diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
index 32ac9823f6..51ed66bb23 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
@@ -228,11 +228,21 @@ const std::array<ComponentPair, COMPONENT_MODE_ITEM_COUNT> COMPONENT_MODES = { {
 } };
 
 QString EntityItemProperties::getHazeModeAsString() const {
-    return COMPONENT_MODES[_hazeMode].second;
+    // return "inherit" if _hazeMode is not valid
+    if (_hazeMode < COMPONENT_MODE_ITEM_COUNT) {
+        return COMPONENT_MODES[_hazeMode].second;
+    } else {
+        return COMPONENT_MODES[COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT].second;
+    }
 }
 
 QString EntityItemProperties::getHazeModeString(uint32_t mode) {
-    return COMPONENT_MODES[mode].second;
+    // return "inherit" if mode is not valid
+    if (mode < COMPONENT_MODE_ITEM_COUNT) {
+        return COMPONENT_MODES[mode].second;
+    } else {
+        return COMPONENT_MODES[COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT].second;
+    }
 }
 
 void EntityItemProperties::setHazeModeFromString(const QString& hazeMode) {
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
index 077024c3ab..588c1f9386 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
@@ -321,8 +321,10 @@ void ZoneEntityItem::resetRenderingPropertiesChanged() {
 }
 
 void ZoneEntityItem::setHazeMode(const uint32_t value) {
-    _hazeMode = value;
-    _hazePropertiesChanged = true;
+    if (value < COMPONENT_MODE_ITEM_COUNT) {
+        _hazeMode = value;
+        _hazePropertiesChanged = true;
+    }
 }
 
 uint32_t ZoneEntityItem::getHazeMode() const {
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
index 066bd5518f..ddbb2ed914 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ public:
     static const bool DEFAULT_GHOSTING_ALLOWED;
     static const QString DEFAULT_FILTER_URL;
 
+    static const uint32_t DEFAULT_HAZE_MODE{ (uint32_t)COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT };
+
 protected:
     KeyLightPropertyGroup _keyLightProperties;
 
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ protected:
 
     BackgroundMode _backgroundMode = BACKGROUND_MODE_INHERIT;
 
-    uint8_t _hazeMode{ (uint8_t)COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT };
+    uint32_t _hazeMode{ DEFAULT_HAZE_MODE };
 
     float _hazeRange{ HazePropertyGroup::DEFAULT_HAZE_RANGE };
     xColor _hazeColor{ HazePropertyGroup::DEFAULT_HAZE_COLOR };
diff --git a/libraries/model/src/model/Stage.cpp b/libraries/model/src/model/Stage.cpp
index 75a94f0cea..cd2312122c 100644
--- a/libraries/model/src/model/Stage.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model/src/model/Stage.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <glm/gtx/transform.hpp> 
 #include <math.h>
 #include <qcompilerdetection.h>
+#include <ComponentMode.h>
 
 using namespace model;
 
@@ -256,8 +257,9 @@ void SunSkyStage::setSkybox(const SkyboxPointer& skybox) {
     invalidate();
 }
 
-// Haze
-void SunSkyStage::setHazeMode(uint32_t mode) {
-    _hazeMode = mode;
-    invalidate();
+void SunSkyStage::setHazeMode(uint32_t hazeMode) {
+    if (hazeMode < COMPONENT_MODE_ITEM_COUNT) {
+        _hazeMode = hazeMode;
+        invalidate();
+    }
 }