diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/internalName.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/internalName.cxx
index 703b12dc9e..8ee046338f 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/internalName.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/internalName.cxx
@@ -154,6 +154,25 @@ get_name() const {
   }
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: InternalName::join
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Like get_name, but uses a custom separator instead
+//               of ".".
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+string InternalName::
+join(const string &sep) const {
+  if (_parent == get_root()) {
+    return _basename;
+
+  } else if (_parent == (InternalName *)NULL) {
+    return string();
+
+  } else {
+    return _parent->join(sep) + sep + _basename;
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: InternalName::find_ancestor
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/internalName.h b/panda/src/gobj/internalName.h
index 88ad2fdda4..7c3c42e259 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/internalName.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/internalName.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE InternalName *get_parent() const;
   string get_name() const;
+  string join(const string &sep) const;
   INLINE const string &get_basename() const;
 
   int find_ancestor(const string &basename) const;