diff --git a/indra/newview/llface.cpp b/indra/newview/llface.cpp
index b328dd2962c1aa6274d615cae927018fb338a2c8..b4f4d520145ab0b49dd11ddafce4b81db767eafe 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llface.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llface.cpp
@@ -1172,6 +1172,11 @@ bool LLFace::canRenderAsMask()
 		return true;
 	}
 
+    if (isState(LLFace::RIGGED))
+    { // never auto alpha-mask rigged faces
+        return false;
+    }
+
 	const LLTextureEntry* te = getTextureEntry();
 	if( !te || !getViewerObject() || !getTexture() )
 	{