diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
index 4cb2b2afa4..e223bb1e24 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/MaterialInstance.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public class MaterialInstance {
 
     MaterialInstance(@NonNull Material material, long nativeMaterialInstance) {
         mMaterial = material;
+        mNativeMaterial = material.getNativeObject();
         mNativeObject = nativeMaterialInstance;
     }