diff --git a/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl45/GL45BackendVariableTexture.cpp b/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl45/GL45BackendVariableTexture.cpp
index 4083f09251..188fff9979 100644
--- a/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl45/GL45BackendVariableTexture.cpp
+++ b/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl45/GL45BackendVariableTexture.cpp
@@ -85,16 +85,14 @@ TransferJob::TransferJob(const GL45VariableAllocationTexture& parent, uint16_t s
     auto transferDimensions = _parent._gpuObject.evalMipDimensions(sourceMip);
     GLenum format;
     GLenum type;
+    auto mipData = _parent._gpuObject.accessStoredMipFace(sourceMip, face);
     GLTexelFormat texelFormat = GLTexelFormat::evalGLTexelFormat(_parent._gpuObject.getTexelFormat(), _parent._gpuObject.getStoredMipFormat());
     format = texelFormat.format;
     type = texelFormat.type;
-    auto mipSize = _parent._gpuObject.getStoredMipFaceSize(sourceMip, face);
-
 
     if (0 == lines) {
-        _transferSize = mipSize;
+        _transferSize = mipData->getSize();
         _bufferingLambda = [=] {
-            auto mipData = _parent._gpuObject.accessStoredMipFace(sourceMip, face);
             _buffer.resize(_transferSize);
             memcpy(&_buffer[0], mipData->readData(), _transferSize);
             _bufferingCompleted = true;
@@ -103,11 +101,11 @@ TransferJob::TransferJob(const GL45VariableAllocationTexture& parent, uint16_t s
     } else {
         transferDimensions.y = lines;
         auto dimensions = _parent._gpuObject.evalMipDimensions(sourceMip);
+        auto mipSize = mipData->getSize();
         auto bytesPerLine = (uint32_t)mipSize / dimensions.y;
-        auto sourceOffset = bytesPerLine * lineOffset;
         _transferSize = bytesPerLine * lines;
+        auto sourceOffset = bytesPerLine * lineOffset;
         _bufferingLambda = [=] {
-            auto mipData = _parent._gpuObject.accessStoredMipFace(sourceMip, face);
             _buffer.resize(_transferSize);
             memcpy(&_buffer[0], mipData->readData() + sourceOffset, _transferSize);
             _bufferingCompleted = true;
@@ -587,10 +585,10 @@ void GL45ResourceTexture::populateTransferQueue() {
 
             // break down the transfers into chunks so that no single transfer is 
             // consuming more than X bandwidth
-            auto mipSize = _gpuObject.getStoredMipFaceSize(sourceMip, face);
+            auto mipData = _gpuObject.accessStoredMipFace(sourceMip, face);
             const auto lines = mipDimensions.y;
-            auto bytesPerLine = mipSize / lines;
-            Q_ASSERT(0 == (mipSize % lines));
+            auto bytesPerLine = (uint32_t)mipData->getSize() / lines;
+            Q_ASSERT(0 == (mipData->getSize() % lines));
             uint32_t linesPerTransfer = (uint32_t)(MAX_TRANSFER_SIZE / bytesPerLine);
             uint32_t lineOffset = 0;
             while (lineOffset < lines) {
diff --git a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.cpp b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.cpp
index 38019c5a03..1f66b2900e 100755
--- a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.cpp
+++ b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.cpp
@@ -149,10 +149,6 @@ PixelsPointer MemoryStorage::getMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face) const {
     return PixelsPointer();
 }
 
-Size MemoryStorage::getMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face) const {
-    return getMipFace(level, face)->getSize();
-}
-
 bool MemoryStorage::isMipAvailable(uint16 level, uint8 face) const {
     PixelsPointer mipFace = getMipFace(level, face);
     return (mipFace && mipFace->getSize());
@@ -482,39 +478,43 @@ uint16 Texture::autoGenerateMips(uint16 maxMip) {
 }
 
 uint16 Texture::getStoredMipWidth(uint16 level) const {
-    if (!isStoredMipFaceAvailable(level)) {
-        return 0;
+    PixelsPointer mipFace = accessStoredMipFace(level);
+    if (mipFace && mipFace->getSize()) {
+        return evalMipWidth(level);
     }
-    return evalMipWidth(level);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 uint16 Texture::getStoredMipHeight(uint16 level) const {
-    if (!isStoredMipFaceAvailable(level)) {
-        return 0;
+    PixelsPointer mip = accessStoredMipFace(level);
+    if (mip && mip->getSize()) {
+        return evalMipHeight(level);
     }
-    return evalMipHeight(level);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 uint16 Texture::getStoredMipDepth(uint16 level) const {
-    if (!isStoredMipFaceAvailable(level)) {
-        return 0;
+    PixelsPointer mipFace = accessStoredMipFace(level);
+    if (mipFace && mipFace->getSize()) {
+        return evalMipDepth(level);
     }
-    return evalMipDepth(level);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 uint32 Texture::getStoredMipNumTexels(uint16 level) const {
-    if (!isStoredMipFaceAvailable(level)) {
-        return 0;
+    PixelsPointer mipFace = accessStoredMipFace(level);
+    if (mipFace && mipFace->getSize()) {
+        return evalMipWidth(level) * evalMipHeight(level) * evalMipDepth(level);
     }
-    return evalMipWidth(level) * evalMipHeight(level) * evalMipDepth(level);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 uint32 Texture::getStoredMipSize(uint16 level) const {
-    if (!isStoredMipFaceAvailable(level)) {
-        return 0;
+    PixelsPointer mipFace = accessStoredMipFace(level);
+    if (mipFace && mipFace->getSize()) {
+        return evalMipWidth(level) * evalMipHeight(level) * evalMipDepth(level) * getTexelFormat().getSize();
     }
-
-    return evalMipWidth(level) * evalMipHeight(level) * evalMipDepth(level) * getTexelFormat().getSize();
+    return 0;
 }
 
 gpu::Resource::Size Texture::getStoredSize() const {
diff --git a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.h b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.h
index d6185df0d4..ce71b41b77 100755
--- a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.h
+++ b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture.h
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@
 namespace ktx {
     class KTX;
     using KTXUniquePointer = std::unique_ptr<KTX>;
-    struct KTXDescriptor;
-    using KTXDescriptorPointer = std::unique_ptr<KTXDescriptor>;
     struct Header;
 }
 
@@ -263,7 +261,6 @@ public:
 
         virtual void reset() = 0;
         virtual PixelsPointer getMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const = 0;
-        virtual Size getMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const = 0;
         virtual void assignMipData(uint16 level, const storage::StoragePointer& storage) = 0;
         virtual void assignMipFaceData(uint16 level, uint8 face, const storage::StoragePointer& storage) = 0;
         virtual bool isMipAvailable(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const = 0;
@@ -289,7 +286,6 @@ public:
     public:
         void reset() override;
         PixelsPointer getMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override;
-        Size getMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override;
         void assignMipData(uint16 level, const storage::StoragePointer& storage) override;
         void assignMipFaceData(uint16 level, uint8 face, const storage::StoragePointer& storage) override;
         bool isMipAvailable(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override;
@@ -301,9 +297,8 @@ public:
 
     class KtxStorage : public Storage {
     public:
-        KtxStorage(const std::string& filename);
+        KtxStorage(ktx::KTXUniquePointer& ktxData);
         PixelsPointer getMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override;
-        Size getMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override;
         // By convention, all mip levels and faces MUST be populated when using KTX backing
         bool isMipAvailable(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const override { return true; }
 
@@ -317,8 +312,7 @@ public:
         void reset() override { }
 
     protected:
-        std::string _filename;
-        ktx::KTXDescriptorPointer _ktxDescriptor;
+        ktx::KTXUniquePointer _ktxData;
         friend class Texture;
     };
 
@@ -481,10 +475,9 @@ public:
     // Access the the sub mips
     bool isStoredMipFaceAvailable(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const { return _storage->isMipAvailable(level, face); }
     const PixelsPointer accessStoredMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const { return _storage->getMipFace(level, face); }
-    Size getStoredMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face = 0) const { return _storage->getMipFaceSize(level, face); }
 
     void setStorage(std::unique_ptr<Storage>& newStorage);
-    void setKtxBacking(const std::string& filename);
+    void setKtxBacking(ktx::KTXUniquePointer& newBacking);
 
     // access sizes for the stored mips
     uint16 getStoredMipWidth(uint16 level) const;
@@ -522,7 +515,7 @@ public:
 
     // Textures can be serialized directly to  ktx data file, here is how
     static ktx::KTXUniquePointer serialize(const Texture& texture);
-    static Texture* unserialize(const std::string& ktxFile, TextureUsageType usageType = TextureUsageType::RESOURCE, Usage usage = Usage(), const Sampler::Desc& sampler = Sampler::Desc());
+    static Texture* unserialize(const ktx::KTXUniquePointer& srcData, TextureUsageType usageType = TextureUsageType::RESOURCE, Usage usage = Usage(), const Sampler::Desc& sampler = Sampler::Desc());
     static bool evalKTXFormat(const Element& mipFormat, const Element& texelFormat, ktx::Header& header);
     static bool evalTextureFormat(const ktx::Header& header, Element& mipFormat, Element& texelFormat);
 
diff --git a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture_ktx.cpp b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture_ktx.cpp
index 913ced8141..ab5be7475a 100644
--- a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture_ktx.cpp
+++ b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Texture_ktx.cpp
@@ -42,37 +42,30 @@ struct GPUKTXPayload {
 
 std::string GPUKTXPayload::KEY { "hifi.gpu" };
 
-KtxStorage::KtxStorage(const std::string& filename) : _filename(filename) {
-    {
-        ktx::StoragePointer storage { new storage::FileStorage(_filename.c_str()) };
-        auto ktxPointer = ktx::KTX::create(storage);
-        _ktxDescriptor.reset(new ktx::KTXDescriptor(ktxPointer->toDescriptor()));
+KtxStorage::KtxStorage(ktx::KTXUniquePointer& ktxData) {
+
+    // if the source ktx is valid let's config this KtxStorage correctly
+    if (ktxData && ktxData->getHeader()) {
+
+        // now that we know the ktx, let's get the header info to configure this Texture::Storage:
+        Format mipFormat = Format::COLOR_BGRA_32;
+        Format texelFormat = Format::COLOR_SRGBA_32;
+        if (Texture::evalTextureFormat(*ktxData->getHeader(), mipFormat, texelFormat)) {
+            _format = mipFormat;
+        }
+
+
     }
 
-    // now that we know the ktx, let's get the header info to configure this Texture::Storage:
-    Format mipFormat = Format::COLOR_BGRA_32;
-    Format texelFormat = Format::COLOR_SRGBA_32;
-    if (Texture::evalTextureFormat(_ktxDescriptor->header, mipFormat, texelFormat)) {
-        _format = mipFormat;
-    }
+    _ktxData.reset(ktxData.release());
 }
 
 PixelsPointer KtxStorage::getMipFace(uint16 level, uint8 face) const {
-    storage::StoragePointer result;
-    auto faceOffset = _ktxDescriptor->getMipFaceTexelsOffset(level, face);
-    auto faceSize = _ktxDescriptor->getMipFaceTexelsSize(level, face);
-    if (faceSize != 0 && faceOffset != 0) {
-        result = std::make_shared<storage::FileStorage>(_filename.c_str())->createView(faceSize, faceOffset)->toMemoryStorage();
-    }
-    return result;
+    return _ktxData->getMipFaceTexelsData(level, face);
 }
 
-Size KtxStorage::getMipFaceSize(uint16 level, uint8 face) const {
-    return _ktxDescriptor->getMipFaceTexelsSize(level, face);
-}
-
-void Texture::setKtxBacking(const std::string& filename) {
-    auto newBacking = std::unique_ptr<Storage>(new KtxStorage(filename));
+void Texture::setKtxBacking(ktx::KTXUniquePointer& ktxBacking) {
+    auto newBacking = std::unique_ptr<Storage>(new KtxStorage(ktxBacking));
     setStorage(newBacking);
 }
 
@@ -184,9 +177,11 @@ ktx::KTXUniquePointer Texture::serialize(const Texture& texture) {
     return ktxBuffer;
 }
 
-Texture* Texture::unserialize(const std::string& ktxfile, TextureUsageType usageType, Usage usage, const Sampler::Desc& sampler) {
-    ktx::KTXDescriptor descriptor { ktx::KTX::create(ktx::StoragePointer { new storage::FileStorage(ktxfile.c_str()) })->toDescriptor() };
-    const auto& header = descriptor.header;
+Texture* Texture::unserialize(const ktx::KTXUniquePointer& srcData, TextureUsageType usageType, Usage usage, const Sampler::Desc& sampler) {
+    if (!srcData) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    const auto& header = *srcData->getHeader();
 
     Format mipFormat = Format::COLOR_BGRA_32;
     Format texelFormat = Format::COLOR_SRGBA_32;
@@ -214,7 +209,7 @@ Texture* Texture::unserialize(const std::string& ktxfile, TextureUsageType usage
     
     // If found, use the 
     GPUKTXPayload gpuktxKeyValue;
-    bool isGPUKTXPayload = GPUKTXPayload::findInKeyValues(descriptor.keyValues, gpuktxKeyValue);
+    bool isGPUKTXPayload = GPUKTXPayload::findInKeyValues(srcData->_keyValues, gpuktxKeyValue);
 
     auto tex = Texture::create( (isGPUKTXPayload ? gpuktxKeyValue._usageType : usageType),
                                 type,
@@ -230,7 +225,14 @@ Texture* Texture::unserialize(const std::string& ktxfile, TextureUsageType usage
 
     // Assing the mips availables
     tex->setStoredMipFormat(mipFormat);
-    tex->setKtxBacking(ktxfile);
+    uint16_t level = 0;
+    for (auto& image : srcData->_images) {
+        for (uint32_t face = 0; face < image._numFaces; face++) {
+            tex->assignStoredMipFace(level, face, image._faceSize, image._faceBytes[face]);
+        }
+        level++;
+    }
+
     return tex;
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.cpp b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.cpp
index 6fca39788b..bbd4e1bc86 100644
--- a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.cpp
+++ b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.cpp
@@ -108,39 +108,47 @@ KTX::~KTX() {
 
 void KTX::resetStorage(const StoragePointer& storage) {
     _storage = storage;
-    if (_storage->size() >= sizeof(Header)) {
-        memcpy(&_header, _storage->data(), sizeof(Header));
-    }
 }
 
-const Header& KTX::getHeader() const {
-    return _header;
+const Header* KTX::getHeader() const {
+    if (!_storage) {
+        return nullptr;
+    } 
+    return reinterpret_cast<const Header*>(_storage->data());
 }
 
 
 size_t KTX::getKeyValueDataSize() const {
-    return _header.bytesOfKeyValueData;
+    if (_storage) {
+        return getHeader()->bytesOfKeyValueData;
+    } else {
+        return 0;
+    }
 }
 
 size_t KTX::getTexelsDataSize() const {
-    if (!_storage) {
+    if (_storage) {
+        //return  _storage->size() - (sizeof(Header) + getKeyValueDataSize());
+        return  (_storage->data() + _storage->size()) - getTexelsData();
+    } else {
         return 0;
     }
-    return  (_storage->data() + _storage->size()) - getTexelsData();
 }
 
 const Byte* KTX::getKeyValueData() const {
-    if (!_storage) {
+    if (_storage) {
+        return (_storage->data() + sizeof(Header));
+    } else {
         return nullptr;
     }
-    return (_storage->data() + sizeof(Header));
 }
 
 const Byte* KTX::getTexelsData() const {
-    if (!_storage) {
+    if (_storage) {
+        return (_storage->data() + sizeof(Header) + getKeyValueDataSize());
+    } else {
         return nullptr;
     }
-    return (_storage->data() + sizeof(Header) + getKeyValueDataSize());
 }
 
 storage::StoragePointer KTX::getMipFaceTexelsData(uint16_t mip, uint8_t face) const {
@@ -155,58 +163,3 @@ storage::StoragePointer KTX::getMipFaceTexelsData(uint16_t mip, uint8_t face) co
     }
     return result;
 }
-
-size_t KTXDescriptor::getMipFaceTexelsSize(uint16_t mip, uint8_t face) const {
-    size_t result { 0 };
-    if (mip < images.size()) {
-        const auto& faces = images[mip];
-        if (face < faces._numFaces) {
-            result = faces._faceSize;
-        }
-    }
-    return result;
-}
-
-size_t KTXDescriptor::getMipFaceTexelsOffset(uint16_t mip, uint8_t face) const {
-    size_t result { 0 };
-    if (mip < images.size()) {
-        const auto& faces = images[mip];
-        if (face < faces._numFaces) {
-            result = faces._faceOffsets[face];
-        }
-    }
-    return result;
-}
-
-ImageDescriptor Image::toImageDescriptor(const Byte* baseAddress) const {
-    FaceOffsets offsets;
-    offsets.resize(_faceBytes.size());
-    for (size_t face = 0; face < _numFaces; ++face) {
-        offsets[face] = _faceBytes[face] - baseAddress;
-    }
-    // Note, implicit cast of *this to const ImageHeader&
-    return ImageDescriptor(*this, offsets);
-}
-
-Image ImageDescriptor::toImage(const ktx::StoragePointer& storage) const {
-    FaceBytes faces;
-    faces.resize(_faceOffsets.size());
-    for (size_t face = 0; face < _numFaces; ++face) {
-        faces[face] = storage->data() + _faceOffsets[face];
-    }
-    // Note, implicit cast of *this to const ImageHeader&
-    return Image(*this, faces);
-}
-
-KTXDescriptor KTX::toDescriptor() const {
-    ImageDescriptors newDescriptors;
-    auto storageStart = _storage ? _storage->data() : nullptr;
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < _images.size(); ++i) {
-        newDescriptors.emplace_back(_images[i].toImageDescriptor(storageStart));
-    }
-    return { this->_header, this->_keyValues, newDescriptors };
-}
-
-KTX::KTX(const StoragePointer& storage, const Header& header, const KeyValues& keyValues, const Images& images)
-    : _header(header), _storage(storage), _keyValues(keyValues), _images(images) {
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.h b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.h
index f09986991a..8e901b1105 100644
--- a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.h
+++ b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/KTX.h
@@ -407,69 +407,43 @@ namespace ktx {
     };
     using KeyValues = KeyValue::KeyValues;
 
-    struct ImageHeader {
-        using FaceOffsets = std::vector<size_t>;
+
+    struct Image {
         using FaceBytes = std::vector<const Byte*>;
-        const uint32_t _numFaces;
-        const uint32_t _imageSize;
-        const uint32_t _faceSize;
-        const uint32_t _padding;
-        ImageHeader(bool cube, uint32_t imageSize, uint32_t padding) : 
-            _numFaces(cube ? NUM_CUBEMAPFACES : 1),
-            _imageSize(imageSize * _numFaces),
-            _faceSize(imageSize),
-            _padding(padding) {
-        }
-    };
 
-    struct Image;
-
-    struct ImageDescriptor : public ImageHeader {
-        const FaceOffsets _faceOffsets;
-        ImageDescriptor(const ImageHeader& header, const FaceOffsets& offsets) : ImageHeader(header), _faceOffsets(offsets) {}
-        Image toImage(const ktx::StoragePointer& storage) const;
-    };
-
-    using ImageDescriptors = std::vector<ImageDescriptor>;
-
-    struct Image : public ImageHeader {
+        uint32_t _numFaces{ 1 };
+        uint32_t _imageSize;
+        uint32_t _faceSize;
+        uint32_t _padding;
         FaceBytes _faceBytes;
-        Image(const ImageHeader& header, const FaceBytes& faces) : ImageHeader(header), _faceBytes(faces) {}
+        
+
         Image(uint32_t imageSize, uint32_t padding, const Byte* bytes) :
-            ImageHeader(false, imageSize, padding),
+            _numFaces(1),
+            _imageSize(imageSize),
+            _faceSize(imageSize),
+            _padding(padding),
             _faceBytes(1, bytes) {}
+
         Image(uint32_t pageSize, uint32_t padding, const FaceBytes& cubeFaceBytes) :
-            ImageHeader(true, pageSize, padding)
+            _numFaces(NUM_CUBEMAPFACES),
+            _imageSize(pageSize * NUM_CUBEMAPFACES),
+            _faceSize(pageSize),
+            _padding(padding)
             {
                 if (cubeFaceBytes.size() == NUM_CUBEMAPFACES) {
                     _faceBytes = cubeFaceBytes;
                 }
             }
-
-        ImageDescriptor toImageDescriptor(const Byte* baseAddress) const;
     };
-
     using Images = std::vector<Image>;
 
-    class KTX;
-
-    // A KTX descriptor is a lightweight container for all the information about a serialized KTX file, but without the 
-    // actual image / face data available.
-    struct KTXDescriptor {
-        KTXDescriptor(const Header& header, const KeyValues& keyValues, const ImageDescriptors& imageDescriptors) : header(header), keyValues(keyValues), images(imageDescriptors) {}
-        const Header header;
-        const KeyValues keyValues;
-        const ImageDescriptors images;
-        size_t getMipFaceTexelsSize(uint16_t mip = 0, uint8_t face = 0) const;
-        size_t getMipFaceTexelsOffset(uint16_t mip = 0, uint8_t face = 0) const;
-    };
-
     class KTX {
         void resetStorage(const StoragePointer& src);
 
         KTX();
-        KTX(const StoragePointer& storage, const Header& header, const KeyValues& keyValues, const Images& images);
     public:
+
         ~KTX();
 
         // Define a KTX object manually to write it somewhere (in a file on disk?)
@@ -501,23 +475,18 @@ namespace ktx {
         static Images parseImages(const Header& header, size_t srcSize, const Byte* srcBytes);
 
         // Access raw pointers to the main sections of the KTX
-        const Header& getHeader() const;
-
+        const Header* getHeader() const;
         const Byte* getKeyValueData() const;
         const Byte* getTexelsData() const;
         storage::StoragePointer getMipFaceTexelsData(uint16_t mip = 0, uint8_t face = 0) const;
         const StoragePointer& getStorage() const { return _storage; }
 
-        KTXDescriptor toDescriptor() const;
         size_t getKeyValueDataSize() const;
         size_t getTexelsDataSize() const;
 
-        Header _header;
         StoragePointer _storage;
         KeyValues _keyValues;
         Images _images;
-
-        friend struct KTXDescriptor;
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/Reader.cpp b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/Reader.cpp
index bf72faeba5..277ce42e69 100644
--- a/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/Reader.cpp
+++ b/libraries/ktx/src/ktx/Reader.cpp
@@ -185,10 +185,10 @@ namespace ktx {
         result->resetStorage(src);
 
         // read metadata
-        result->_keyValues = parseKeyValues(result->getHeader().bytesOfKeyValueData, result->getKeyValueData());
+        result->_keyValues = parseKeyValues(result->getHeader()->bytesOfKeyValueData, result->getKeyValueData());
 
         // populate image table
-        result->_images = parseImages(result->getHeader(), result->getTexelsDataSize(), result->getTexelsData());
+        result->_images = parseImages(*result->getHeader(), result->getTexelsDataSize(), result->getTexelsData());
 
         return result;
     }
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
index 8ec1c4e41c..63d35fe4a4 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.cpp
@@ -38,3 +38,10 @@ std::unique_ptr<File> KTXCache::createFile(Metadata&& metadata, const std::strin
 KTXFile::KTXFile(Metadata&& metadata, const std::string& filepath) :
     cache::File(std::move(metadata), filepath) {}
 
+std::unique_ptr<ktx::KTX> KTXFile::getKTX() const {
+    ktx::StoragePointer storage = std::make_shared<storage::FileStorage>(getFilepath().c_str());
+    if (*storage) {
+        return ktx::KTX::create(storage);
+    }
+    return {};
+}
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
index bbf7ceadea..4ef5e52721 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/KTXCache.h
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ protected:
 class KTXFile : public cache::File {
     Q_OBJECT
 
+public:
+    std::unique_ptr<ktx::KTX> getKTX() const;
+
 protected:
     friend class KTXCache;
 
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
index 98b03eba1e..5dfaddd471 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/TextureCache.cpp
@@ -438,9 +438,15 @@ void NetworkTexture::loadContent(const QByteArray& content) {
         if (!texture) {
             KTXFilePointer ktxFile = textureCache->_ktxCache.getFile(hash);
             if (ktxFile) {
-                texture.reset(gpu::Texture::unserialize(ktxFile->getFilepath()));
-                if (texture) {
-                    texture = textureCache->cacheTextureByHash(hash, texture);
+                // Ensure that the KTX deserialization worked
+                auto ktx = ktxFile->getKTX();
+                if (ktx) {
+                    texture.reset(gpu::Texture::unserialize(ktx));
+                    // Ensure that the texture population worked
+                    if (texture) {
+                        texture->setKtxBacking(ktx);
+                        texture = textureCache->cacheTextureByHash(hash, texture);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -580,7 +586,10 @@ void ImageReader::read() {
                 qCWarning(modelnetworking) << _url << "file cache failed";
             } else {
                 resource.staticCast<NetworkTexture>()->_file = file;
-                texture->setKtxBacking(file->getFilepath());
+                auto fileKtx = file->getKTX();
+                if (fileKtx) {
+                    texture->setKtxBacking(fileKtx);
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/ktx/src/main.cpp b/tests/ktx/src/main.cpp
index 3a6fcabf43..aa6795e17b 100644
--- a/tests/ktx/src/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/ktx/src/main.cpp
@@ -111,40 +111,38 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
         outFile.close();
     }
 
+    auto ktxFile = ktx::KTX::create(std::shared_ptr<storage::Storage>(new storage::FileStorage(TEST_IMAGE_KTX)));
     {
-        auto ktxFile = ktx::KTX::create(std::shared_ptr<storage::Storage>(new storage::FileStorage(TEST_IMAGE_KTX)));
-        {
-            const auto& memStorage = ktxMemory->getStorage();
-            const auto& fileStorage = ktxFile->getStorage();
-            Q_ASSERT(memStorage->size() == fileStorage->size());
-            Q_ASSERT(memStorage->data() != fileStorage->data());
-            Q_ASSERT(0 == memcmp(memStorage->data(), fileStorage->data(), memStorage->size()));
-            Q_ASSERT(ktxFile->_images.size() == ktxMemory->_images.size());
-            auto imageCount = ktxFile->_images.size();
-            auto startMemory = ktxMemory->_storage->data();
-            auto startFile = ktxFile->_storage->data();
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < imageCount; ++i) {
-                auto memImages = ktxMemory->_images[i];
-                auto fileImages = ktxFile->_images[i];
-                Q_ASSERT(memImages._padding == fileImages._padding);
-                Q_ASSERT(memImages._numFaces == fileImages._numFaces);
-                Q_ASSERT(memImages._imageSize == fileImages._imageSize);
-                Q_ASSERT(memImages._faceSize == fileImages._faceSize);
-                Q_ASSERT(memImages._faceBytes.size() == memImages._numFaces);
-                Q_ASSERT(fileImages._faceBytes.size() == fileImages._numFaces);
-                auto faceCount = fileImages._numFaces;
-                for (uint32_t face = 0; face < faceCount; ++face) {
-                    auto memFace = memImages._faceBytes[face];
-                    auto memOffset = memFace - startMemory;
-                    auto fileFace = fileImages._faceBytes[face];
-                    auto fileOffset = fileFace - startFile;
-                    Q_ASSERT(memOffset % 4 == 0);
-                    Q_ASSERT(memOffset == fileOffset);
-                }
+        const auto& memStorage = ktxMemory->getStorage();
+        const auto& fileStorage = ktxFile->getStorage();
+        Q_ASSERT(memStorage->size() == fileStorage->size());
+        Q_ASSERT(memStorage->data() != fileStorage->data());
+        Q_ASSERT(0 == memcmp(memStorage->data(), fileStorage->data(), memStorage->size()));
+        Q_ASSERT(ktxFile->_images.size() == ktxMemory->_images.size());
+        auto imageCount = ktxFile->_images.size();
+        auto startMemory = ktxMemory->_storage->data();
+        auto startFile = ktxFile->_storage->data();
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < imageCount; ++i) {
+            auto memImages = ktxMemory->_images[i];
+            auto fileImages = ktxFile->_images[i];
+            Q_ASSERT(memImages._padding == fileImages._padding);
+            Q_ASSERT(memImages._numFaces == fileImages._numFaces);
+            Q_ASSERT(memImages._imageSize == fileImages._imageSize);
+            Q_ASSERT(memImages._faceSize == fileImages._faceSize);
+            Q_ASSERT(memImages._faceBytes.size() == memImages._numFaces);
+            Q_ASSERT(fileImages._faceBytes.size() == fileImages._numFaces);
+            auto faceCount = fileImages._numFaces;
+            for (uint32_t face = 0; face < faceCount; ++face) {
+                auto memFace = memImages._faceBytes[face];
+                auto memOffset = memFace - startMemory;
+                auto fileFace = fileImages._faceBytes[face];
+                auto fileOffset = fileFace - startFile;
+                Q_ASSERT(memOffset % 4 == 0);
+                Q_ASSERT(memOffset == fileOffset);
             }
         }
     }
-    testTexture->setKtxBacking(TEST_IMAGE_KTX.toStdString());
+    testTexture->setKtxBacking(ktxFile);
     return 0;
 }