diff --git a/panda/src/sgmanip/nodePath.cxx b/panda/src/sgmanip/nodePath.cxx
index b641cb72f3..9cf80bdd6e 100644
--- a/panda/src/sgmanip/nodePath.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/sgmanip/nodePath.cxx
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@
 
 #include "plist.h"
 
-int NodePath::_max_search_depth = 10000;
+// stack seems to overflow on Intel C++ at 8000.  If we need more than 
+// 7500, need to increase stack size.
+int NodePath::_max_search_depth = 7500; 
 TypeHandle NodePath::_type_handle;
 
-
 // This class is used in prepare_scene() to traverse the scene graph
 // and register textures and geoms with the gsg.
 class ScenePrepareVisitor : public TraverserVisitor<NodeTransitionWrapper, NullLevelState> {