diff --git a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
index 785183da56..1c735c2075 100644
--- a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
@@ -246,18 +246,19 @@ int ModelItem::readModelDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLeftT
         dataAt += bytes;
         bytesRead += bytes;
 
-        // animationURL
-        uint16_t animationURLLength;
-        memcpy(&animationURLLength, dataAt, sizeof(animationURLLength));
-        dataAt += sizeof(animationURLLength);
-        bytesRead += sizeof(animationURLLength);
-        QString animationURLString((const char*)dataAt);
-        setAnimationURL(animationURLString);
-        dataAt += animationURLLength;
-        bytesRead += animationURLLength;
-
-qDebug() << "readModelDataFromBuffer()... animationURL=" << qPrintable(animationURLString);
+        if (args.bitstreamVersion >= VERSION_MODELS_HAVE_ANIMATION) {
+            // animationURL
+            uint16_t animationURLLength;
+            memcpy(&animationURLLength, dataAt, sizeof(animationURLLength));
+            dataAt += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+            bytesRead += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+            QString animationURLString((const char*)dataAt);
+            setAnimationURL(animationURLString);
+            dataAt += animationURLLength;
+            bytesRead += animationURLLength;
 
+            qDebug() << "readModelDataFromBuffer()... animationURL=" << qPrintable(animationURLString);
+        }
 
         //printf("ModelItem::readModelDataFromBuffer()... "); debugDump();
     }
diff --git a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
index 72a12c9b2c..cafd150e6d 100644
--- a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
+++ b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ const QString MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_URL("");
 const glm::quat MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ROTATION;
 const QString MODEL_DEFAULT_ANIMATION_URL("");
 
+const PacketVersion VERSION_MODELS_HAVE_ANIMATION = 1;
+
 /// A collection of properties of a model item used in the scripting API. Translates between the actual properties of a model
 /// and a JavaScript style hash/QScriptValue storing a set of properties. Used in scripting to set/get the complete set of
 /// model item properties via JavaScript hashes/QScriptValues
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
index 5b766ecdd7..9f08adb1d9 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.cpp
@@ -1556,6 +1556,7 @@ int Octree::encodeTreeBitstreamRecursion(OctreeElement* element,
 
 bool Octree::readFromSVOFile(const char* fileName) {
     bool fileOk = false;
+    PacketVersion gotVersion = 0;
     std::ifstream file(fileName, std::ios::in|std::ios::binary|std::ios::ate);
     if(file.is_open()) {
         emit importSize(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
@@ -1587,7 +1588,7 @@ bool Octree::readFromSVOFile(const char* fileName) {
                 dataAt += sizeof(expectedType);
                 dataLength -= sizeof(expectedType);
                 PacketVersion expectedVersion = versionForPacketType(expectedType);
-                PacketVersion gotVersion = *dataAt;
+                gotVersion = *dataAt;
                 if (gotVersion == expectedVersion) {
                     dataAt += sizeof(expectedVersion);
                     dataLength -= sizeof(expectedVersion);
@@ -1602,7 +1603,8 @@ bool Octree::readFromSVOFile(const char* fileName) {
             fileOk = true; // assume the file is ok
         }
         if (fileOk) {
-            ReadBitstreamToTreeParams args(WANT_COLOR, NO_EXISTS_BITS, NULL, 0, SharedNodePointer(), wantImportProgress);
+            ReadBitstreamToTreeParams args(WANT_COLOR, NO_EXISTS_BITS, NULL, 0, 
+                                                SharedNodePointer(), wantImportProgress, gotVersion);
             readBitstreamToTree(dataAt, dataLength, args);
         }
         delete[] entireFile;
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
index 4a17cb3c1d..0b9cc31a2a 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/Octree.h
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ public:
     QUuid sourceUUID;
     SharedNodePointer sourceNode;
     bool wantImportProgress;
+    PacketVersion bitstreamVersion;
 
     ReadBitstreamToTreeParams(
         bool includeColor = WANT_COLOR,
@@ -177,13 +178,15 @@ public:
         OctreeElement* destinationElement = NULL,
         QUuid sourceUUID = QUuid(),
         SharedNodePointer sourceNode = SharedNodePointer(),
-        bool wantImportProgress = false) :
+        bool wantImportProgress = false,
+        PacketVersion bitstreamVersion = 0) :
             includeColor(includeColor),
             includeExistsBits(includeExistsBits),
             destinationElement(destinationElement),
             sourceUUID(sourceUUID),
             sourceNode(sourceNode),
-            wantImportProgress(wantImportProgress)
+            wantImportProgress(wantImportProgress),
+            bitstreamVersion(bitstreamVersion)
     {}
 };