overridden by derived RenderAttrib
+//               types to specify how two consecutive RenderAttrib
+//               objects of the same type interact.
+//
+//               This should return false if a RenderAttrib on a
+//               higher node will compose into a RenderAttrib on a
+//               lower node that has a higher override value, or false
+//               if the lower RenderAttrib will completely replace the
+//               state.
+//
+//               The default behavior is false: normally, a
+//               RenderAttrib in the graph cannot completely override
+//               a RenderAttrib above it, regardless of its override
+//               value--instead, the two attribs are composed.  But
+//               for some kinds of RenderAttribs, it is useful to
+//               allow this kind of override.
+//
+//               This method only handles the one special case of a
+//               lower RenderAttrib with a higher override value.  If
+//               the higher RenderAttrib has a higher override value,
+//               it always completely overrides.  And if both
+//               RenderAttribs have the same override value, they are
+//               always composed.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool RenderAttrib::
+lower_attrib_can_override() const {
+  return false;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: RenderAttrib::output
 //       Access: Published, Virtual
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.h b/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.h
index c4781086b7..9f8712c53d 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.h
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/renderAttrib.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public:
   INLINE CPT(RenderAttrib) invert_compose(const RenderAttrib *other) const;
   INLINE CPT(RenderAttrib) make_default() const;
   virtual void issue(GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg) const;
+  virtual bool lower_attrib_can_override() const;
 
   INLINE bool always_reissue() const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/renderState.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/renderState.cxx
index 92759e9583..f6d20db9ff 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/renderState.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/renderState.cxx
@@ -1190,9 +1190,19 @@ do_compose(const RenderState *other) const {
       const Attribute &a = (*ai);
       const Attribute &b = (*bi);
       if (b._override < a._override) {
-        // A overrides.
+        // A, the higher RenderAttrib, overrides.
         *result = *ai;
 
+      } else if (a._override < b._override && 
+                 a._attrib->lower_attrib_can_override()) {
+        // B, the lower RenderAttrib, overrides.  This is a special
+        // case; normally, a lower RenderAttrib does not override a
+        // higher one, even if it has a higher override value.  But
+        // certain kinds of RenderAttribs redefine
+        // lower_attrib_can_override() to return true, allowing this
+        // override.
+        *result = *bi;
+
       } else {
         // Either they have the same override value, or B is higher.
         // In either case, the result is the composition of the two,