diff --git a/doomsday/client/src/def_read.cpp b/doomsday/client/src/def_read.cpp
index 37245e0dbf..73151fb192 100644
--- a/doomsday/client/src/def_read.cpp
+++ b/doomsday/client/src/def_read.cpp
@@ -1273,9 +1273,9 @@ static int DED_ReadData(ded_t* ded, const char* buffer, const char* _sourceFile)
                             // Need to allocate a new stage?
                             if(layerStage >= mat->layers[layer].stageCount.num)
                             {
-                                layerStage = DED_AddMaterialLayerStage(&mat->layers[layer]);
+                                DED_AddMaterialLayerStage(&mat->layers[layer]);
 
-                                if(mat->autoGenerated && layerStage > 1)
+                                if(mat->autoGenerated && layerStage > 0)
                                 {
                                     // When adding a new stage to an autogenerated material
                                     // initialize by copying values from the previous stage.