diff --git a/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md b/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 4a1a9c7fa7..598b7a4210 100644
--- a/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@ for next branch cut* header.
 appropriate header in [RELEASE_NOTES.md](./RELEASE_NOTES.md).
 
 ## Release notes for next branch cut
+
+- engine: Fix bug causing certain sampler parameters to not be applied correctly in GLES 2.0 and on
+  certain GLES 3.0 drivers.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 97e81b5e08..51e921b31d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ repositories {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation 'com.google.android.filament:filament-android:1.53.2'
+    implementation 'com.google.android.filament:filament-android:1.53.3'
 }
 ```
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Here are all the libraries available in the group `com.google.android.filament`:
 iOS projects can use CocoaPods to install the latest release:
 
 ```shell
-pod 'Filament', '~> 1.53.2'
+pod 'Filament', '~> 1.53.3'
 ```
 
 ### Snapshots
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index d1392c5a60..805b8f277c 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ A new header is inserted each time a *tag* is created.
 Instead, if you are authoring a PR for the main branch, add your release note to
 [NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md](./NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md).
 
+## v1.53.4
+
+
 ## v1.53.3
 
 - Add drag and drop support for IBL files for desktop gltf_viewer.
diff --git a/android/gradle.properties b/android/gradle.properties
index 7994c61d4a..79f3285970 100644
--- a/android/gradle.properties
+++ b/android/gradle.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 GROUP=com.google.android.filament
-VERSION_NAME=1.53.2
+VERSION_NAME=1.53.3
 
 POM_DESCRIPTION=Real-time physically based rendering engine for Android.
 
diff --git a/ios/CocoaPods/Filament.podspec b/ios/CocoaPods/Filament.podspec
index f1f1105fa3..07eccef0bd 100644
--- a/ios/CocoaPods/Filament.podspec
+++ b/ios/CocoaPods/Filament.podspec
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 Pod::Spec.new do |spec|
   spec.name = "Filament"
-  spec.version = "1.53.2"
+  spec.version = "1.53.3"
   spec.license = { :type => "Apache 2.0", :file => "LICENSE" }
   spec.homepage = "https://google.github.io/filament"
   spec.authors = "Google LLC."
   spec.summary = "Filament is a real-time physically based rendering engine for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS, and WASM/WebGL."
   spec.platform = :ios, "11.0"
-  spec.source = { :http => "https://github.com/google/filament/releases/download/v1.53.2/filament-v1.53.2-ios.tgz" }
+  spec.source = { :http => "https://github.com/google/filament/releases/download/v1.53.3/filament-v1.53.3-ios.tgz" }
 
   # Fix linking error with Xcode 12; we do not yet support the simulator on Apple silicon.
   spec.pod_target_xcconfig = {
diff --git a/libs/gltfio/src/extended/AssetLoaderExtended.h b/libs/gltfio/src/extended/AssetLoaderExtended.h
index a803fb4f13..bac61c85f0 100644
--- a/libs/gltfio/src/extended/AssetLoaderExtended.h
+++ b/libs/gltfio/src/extended/AssetLoaderExtended.h
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ struct AssetLoaderExtended {
         : mEngine(engine),
           mGltfPath(config.gltfPath),
           mMaterials(materials),
-          mUriDataCache(std::make_shared<UriDataCache>()) {}
+          mUriDataCache(std::make_shared<UriDataCache>()),
+          mCgltfBuffersLoaded(false) {}
 
     ~AssetLoaderExtended() = default;
 
diff --git a/libs/utils/include/utils/WorkStealingDequeue.h b/libs/utils/include/utils/WorkStealingDequeue.h
index f9f5b5fbc2..43735f0a57 100644
--- a/libs/utils/include/utils/WorkStealingDequeue.h
+++ b/libs/utils/include/utils/WorkStealingDequeue.h
@@ -92,9 +92,11 @@ void WorkStealingDequeue<TYPE, COUNT>::push(TYPE item) noexcept {
     index_t bottom = mBottom.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
     setItemAt(bottom, item);
 
-    // std::memory_order_release is used because we release the item we just pushed to other
+    // Here we need std::memory_order_release because we release, the item we just pushed, to other
     // threads which are calling steal().
-    mBottom.store(bottom + 1, std::memory_order_release);
+    // However, generally seq_cst cannot be mixed with other memory orders. So we must use seq_cst.
+    // see: https://plv.mpi-sws.org/scfix/paper.pdf
+    mBottom.store(bottom + 1, std::memory_order_seq_cst);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -154,9 +156,11 @@ TYPE WorkStealingDequeue<TYPE, COUNT>::pop() noexcept {
         assert(top - bottom == 1);
     }
 
-    // std::memory_order_relaxed used because we're not publishing any data.
+    // Here, we only need std::memory_order_relaxed because we're not publishing any data.
     // No concurrent writes to mBottom possible, it's always safe to write mBottom.
-    mBottom.store(top, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+    // However, generally seq_cst cannot be mixed with other memory orders. So we must use seq_cst.
+    // see: https://plv.mpi-sws.org/scfix/paper.pdf
+    mBottom.store(top, std::memory_order_seq_cst);
     return item;
 }
 
diff --git a/shaders/src/fog.fs b/shaders/src/fog.fs
index 33d99eb803..d724db1175 100644
--- a/shaders/src/fog.fs
+++ b/shaders/src/fog.fs
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ vec4 fog(vec4 color, highp vec3 view) {
     // note: d can be +inf with the skybox
     highp float d = length(view);
 
+    // early exit for object "in front" of the fog
+    if (d < frameUniforms.fogStart) {
+        return color;
+    }
+
     // fogCutOffDistance is set to +inf to disable the cutoff distance
     if (d > frameUniforms.fogCutOffDistance) {
         return color;
diff --git a/web/filament-js/package.json b/web/filament-js/package.json
index c381eef571..a79fd893ab 100644
--- a/web/filament-js/package.json
+++ b/web/filament-js/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "filament",
-  "version": "1.53.2",
+  "version": "1.53.3",
   "description": "Real-time physically based rendering engine",
   "main": "filament.js",
   "module": "filament.js",