diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/+android_interface/Stats.qml b/interface/resources/qml/+android_interface/Stats.qml
index 97d076ab6a..2b2acb6bf4 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/+android_interface/Stats.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/+android_interface/Stats.qml
@@ -241,9 +241,9 @@ Item {
                         model: root.downloadUrls
                         delegate: StatText {
                             visible: root.expanded;
-                            text: modelData.length > 30
+                            text: (modelData.length > 30
                                 ?  modelData.substring(0, 5) + "..." + modelData.substring(modelData.length - 22)
-                                : modelData
+                                : modelData) + "\n\t" + "Priority: " + root.downloadPriorities[index] + ", Progress: " + root.downloadProgresses[index] + "%"
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 0dcab1e45b..1779d64dc6 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -1841,6 +1841,8 @@ void MyAvatar::handleChangedAvatarEntityData() {
             }
         });
     }
+
+    _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities = true;
 }
 
 bool MyAvatar::updateStaleAvatarEntityBlobs() const {
@@ -1896,6 +1898,7 @@ void MyAvatar::prepareAvatarEntityDataForReload() {
     });
 
     _reloadAvatarEntityDataFromSettings = true;
+    _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities = false;
 }
 
 AvatarEntityMap MyAvatar::getAvatarEntityData() const {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
index 2433bdde91..ab33a6f001 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
@@ -595,7 +595,8 @@ void OtherAvatar::handleChangedAvatarEntityData() {
         }
     });
 
-    setAvatarEntityDataChanged(false);
+    _avatarEntityDataChanged = false;
+    _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities = true;
 }
 
 void OtherAvatar::onAddAttachedAvatarEntity(const QUuid& id) {
@@ -630,3 +631,11 @@ void OtherAvatar::updateAttachedAvatarEntities() {
         }
     }
 }
+
+void OtherAvatar::onIdentityRecieved() {
+    if (_avatarEntityIdentityCountdown > 0) {
+        _avatarEntityIdentityCountdown--;
+    } else {
+        _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities = true;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.h
index cfe0c8332d..094644a1d3 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.h
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ protected:
     void onAddAttachedAvatarEntity(const QUuid& id);
     void onRemoveAttachedAvatarEntity(const QUuid& id);
 
+    void onIdentityRecieved() override;
+
     class AvatarEntityDataHash {
     public:
         AvatarEntityDataHash(uint32_t h) : hash(h) {};
@@ -91,6 +93,14 @@ protected:
     uint8_t _workloadRegion { workload::Region::INVALID };
     BodyLOD _bodyLOD { BodyLOD::Sphere };
     bool _needsDetailedRebuild { false };
+
+private:
+    // When determining _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities for OtherAvatars, we can set it to true in
+    // handleChangedAvatarEntityData if we have avatar entities.  But we never receive explicit
+    // confirmation from the avatar mixer if we don't have any.  So instead, we wait to receive
+    // a few identity packets, and assume that if we haven't gotten any avatar entities by then,
+    // that we're safe to say there aren't any.
+    uint8_t _avatarEntityIdentityCountdown { 2 };
 };
 
 using OtherAvatarPointer = std::shared_ptr<OtherAvatar>;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
index be63127995..03131ed8b9 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ bool Avatar::getEnableMeshVisible() const {
 }
 
 void Avatar::fixupModelsInScene(const render::ScenePointer& scene) {
-    if (_needsWearablesLoadedCheck) {
+    if (_needsWearablesLoadedCheck && _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities) {
         bool wearablesAreLoaded = true;
         // Technically, we should be checking for descendant avatar entities that are owned by this avatar.
         // But it's sufficient to just check all children entities here.
diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.h b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.h
index 7690104b75..9e82ecdb7b 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.h
@@ -748,6 +748,7 @@ protected:
     bool _isMeshVisible { true };
     bool _needMeshVisibleSwitch { true };
     bool _needsWearablesLoadedCheck { false };
+    bool _hasCheckedForAvatarEntities { false };
 
     static const float MYAVATAR_LOADING_PRIORITY;
     static const float OTHERAVATAR_LOADING_PRIORITY;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index d44890b1b8..fc28ad9e02 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -2072,6 +2072,8 @@ void AvatarData::processAvatarIdentity(QDataStream& packetStream, bool& identity
             << "is >=" << (udt::SequenceNumber::Type) incomingSequenceNumber;
 #endif
     }
+
+    onIdentityRecieved();
 }
 
 QUrl AvatarData::getWireSafeSkeletonModelURL() const {
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index 55b1682974..a31291e1fc 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -1276,7 +1276,6 @@ public:
      */
     Q_INVOKABLE virtual void setAvatarEntityData(const AvatarEntityMap& avatarEntityData);
 
-    void setAvatarEntityDataChanged(bool value) { _avatarEntityDataChanged = value; }
     AvatarEntityIDs getAndClearRecentlyRemovedIDs();
 
     /*@jsdoc
@@ -1583,6 +1582,8 @@ protected:
     virtual const QString& getSessionDisplayNameForTransport() const { return _sessionDisplayName; }
     virtual void maybeUpdateSessionDisplayNameFromTransport(const QString& sessionDisplayName) { } // No-op in AvatarMixer
 
+    virtual void onIdentityRecieved() {}
+
     // Body scale
     float _targetScale;
     float _domainMinimumHeight { MIN_AVATAR_HEIGHT };
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index 9be5758a4f..793871e55a 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -1310,7 +1310,10 @@ void ModelEntityRenderer::doRenderUpdateAsynchronousTyped(const TypedEntityPoint
             scene->enqueueTransaction(transaction);
         });
         entity->setModel(model);
-        model->setLoadingPriorityOperator([entity]() { return EntityTreeRenderer::getEntityLoadingPriority(*entity); });
+        model->setLoadingPriorityOperator([entity]() {
+            float loadPriority = entity->getLoadPriority();
+            return fabs(loadPriority) > EPSILON ? loadPriority : EntityTreeRenderer::getEntityLoadingPriority(*entity);
+        });
         withWriteLock([&] { _model = model; });
     }
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
index c477a3fcef..2f0b1e0945 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
@@ -612,6 +612,7 @@ EntityPropertyFlags EntityItemProperties::getChangedProperties() const {
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, groupCulled);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, blendshapeCoefficients);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, useOriginalPivot);
+    CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, loadPriority);
     changedProperties += _animation.getChangedProperties();
 
     // Light
@@ -1090,6 +1091,9 @@ EntityPropertyFlags EntityItemProperties::getChangedProperties() const {
  * @property {boolean} useOriginalPivot=false - If <code>false</code>, the model will be centered based on its content,
  *     ignoring any offset in the model itself. If <code>true</code>, the model will respect its original offset.  Currently,
  *     only pivots relative to <code>{x: 0, y: 0, z: 0}</code> are supported.
+ * @property {number} loadPriority=0.0 - If <code>0</code>, the model download will be prioritized based on distance, size, and
+ *     other factors, and assigned a priority automatically between <code>0</code> and <code>PI / 2</code>.  Otherwise, the
+ *     download will be ordered based on the set <code>loadPriority</code>.
  * @property {string} textures="" - A JSON string of texture name, URL pairs used when rendering the model in place of the
  *     model's original textures. Use a texture name from the <code>originalTextures</code> property to override that texture.
  *     Only the texture names and URLs to be overridden need be specified; original textures are used where there are no
@@ -1919,6 +1923,7 @@ ScriptValue EntityItemProperties::copyToScriptValue(ScriptEngine* engine, bool s
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, groupCulled);
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, blendshapeCoefficients);
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, useOriginalPivot);
+        COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, loadPriority);
         _animation.copyToScriptValue(_desiredProperties, properties, engine, skipDefaults, defaultEntityProperties, returnNothingOnEmptyPropertyFlags, isMyOwnAvatarEntity);
     }
 
@@ -2350,6 +2355,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::copyFromScriptValue(const ScriptValue& object, bool h
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(groupCulled, bool, setGroupCulled);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(blendshapeCoefficients, QString, setBlendshapeCoefficients);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(useOriginalPivot, bool, setUseOriginalPivot);
+    COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(loadPriority, float, setLoadPriority);
     _animation.copyFromScriptValue(object, namesSet, _defaultSettings);
 
     // Light
@@ -2658,6 +2664,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::merge(const EntityItemProperties& other) {
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(groupCulled);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(blendshapeCoefficients);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(useOriginalPivot);
+    COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(loadPriority);
     _animation.merge(other._animation);
 
     // Light
@@ -3036,6 +3043,7 @@ bool EntityItemProperties::getPropertyInfo(const QString& propertyName, EntityPr
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, GroupCulled, groupCulled, bool);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, BlendshapeCoefficients, blendshapeCoefficients, QString);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, UseOriginalPivot, useOriginalPivot, bool);
+        ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, LoadPriority, loadPriority, float);
         { // Animation
             ADD_GROUP_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_ANIMATION_URL, Animation, animation, URL, url);
             ADD_GROUP_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_ANIMATION_ALLOW_TRANSLATION, Animation, animation, AllowTranslation, allowTranslation);
@@ -3517,6 +3525,7 @@ OctreeElement::AppendState EntityItemProperties::encodeEntityEditPacket(PacketTy
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, properties.getGroupCulled());
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, properties.getBlendshapeCoefficients());
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, properties.getUseOriginalPivot());
+                APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, properties.getLoadPriority());
 
                 _staticAnimation.setProperties(properties);
                 _staticAnimation.appendToEditPacket(packetData, requestedProperties, propertyFlags, propertiesDidntFit, propertyCount, appendState);
@@ -4029,6 +4038,7 @@ bool EntityItemProperties::decodeEntityEditPacket(const unsigned char* data, int
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, bool, setGroupCulled);
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, QString, setBlendshapeCoefficients);
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, bool, setUseOriginalPivot);
+        READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, float, setLoadPriority);
 
         properties.getAnimation().decodeFromEditPacket(propertyFlags, dataAt, processedBytes);
     }
@@ -4438,6 +4448,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::markAllChanged() {
     _groupCulledChanged = true;
     _blendshapeCoefficientsChanged = true;
     _useOriginalPivotChanged = true;
+    _loadPriorityChanged = true;
     _animation.markAllChanged();
 
     // Light
@@ -5024,6 +5035,9 @@ QList<QString> EntityItemProperties::listChangedProperties() {
     if (useOriginalPivotChanged()) {
         out += "useOriginalPivot";
     }
+    if (loadPriorityChanged()) {
+        out += "loadPriority";
+    }
     getAnimation().listChangedProperties(out);
 
     // Light
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
index f8e7377df7..e9a4800892 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ public:
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, GroupCulled, groupCulled, bool, false);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, BlendshapeCoefficients, blendshapeCoefficients, QString, "");
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, UseOriginalPivot, useOriginalPivot, bool, false);
+    DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, LoadPriority, loadPriority, float, 0.0f);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_GROUP(Animation, animation, AnimationPropertyGroup);
 
     // Light
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
index 2ed634c42c..a95feed55b 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
@@ -255,17 +255,18 @@ enum EntityPropertyList {
     PROP_GROUP_CULLED = PROP_DERIVED_7,
     PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS = PROP_DERIVED_8,
     PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT = PROP_DERIVED_9,
+    PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY = PROP_DERIVED_10,
     // Animation
-    PROP_ANIMATION_URL = PROP_DERIVED_10,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_ALLOW_TRANSLATION = PROP_DERIVED_11,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_FPS = PROP_DERIVED_12,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_FRAME_INDEX = PROP_DERIVED_13,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_PLAYING = PROP_DERIVED_14,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_LOOP = PROP_DERIVED_15,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_FIRST_FRAME = PROP_DERIVED_16,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_LAST_FRAME = PROP_DERIVED_17,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_HOLD = PROP_DERIVED_18,
-    PROP_ANIMATION_SMOOTH_FRAMES = PROP_DERIVED_19,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_URL = PROP_DERIVED_11,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_ALLOW_TRANSLATION = PROP_DERIVED_12,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_FPS = PROP_DERIVED_13,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_FRAME_INDEX = PROP_DERIVED_14,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_PLAYING = PROP_DERIVED_15,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_LOOP = PROP_DERIVED_16,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_FIRST_FRAME = PROP_DERIVED_17,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_LAST_FRAME = PROP_DERIVED_18,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_HOLD = PROP_DERIVED_19,
+    PROP_ANIMATION_SMOOTH_FRAMES = PROP_DERIVED_20,
 
     // Light
     PROP_IS_SPOTLIGHT = PROP_DERIVED_0,
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
index 8910961c50..5306613925 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ EntityItemProperties ModelEntityItem::getProperties(const EntityPropertyFlags& d
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(groupCulled, getGroupCulled);
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(blendshapeCoefficients, getBlendshapeCoefficients);
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(useOriginalPivot, getUseOriginalPivot);
+    COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(loadPriority, getLoadPriority);
     withReadLock([&] {
         _animationProperties.getProperties(properties);
     });
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ bool ModelEntityItem::setSubClassProperties(const EntityItemProperties& properti
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(groupCulled, setGroupCulled);
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(blendshapeCoefficients, setBlendshapeCoefficients);
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(useOriginalPivot, setUseOriginalPivot);
+    SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(loadPriority, setLoadPriority);
 
     withWriteLock([&] {
         AnimationPropertyGroup animationProperties = _animationProperties;
@@ -131,6 +133,7 @@ int ModelEntityItem::readEntitySubclassDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data,
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, bool, setGroupCulled);
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, QString, setBlendshapeCoefficients);
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, bool, setUseOriginalPivot);
+    READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, float, setLoadPriority);
 
     // grab a local copy of _animationProperties to avoid multiple locks
     int bytesFromAnimation;
@@ -171,6 +174,7 @@ EntityPropertyFlags ModelEntityItem::getEntityProperties(EncodeBitstreamParams&
     requestedProperties += PROP_GROUP_CULLED;
     requestedProperties += PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS;
     requestedProperties += PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT;
+    requestedProperties += PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY;
     requestedProperties += _animationProperties.getEntityProperties(params);
 
     return requestedProperties;
@@ -201,6 +205,7 @@ void ModelEntityItem::appendSubclassData(OctreePacketData* packetData, EncodeBit
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_GROUP_CULLED, getGroupCulled());
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLENDSHAPE_COEFFICIENTS, getBlendshapeCoefficients());
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_USE_ORIGINAL_PIVOT, getUseOriginalPivot());
+    APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_LOAD_PRIORITY, getLoadPriority());
 
     withReadLock([&] {
         _animationProperties.appendSubclassData(packetData, params, entityTreeElementExtraEncodeData, requestedProperties,
@@ -255,6 +260,7 @@ void ModelEntityItem::debugDump() const {
     qCDebug(entities) << "    compound shape URL:" << getCompoundShapeURL();
     qCDebug(entities) << "    blendshapeCoefficients:" << getBlendshapeCoefficients();
     qCDebug(entities) << "    useOrigialPivot:" << getUseOriginalPivot();
+    qCDebug(entities) << "    loadPriority:" << getLoadPriority();
 }
 
 void ModelEntityItem::setShapeType(ShapeType type) {
@@ -768,3 +774,15 @@ bool ModelEntityItem::getUseOriginalPivot() const {
         return _useOriginalPivot;
     });
 }
+
+float ModelEntityItem::getLoadPriority() const {
+    return resultWithReadLock<float>([&] {
+        return _loadPriority;
+    });
+}
+
+void ModelEntityItem::setLoadPriority(float loadPriority) {
+    withWriteLock([&] {
+        _loadPriority = loadPriority;
+    });
+}
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
index 2e1995be88..f6c3e82073 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ModelEntityItem.h
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ public:
     bool getUseOriginalPivot() const;
     void setUseOriginalPivot(bool useOriginalPivot);
 
+    float getLoadPriority() const;
+    void setLoadPriority(float loadPriority);
+
 private:
     void setAnimationSettings(const QString& value); // only called for old bitstream format
     bool applyNewAnimationProperties(AnimationPropertyGroup newProperties);
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ protected:
     glm::u8vec3 _color;
     glm::vec3 _modelScale { 1.0f };
     QString _modelURL;
+    float _loadPriority { 0.0f };
     bool _relayParentJoints;
     bool _groupCulled { false };
     QVariantMap _blendshapeCoefficientsMap;
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index 7a08a396a4..782c40609d 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -30,14 +30,9 @@
 #include "NetworkLogging.h"
 #include "NodeList.h"
 
-bool ResourceCacheSharedItems::appendRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> resource) {
+bool ResourceCacheSharedItems::appendRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> resource, float priority) {
     Lock lock(_mutex);
     if ((uint32_t)_loadingRequests.size() < _requestLimit) {
-        float priority = 0.0f;
-        // This should always be true, but just in case
-        if (QSharedPointer<Resource> resourceStrong = resource.lock()) {
-            priority = resourceStrong->getLoadPriority();
-        }
         _loadingRequests.append({ resource, priority });
         return true;
     } else {
@@ -111,7 +106,7 @@ void ResourceCacheSharedItems::removeRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> resource) {
     }
 }
 
-QSharedPointer<Resource> ResourceCacheSharedItems::getHighestPendingRequest() {
+std::pair<QSharedPointer<Resource>, float> ResourceCacheSharedItems::getHighestPendingRequest() {
     // look for the highest priority pending request
     int highestIndex = -1;
     float highestPriority = -FLT_MAX;
@@ -144,7 +139,7 @@ QSharedPointer<Resource> ResourceCacheSharedItems::getHighestPendingRequest() {
         _pendingRequests.takeAt(highestIndex);
     }
 
-    return highestResource;
+    return { highestResource, highestPriority };
 }
 
 void ResourceCacheSharedItems::clear() {
@@ -536,11 +531,11 @@ uint32_t ResourceCache::getLoadingRequestCount() {
     return DependencyManager::get<ResourceCacheSharedItems>()->getLoadingRequestsCount();
 }
 
-bool ResourceCache::attemptRequest(QSharedPointer<Resource> resource) {
+bool ResourceCache::attemptRequest(QSharedPointer<Resource> resource, float priority) {
     Q_ASSERT(!resource.isNull());
 
     auto sharedItems = DependencyManager::get<ResourceCacheSharedItems>();
-    if (sharedItems->appendRequest(resource)) {
+    if (sharedItems->appendRequest(resource, priority)) {
         resource->makeRequest();
         return true;
     }
@@ -560,8 +555,8 @@ void ResourceCache::requestCompleted(QWeakPointer<Resource> resource) {
 
 bool ResourceCache::attemptHighestPriorityRequest() {
     auto sharedItems = DependencyManager::get<ResourceCacheSharedItems>();
-    auto resource = sharedItems->getHighestPendingRequest();
-    return (resource && attemptRequest(resource));
+    auto resourcePair = sharedItems->getHighestPendingRequest();
+    return (resourcePair.first && attemptRequest(resourcePair.first, resourcePair.second));
 }
 
 static int requestID = 0;
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
index b920e8a7f8..afd5d949ef 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ class ResourceCacheSharedItems : public Dependency  {
     using Lock = std::unique_lock<Mutex>;
 
 public:
-    bool appendRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> newRequest);
+    bool appendRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> newRequest, float priority);
     void removeRequest(QWeakPointer<Resource> doneRequest);
     void setRequestLimit(uint32_t limit);
     uint32_t getRequestLimit() const;
     QList<QSharedPointer<Resource>> getPendingRequests() const;
-    QSharedPointer<Resource> getHighestPendingRequest();
+    std::pair<QSharedPointer<Resource>, float> getHighestPendingRequest();
     uint32_t getPendingRequestsCount() const;
     QList<std::pair<QSharedPointer<Resource>, float>> getLoadingRequests() const;
     uint32_t getLoadingRequestsCount() const;
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ protected:
 
     /// Attempt to load a resource if requests are below the limit, otherwise queue the resource for loading
     /// \return true if the resource began loading, otherwise false if the resource is in the pending queue
-    static bool attemptRequest(QSharedPointer<Resource> resource);
+    static bool attemptRequest(QSharedPointer<Resource> resource, float priority = NAN);
     static void requestCompleted(QWeakPointer<Resource> resource);
     static bool attemptHighestPriorityRequest();
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
index 67b9544f2e..960345ffaa 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ enum class EntityVersion : PacketVersion {
     AmbientColor,
     SoundEntities,
     TonemappingAndAmbientOcclusion,
+    ModelLoadPriority,
 
     // Add new versions above here
     NUM_PACKET_TYPE,