diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
index 393a6a20d9..06be76f78a 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.cxx
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ void GuiBackground::recompute_frame(void) {
   GuiItem::recompute_frame();
 }
 
+void GuiBackground::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  _bg->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+}
+
 GuiBackground::GuiBackground(const string& name, GuiItem* item)
   : GuiItem(name), _item(item) {
   _bg = GuiLabel::make_simple_card_label();
@@ -72,6 +76,12 @@ void GuiBackground::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
   recompute_frame();
 }
 
+void GuiBackground::set_priority(GuiItem* it, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  _item->set_priority(it, p);
+  it->set_priority(_bg, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(it, p);
+}
+
 void GuiBackground::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiItem::output(os);
   os << "  Background data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.h b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.h
index fd73727b12..980cb97fc7 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiBackground.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void output(ostream&) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
index 991166e02e..fa114d43a4 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.cxx
@@ -237,6 +237,21 @@ void GuiButton::recompute_frame(void) {
   _rgn->set_region(_left, _right, _bottom, _top);
 }
 
+void GuiButton::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  _up->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  _down->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  if (_up_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    _up_rollover->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:
+				   GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  if (_down_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    _down_rollover->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:
+				     GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  if (_inactive != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    _inactive->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:
+				GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(l, p);
+}
+
 void GuiButton::behavior_up(CPT_Event, void* data) {
   GuiButton* button = (GuiButton*)data;
   gui_cat->debug() << "behavior_up (0x" << data << ")" << endl;
@@ -477,6 +492,18 @@ void GuiButton::reset_behavior(void) {
   _eh->remove_hook(_up_rollover_event, GuiButton::behavior_up, (void*)this);
 }
 
+void GuiButton::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  i->set_priority(_up, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  i->set_priority(_down, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  if (_up_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    i->set_priority(_up_rollover, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  if (_down_rollover != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    i->set_priority(_down_rollover, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  if (_inactive != (GuiLabel*)0L)
+    i->set_priority(_inactive, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  GuiBehavior::set_priority(i, p);
+}
+
 void GuiButton::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiBehavior::output(os);
   os << "  Button data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.h b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.h
index e70496a8ef..be6889b6b1 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiButton.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiButton.h
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void start_behavior(void);
   virtual void stop_behavior(void);
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
index 2828f3f0e5..0373e3fbfa 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.cxx
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ void GuiChooser::ChooseFunctor::doit(GuiBehavior* b) {
 void GuiChooser::recompute_frame(void) {
 }
 
+void GuiChooser::set_priority(GuiLabel*, GuiItem::Priority) {
+}
+
 GuiChooser::GuiChooser(const string& name, GuiButton* prev, GuiButton* next)
   : GuiBehavior(name), _curr(-1), _loop(false), _prev_button(prev),
     _next_button(next), _prev_functor((GuiChooser::ChooseFunctor*)0L),
@@ -225,6 +228,13 @@ void GuiChooser::reset_behavior(void) {
     _next_button->reset_behavior();
 }
 
+void GuiChooser::set_priority(GuiItem* it, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  for (ItemVector::iterator i=_items.begin(); i!=_items.end(); ++i)
+    (*i)->set_priority(it, p);
+  _prev_button->set_priority(it, p);
+  _next_button->set_priority(it, p);
+}
+
 void GuiChooser::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiBehavior::output(os);
   os << "  Chooser data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
index 553c82f456..1e19953824 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiChooser.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void start_behavior(void);
   virtual void stop_behavior(void);
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.cxx
index 717c944644..4f787810a9 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.cxx
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@ void GuiFrame::recompute_frame(void) {
   thaw();
 }
 
+void GuiFrame::set_priority(GuiLabel*, const GuiItem::Priority) {
+}
+
 GuiFrame::GuiFrame(const string& name) : GuiItem(name), _align_to_left(false),
 					 _align_to_right(false),
 					 _align_to_top(false),
@@ -343,6 +346,15 @@ void GuiFrame::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
   //  this->recompute_frame();
 }
 
+void GuiFrame::set_priority(GuiItem* it, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  Boxes::iterator i;
+
+  for (i=_items.begin(); i!=_items.end(); ++i) {
+    GuiItem* here = (*i).get_item();
+    here->set_priority(it, p);
+  }
+}
+
 void GuiFrame::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiItem::output(os);
   os << "  Frame data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.h b/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.h
index 0ee70f404a..321f16a3cb 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiFrame.h
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void output(ostream&) const;
 public:
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.I b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.I
index 215b7b6ede..82a819f360 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.I
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.I
@@ -6,23 +6,6 @@
 INLINE GuiItem::GuiItem(void) : Namable("fubar"), _left(-1.), _right(1.),
 				_bottom(-1.), _top(1.), _pri(P_Normal) {}
 
-INLINE void GuiItem::set_priority(const GuiItem::Priority p) {
-  _pri = p;
-  float r = _pos.dot(LVector3f::rfu(1., 0., 0.));
-  float u = _pos.dot(LVector3f::rfu(0., 0., 1.));
-  switch (_pri) {
-  case P_Low:
-    this->set_pos(LVector3f::rfu(r, 0.5, u));
-    break;
-  case P_Normal:
-    this->set_pos(LVector3f::rfu(r, 0., u));
-    break;
-  case P_High:
-    this->set_pos(LVector3f::rfu(r, -0.5, u));
-    break;
-  }
-}
-
 INLINE float GuiItem::get_scale(void) const {
   return _scale;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.cxx
index 4f01c0f40e..0b71cbbda2 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.cxx
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ void GuiItem::recompute_frame(void) {
   test_ref_count_integrity();
 }
 
+void GuiItem::set_priority(GuiLabel*, const GuiItem::Priority) {
+}
+
 GuiItem::GuiItem(const string& name) : Namable(name), _added_hooks(false),
 				       _scale(1.), _left(-1.), _right(1.),
 				       _bottom(-1.), _top(1.),
@@ -51,6 +54,11 @@ void GuiItem::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
   _pos = p;
 }
 
+void GuiItem::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  if (_mgr != (GuiManager*)0L)
+    _mgr->recompute_priorities();
+}
+
 void GuiItem::output(ostream& os) const {
   os << "GuiItem (0x" << (void*)this << ")" << endl;
   os << "  name - '" << get_name() << "'" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
index 13fd7c8339..db6f622f65 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiItem.h
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float) = 0;
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&) = 0;
-  INLINE void set_priority(const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority) = 0;
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority) = 0;
 
   INLINE float get_scale(void) const;
   INLINE LVector3f get_pos(void) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
index 5f0dd97204..1a32038e6f 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.I
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ INLINE GuiLabel::GuiLabel(void) : _type(GuiLabel::NONE),
 				  _background(0., 0., 0., 0.),
 				  _have_width(false), _width(0.),
 				  _have_height(false), _height(0.),
-				  _depth(0.) {
+				  _depth(0.), _hard_pri(0) {
 }
 
 INLINE Node* GuiLabel::get_geometry(void) const {
@@ -106,3 +106,7 @@ INLINE Colorf GuiLabel::get_background_color(void) const {
 INLINE void GuiLabel::recompute(void) {
   this->recompute_transform();
 }
+
+INLINE void GuiLabel::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const PriorityType t) {
+  this->_priorities[l] = t;
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
index f4948d0527..38d3978028 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.cxx
@@ -372,3 +372,15 @@ void GuiLabel::set_text(const string& val) {
   }
   recompute();
 }
+
+bool GuiLabel::operator<(const GuiLabel& c) const {
+  PriorityMap::const_iterator pi;
+  pi = _priorities.find((GuiLabel*)(&c));
+  if (pi != _priorities.end()) {
+    if ((*pi).second == P_LOWER)
+      return true;
+    else
+      return false;
+  }
+  return ((void*)this) < ((void*)&c);
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
index a6a2186608..d54eceeafb 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiLabel.h
@@ -21,8 +21,12 @@
 class GuiManager;
 
 class EXPCL_PANDA GuiLabel : public TypedReferenceCount {
+PUBLISHED:
+  enum PriorityType { P_NONE, P_LOWER, P_HIGHER };
 private:
+  typedef map<GuiLabel*, PriorityType> PriorityMap;
   enum LabelType { NONE, SIMPLE_TEXTURE, SIMPLE_TEXT, SIMPLE_CARD };
+
   LabelType _type;
   PT_Node _geom;
   RenderRelation* _arc;
@@ -41,6 +45,9 @@ private:
   float _height;
   float _depth;
 
+  PriorityMap _priorities;
+  int _hard_pri;
+
   INLINE Node* get_geometry(void) const;
   INLINE void set_arc(RenderRelation*);
   INLINE RenderRelation* get_arc(void) const;
@@ -90,6 +97,10 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE void recompute(void);
 
+  // used for the priority system
+  bool operator<(const GuiLabel&) const;
+  INLINE void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const PriorityType);
+
 public:
   // type interface
   static TypeHandle get_class_type(void) {
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.cxx
index 839c278f3a..ed58bdd1ff 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.cxx
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ void GuiListBox::visible_patching(void) {
     this->reset_behavior();
 }
 
+void GuiListBox::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+}
+
 GuiListBox::GuiListBox(const string& name, int N, GuiItem* up, GuiItem* down)
   : GuiBehavior(name), _arrow_top(false), _arrow_bottom(false), _up_arrow(up),
     _down_arrow(down), _n_visible(N),
@@ -430,6 +433,35 @@ void GuiListBox::reset_behavior(void) {
   }
 }
 
+void GuiListBox::set_priority(GuiItem* it, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  ItemVector::iterator i;
+  ItemDeque::iterator j;
+
+  for (i=_top_stack.begin(); i!=_top_stack.end(); ++i) {
+    if (*i == _up_arrow)
+      continue;
+    if (*i == _down_arrow)
+      continue;
+    (*i)->set_priority(it, p);
+  }
+  for (i=_visible.begin(); i!=_visible.end(); ++i) {
+    if (*i == _up_arrow)
+      continue;
+    if (*i == _down_arrow)
+      continue;
+    (*i)->set_priority(it, p);
+  }
+  for (j=_bottom_stack.begin(); j!=_bottom_stack.end(); ++j) {
+    if (*j == _up_arrow)
+      continue;
+    if (*j == _down_arrow)
+      continue;
+    (*j)->set_priority(it, p);
+  }
+  _up_arrow->set_priority(it, p);
+  _down_arrow->set_priority(it, p);
+}
+
 void GuiListBox::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiBehavior::output(os);
   os << "  Listbox data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.h b/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.h
index 9694343754..e6e8aa6711 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiListBox.h
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void start_behavior(void);
   virtual void stop_behavior(void);
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
index 7010c83e7f..30373fee38 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.cxx
@@ -176,3 +176,16 @@ void GuiManager::remove_label(GuiLabel* label) {
     _labels.erase(li);
   }
 }
+
+#include <geomBinTransition.h>
+
+void GuiManager::recompute_priorities(void) {
+  _sorts.clear();
+  for (LabelSet::iterator i=_labels.begin(); i!=_labels.end(); ++i)
+    _sorts.insert(*i);
+  int p=0;
+  for (SortSet::iterator j=_sorts.begin(); j!=_sorts.end(); ++j, ++p) {
+    (*j)->_hard_pri = p;
+    (*j)->get_arc()->set_transition(new GeomBinTransition("fixed", p));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
index 005b46bfd6..fa68b10035 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiManager.h
@@ -25,12 +25,19 @@ private:
   RegionSet _regions;
   typedef set<GuiLabel*> LabelSet;
   LabelSet _labels;
+  class SortComp {
+  public:
+    inline bool operator()(GuiLabel* a, GuiLabel* b) const {
+      return (*a) < (*b);
+    }
+  };
+  typedef set<GuiLabel*, SortComp> SortSet;
+  SortSet _sorts;
 
   Node* _root;
   MouseWatcher* _watcher;
 
   INLINE GuiManager(MouseWatcher*, Node*);
-
 PUBLISHED:
   static GuiManager* get_ptr(GraphicsWindow*, MouseAndKeyboard*, Node *root2d);
 
@@ -39,6 +46,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   void remove_region(GuiRegion*);
   void remove_label(GuiLabel*);
+
+  void recompute_priorities(void);
 };
 
 #include "guiManager.I"
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
index be04a733d8..b5bbd6fcfd 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.cxx
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ void GuiRollover::recompute_frame(void) {
   _rgn->set_region(_left, _right, _bottom, _top);
 }
 
+void GuiRollover::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  _off->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  _on->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(l, p);
+}
+
 GuiRollover::GuiRollover(const string& name, GuiLabel* off, GuiLabel* on)
   : GuiItem(name), _off(off), _on(on), _off_scale(off->get_scale()),
     _on_scale(on->get_scale()), _state(false) {
@@ -138,6 +144,12 @@ void GuiRollover::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
   recompute_frame();
 }
 
+void GuiRollover::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  i->set_priority(_off, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  i->set_priority(_on, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(i, p);
+}
+
 void GuiRollover::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiItem::output(os);
   os << "  Rollover data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.h b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.h
index 152dc41d70..80ff72cefe 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiRollover.h
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void output(ostream&) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
index 655f5020a5..8d907344ba 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.cxx
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ void GuiSign::recompute_frame(void) {
   _sign->get_extents(_left, _right, _bottom, _top);
 }
 
+void GuiSign::set_priority(GuiLabel* l, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  _sign->set_priority(l, ((p==P_Low)?GuiLabel::P_LOWER:GuiLabel::P_HIGHER));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(l, p);
+}
+
 GuiSign::GuiSign(const string& name, GuiLabel* sign)
   : GuiItem(name), _sign(sign), _sign_scale(sign->get_scale()) {
   _sign->get_extents(_left, _right, _bottom, _top);
@@ -62,6 +67,11 @@ void GuiSign::set_pos(const LVector3f& p) {
   recompute_frame();
 }
 
+void GuiSign::set_priority(GuiItem* i, const GuiItem::Priority p) {
+  i->set_priority(_sign, ((p==P_Low)?P_High:P_Low));
+  GuiItem::set_priority(i, p);
+}
+
 void GuiSign::output(ostream& os) const {
   GuiItem::output(os);
   os << "  Sign data:" << endl;
diff --git a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.h b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.h
index 347badbf79..b98714803c 100644
--- a/panda/src/gui/guiSign.h
+++ b/panda/src/gui/guiSign.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void set_scale(float);
   virtual void set_pos(const LVector3f&);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiLabel*, const Priority);
+  virtual void set_priority(GuiItem*, const Priority);
 
   virtual void output(ostream&) const;