diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index ba4d48fd3f..15ae1584f6 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -1460,10 +1460,23 @@ void MyAvatar::clearJointsData() {
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL) {
+    _skeletonModelChangeCount++;
+    int skeletonModelChangeCount = _skeletonModelChangeCount;
     Avatar::setSkeletonModelURL(skeletonModelURL);
     _skeletonModel->setVisibleInScene(true, qApp->getMain3DScene(), render::ItemKey::TAG_BITS_NONE);
     _headBoneSet.clear();
     _cauterizationNeedsUpdate = true;
+
+    std::shared_ptr<QMetaObject::Connection> skeletonConnection = std::make_shared<QMetaObject::Connection>();
+    *skeletonConnection = QObject::connect(_skeletonModel.get(), &SkeletonModel::skeletonLoaded, [this, skeletonModelChangeCount, skeletonConnection]() {
+       if (skeletonModelChangeCount == _skeletonModelChangeCount) {
+           initHeadBones();
+           _skeletonModel->setCauterizeBoneSet(_headBoneSet);
+           _fstAnimGraphOverrideUrl = _skeletonModel->getGeometry()->getAnimGraphOverrideUrl();
+           initAnimGraph();
+       }
+       QObject::disconnect(*skeletonConnection);
+    });
     saveAvatarUrl();
     emit skeletonChanged();
 
@@ -1872,9 +1885,7 @@ void MyAvatar::setAnimGraphUrl(const QUrl& url) {
 
     _currentAnimGraphUrl.set(url);
     _skeletonModel->getRig().initAnimGraph(url);
-
-    _bodySensorMatrix = deriveBodyFromHMDSensor(); // Based on current cached HMD position/rotation..
-    updateSensorToWorldMatrix(); // Uses updated position/orientation and _bodySensorMatrix changes
+    connect(&(_skeletonModel->getRig()), SIGNAL(onLoadComplete()), this, SLOT(animGraphLoaded()));
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::initAnimGraph() {
@@ -1889,28 +1900,24 @@ void MyAvatar::initAnimGraph() {
 
     _skeletonModel->getRig().initAnimGraph(graphUrl);
     _currentAnimGraphUrl.set(graphUrl);
-
-    _bodySensorMatrix = deriveBodyFromHMDSensor(); // Based on current cached HMD position/rotation..
-    updateSensorToWorldMatrix(); // Uses updated position/orientation and _bodySensorMatrix changes
+    connect(&(_skeletonModel->getRig()), SIGNAL(onLoadComplete()), this, SLOT(animGraphLoaded()));
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::destroyAnimGraph() {
     _skeletonModel->getRig().destroyAnimGraph();
 }
 
+void MyAvatar::animGraphLoaded() {
+    _bodySensorMatrix = deriveBodyFromHMDSensor(); // Based on current cached HMD position/rotation..
+    updateSensorToWorldMatrix(); // Uses updated position/orientation and _bodySensorMatrix changes
+    _isAnimatingScale = true;
+    _cauterizationNeedsUpdate = true;
+    disconnect(&(_skeletonModel->getRig()), SIGNAL(onLoadComplete()), this, SLOT(animGraphLoaded()));
+}
+
 void MyAvatar::postUpdate(float deltaTime, const render::ScenePointer& scene) {
 
     Avatar::postUpdate(deltaTime, scene);
-
-    if (_skeletonModel->isLoaded() && !_skeletonModel->getRig().getAnimNode()) {
-        initHeadBones();
-        _skeletonModel->setCauterizeBoneSet(_headBoneSet);
-        _fstAnimGraphOverrideUrl = _skeletonModel->getGeometry()->getAnimGraphOverrideUrl();
-        initAnimGraph();
-        _isAnimatingScale = true;
-        _cauterizationNeedsUpdate = true;
-    }
-
     if (_enableDebugDrawDefaultPose || _enableDebugDrawAnimPose) {
 
         auto animSkeleton = _skeletonModel->getRig().getAnimSkeleton();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 124902a1b1..28af8b62fd 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -569,6 +569,7 @@ public slots:
     void increaseSize();
     void decreaseSize();
     void resetSize();
+    void animGraphLoaded();
 
     void setGravity(float gravity);
     float getGravity();
@@ -654,6 +655,7 @@ private:
     bool isMyAvatar() const override { return true; }
     virtual int parseDataFromBuffer(const QByteArray& buffer) override;
     virtual glm::vec3 getSkeletonPosition() const override;
+    int _skeletonModelChangeCount { 0 };
 
     void saveAvatarScale();
 
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/AnimNodeLoader.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/AnimNodeLoader.cpp
index 33f3d72756..8173845205 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/AnimNodeLoader.cpp
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/AnimNodeLoader.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ static AnimNode::Pointer loadManipulatorNode(const QJsonObject& jsonObj, const Q
 static AnimNode::Pointer loadInverseKinematicsNode(const QJsonObject& jsonObj, const QString& id, const QUrl& jsonUrl);
 static AnimNode::Pointer loadDefaultPoseNode(const QJsonObject& jsonObj, const QString& id, const QUrl& jsonUrl);
 
+static const float ANIM_GRAPH_LOAD_PRIORITY = 10.0f;
+
 // called after children have been loaded
 // returns node on success, nullptr on failure.
 static bool processDoNothing(AnimNode::Pointer node, const QJsonObject& jsonObj, const QString& id, const QUrl& jsonUrl) { return true; }
@@ -653,6 +655,7 @@ AnimNodeLoader::AnimNodeLoader(const QUrl& url) :
 {
     _resource = QSharedPointer<Resource>::create(url);
     _resource->setSelf(_resource);
+    _resource->setLoadPriority(this, ANIM_GRAPH_LOAD_PRIORITY);
     connect(_resource.data(), &Resource::loaded, this, &AnimNodeLoader::onRequestDone);
     connect(_resource.data(), &Resource::failed, this, &AnimNodeLoader::onRequestError);
     _resource->ensureLoading();
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
index 1750a9e53d..01b7dfb0de 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
@@ -1585,14 +1585,13 @@ void Rig::updateFromControllerParameters(const ControllerParameters& params, flo
 }
 
 void Rig::initAnimGraph(const QUrl& url) {
-    if (_animGraphURL != url || (!_animNode && !_animLoading)) {
+    if (_animGraphURL != url || !_animNode) {
         _animGraphURL = url;
 
         _animNode.reset();
 
         // load the anim graph
         _animLoader.reset(new AnimNodeLoader(url));
-        _animLoading = true;
         std::weak_ptr<AnimSkeleton> weakSkeletonPtr = _animSkeleton;
         connect(_animLoader.get(), &AnimNodeLoader::success, [this, weakSkeletonPtr](AnimNode::Pointer nodeIn) {
             _animNode = nodeIn;
@@ -1617,7 +1616,6 @@ void Rig::initAnimGraph(const QUrl& url) {
                 auto roleState = roleAnimState.second;
                 overrideRoleAnimation(roleState.role, roleState.url, roleState.fps, roleState.loop, roleState.firstFrame, roleState.lastFrame);
             }
-            _animLoading = false;
 
             emit onLoadComplete();
         });
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
index a7db86abf9..7230d05e2a 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
@@ -283,7 +283,6 @@ protected:
     std::shared_ptr<AnimNode> _animNode;
     std::shared_ptr<AnimSkeleton> _animSkeleton;
     std::unique_ptr<AnimNodeLoader> _animLoader;
-    bool _animLoading { false };
     AnimVariantMap _animVars;
     enum class RigRole {
         Idle = 0,