diff --git a/src/Conversions.cc b/src/Conversions.cc
index 702658db3d0..ef1093cf71a 100644
--- a/src/Conversions.cc
+++ b/src/Conversions.cc
@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ msgs::Material ignition::gazebo::convert(const sdf::Material &_in)
   msgs::Set(out.mutable_diffuse(), _in.Diffuse());
   msgs::Set(out.mutable_specular(), _in.Specular());
   msgs::Set(out.mutable_emissive(), _in.Emissive());
+  out.set_render_order(_in.RenderOrder());
   out.set_lighting(_in.Lighting());
 
   // todo(anyone) add double_sided field to msgs::Material
@@ -321,6 +322,7 @@ sdf::Material ignition::gazebo::convert(const msgs::Material &_in)
   out.SetDiffuse(msgs::Convert(_in.diffuse()));
   out.SetSpecular(msgs::Convert(_in.specular()));
   out.SetEmissive(msgs::Convert(_in.emissive()));
+  out.SetRenderOrder(_in.render_order());
   out.SetLighting(_in.lighting());
 
   // todo(anyone) add double_sided field to msgs::Material
diff --git a/src/rendering/SceneManager.cc b/src/rendering/SceneManager.cc
index 54fb330aa92..15f3153f2d9 100644
--- a/src/rendering/SceneManager.cc
+++ b/src/rendering/SceneManager.cc
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ rendering::MaterialPtr SceneManager::LoadMaterial(
   material->SetDiffuse(_material.Diffuse());
   material->SetSpecular(_material.Specular());
   material->SetEmissive(_material.Emissive());
+  material->SetRenderOrder(_material.RenderOrder());
 
   // parse PBR params
   const sdf::Pbr *pbr = _material.PbrMaterial();