diff --git a/panda/src/egg/eggData.cxx b/panda/src/egg/eggData.cxx
index cedc199160..1792fb46dd 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg/eggData.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/egg/eggData.cxx
@@ -157,6 +157,18 @@ read(istream &in) {
   return (egg_error_count() == 0);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: EggData::merge
+//       Access: Public
+//  Description: Appends the other egg structure to the end of this
+//               one.  The other egg structure is invalidated.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void EggData::
+merge(EggData &other) {
+  other.set_coordinate_system(get_coordinate_system());
+  steal_children(other);
+}
+
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: EggData::load_externals
diff --git a/panda/src/egg/eggData.h b/panda/src/egg/eggData.h
index 94077f831a..af72b873a9 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg/eggData.h
+++ b/panda/src/egg/eggData.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
 
   bool read(Filename filename);
   bool read(istream &in);
+  void merge(EggData &other);
 
   bool load_externals(const DSearchPath &searchpath = DSearchPath());
   int collapse_equivalent_textures();