diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
index 1ec934be92..378e78d0cc 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ void EntityTreeRenderer::processEraseMessage(ReceivedMessage& message, const Sha
     std::static_pointer_cast<EntityTree>(_tree)->processEraseMessage(message, sourceNode);
 }
 
-ModelPointer EntityTreeRenderer::allocateModel(const QString& url, const QString& collisionUrl) {
+ModelPointer EntityTreeRenderer::allocateModel(const QString& url, const QString& collisionUrl, float priority) {
     ModelPointer model = nullptr;
 
     // Only create and delete models on the thread that owns the EntityTreeRenderer
@@ -543,6 +543,7 @@ ModelPointer EntityTreeRenderer::allocateModel(const QString& url, const QString
     }
 
     model = std::make_shared<Model>(std::make_shared<Rig>());
+    model->priority = priority;
     model->init();
     model->setURL(QUrl(url));
     model->setCollisionModelURL(QUrl(collisionUrl));
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
index b0d0d2bacc..b0044b603f 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public:
     virtual PacketType getExpectedPacketType() const { return PacketType::EntityData; }
     virtual void setTree(OctreePointer newTree);
 
+    glm::vec3 cameraPosition {};
+
     void shutdown();
     void update();
 
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ public:
     void reloadEntityScripts();
 
     /// if a renderable entity item needs a model, we will allocate it for them
-    Q_INVOKABLE ModelPointer allocateModel(const QString& url, const QString& collisionUrl);
+    Q_INVOKABLE ModelPointer allocateModel(const QString& url, const QString& collisionUrl, float priority = 0);
     
     /// if a renderable entity item needs to update the URL of a model, we will handle that for the entity
     Q_INVOKABLE ModelPointer updateModel(ModelPointer original, const QString& newUrl, const QString& collisionUrl);
diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
index eba2d4cf4b..bfcd604288 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/RenderableModelEntityItem.cpp
@@ -484,7 +484,11 @@ ModelPointer RenderableModelEntityItem::getModel(EntityTreeRenderer* renderer) {
     if (!getModelURL().isEmpty()) {
         // If we don't have a model, allocate one *immediately*
         if (!_model) {
-            _model = _myRenderer->allocateModel(getModelURL(), getCompoundShapeURL());
+            auto dims = this->getDimensions();
+            auto maxSize = glm::max(dims.x, dims.y, dims.z);
+            auto distance = glm::distance(renderer->cameraPosition, getPosition());
+            float priority = atan2(maxSize / 2, distance);
+            _model = _myRenderer->allocateModel(getModelURL(), getCompoundShapeURL(), priority);
             _needsInitialSimulation = true;
         // If we need to change URLs, update it *after rendering* (to avoid access violations)
         } else if ((QUrl(getModelURL()) != _model->getURL() || QUrl(getCompoundShapeURL()) != _model->getCollisionURL())) {
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index d755dc3aca..86d1116717 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -826,7 +826,10 @@ void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url) {
     invalidCalculatedMeshBoxes();
     deleteGeometry();
 
-    _renderWatcher.setResource(DependencyManager::get<ModelCache>()->getGeometryResource(url));
+    auto resource = DependencyManager::get<ModelCache>()->getGeometryResource(url);
+    resource->setLoadPriority(this, priority);
+    qDebug() << "Setting priority to: " << priority;
+    _renderWatcher.setResource(resource);
     onInvalidate();
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index f7bf83ca5b..1713951366 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ public:
     // returns 'true' if needs fullUpdate after geometry change
     bool updateGeometry();
 
+    float priority { 0 };
+
 public slots:
     void loadURLFinished(bool success);
     void loadCollisionModelURLFinished(bool success);