diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.cpp
index 5f18916a92..7b1ea1768d 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.cpp
@@ -740,8 +740,8 @@ void DefaultLightingSetup::run(const RenderContextPointer& renderContext) {
             _defaultLight = lp;
 
             // Add the global light to the light stage (for later shadow rendering)
-            auto defaultLightID = lightStage->addLight(lp);
-            lightStage->addShadow(defaultLightID);
+            _defaultLightID = lightStage->addLight(lp);
+            lightStage->addShadow(_defaultLightID);
         }
 
         auto backgroundStage = renderContext->_scene->getStage<BackgroundStage>();
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ void DefaultLightingSetup::run(const RenderContextPointer& renderContext) {
             _defaultBackground = background;
 
             // Add the global light to the light stage (for later shadow rendering)
-            auto defaultBackgroundID = backgroundStage->addBackground(_defaultBackground);
+            _defaultBackgroundID = backgroundStage->addBackground(_defaultBackground);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.h
index 7fc9600d18..a4d62ea407 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/DeferredLightingEffect.h
@@ -180,7 +180,9 @@ public:
 
 protected:
     model::LightPointer _defaultLight;
+    LightStage::Index _defaultLightID{ LightStage::INVALID_INDEX };
     model::SunSkyStagePointer _defaultBackground;
+    BackgroundStage::Index _defaultBackgroundID{ BackgroundStage::INVALID_INDEX };
     model::SkyboxPointer _defaultSkybox { new ProceduralSkybox() };
     gpu::TexturePointer _defaultSkyboxTexture;
     gpu::TexturePointer _defaultSkyboxAmbientTexture;