diff --git a/apps/mapeditor/src/mapview.cpp b/apps/mapeditor/src/mapview.cpp
index 2326be8..e1ce2ae 100644
--- a/apps/mapeditor/src/mapview.cpp
+++ b/apps/mapeditor/src/mapview.cpp
@@ -58,34 +58,40 @@ MapView::MapView(GameData *data, FileCache &cache, AppState *appState, QWidget *
                         case physis_LayerEntry::Tag::BG: {
                             std::string assetPath = object.data.bg._0.asset_path;
                             if (!assetPath.empty()) {
-                                auto plateMdlFile = physis_gamedata_extract_file(m_data, assetPath.c_str());
-                                if (plateMdlFile.size == 0) {
-                                    continue;
-                                }
-
-                                auto plateMdl = physis_mdl_parse(plateMdlFile);
-                                if (plateMdl.p_ptr != nullptr) {
-                                    std::vector<physis_Material> materials;
-                                    for (uint32_t j = 0; j < plateMdl.num_material_names; j++) {
-                                        const char *material_name = plateMdl.material_names[j];
-
-                                        auto mat = physis_material_parse(m_cache.lookupFile(QLatin1String(material_name)));
-                                        materials.push_back(mat);
+                                if (!mdlPart->modelExists(QString::fromStdString(assetPath))) {
+                                    auto plateMdlFile = physis_gamedata_extract_file(m_data, assetPath.c_str());
+                                    if (plateMdlFile.size == 0) {
+                                        continue;
                                     }
 
-                                    mdlPart->addModel(
-                                        plateMdl,
-                                        false,
-                                        glm::vec3(object.transform.translation[0], object.transform.translation[1], object.transform.translation[2]),
+                                    auto plateMdl = physis_mdl_parse(plateMdlFile);
+                                    if (plateMdl.p_ptr != nullptr) {
+                                        std::vector<physis_Material> materials;
+                                        for (uint32_t j = 0; j < plateMdl.num_material_names; j++) {
+                                            const char *material_name = plateMdl.material_names[j];
+
+                                            auto mat = physis_material_parse(m_cache.lookupFile(QLatin1String(material_name)));
+                                            materials.push_back(mat);
+                                        }
+
+                                        mdlPart->addModel(
+                                            plateMdl,
+                                            false,
+                                            glm::vec3(object.transform.translation[0], object.transform.translation[1], object.transform.translation[2]),
+                                            QString::fromStdString(assetPath),
+                                            materials,
+                                            0);
+
+                                        // We don't need this, and it will just take up memory
+                                        physis_mdl_free(&plateMdl);
+                                    }
+
+                                    physis_free_file(&plateMdlFile);
+                                } else {
+                                    mdlPart->addExistingModel(
                                         QString::fromStdString(assetPath),
-                                        materials,
-                                        0);
-
-                                    // We don't need this, and it will just take up memory
-                                    physis_mdl_free(&plateMdl);
+                                        glm::vec3(object.transform.translation[0], object.transform.translation[1], object.transform.translation[2]));
                                 }
-
-                                physis_free_file(&plateMdlFile);
                             }
                         } break;
                         }
diff --git a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
index 1dc2e78..94adce6 100644
--- a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
+++ b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ void MDLPart::addModel(physis_MDL mdl,
                        uint16_t fromBodyId,
                        uint16_t toBodyId)
 {
-    DrawObject *model;
+    DrawObject *model = nullptr;
     if (vkWindow->sourceModels.contains(name)) {
         model = vkWindow->sourceModels[name];
     } else {
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ void MDLPart::addModel(physis_MDL mdl,
         vkWindow->sourceModels[name] = model;
     }
 
+    Q_ASSERT(model != nullptr);
     vkWindow->models.push_back(DrawObjectInstance{name, model, position});
 
     Q_EMIT modelChanged();
@@ -432,4 +433,15 @@ RenderManager *MDLPart::manager() const
     return renderer;
 }
 
+bool MDLPart::modelExists(const QString &name)
+{
+    return vkWindow->sourceModels.contains(name);
+}
+
+void MDLPart::addExistingModel(const QString &name, glm::vec3 position)
+{
+    auto model = vkWindow->sourceModels[name];
+    vkWindow->models.push_back(DrawObjectInstance{name, model, position});
+}
+
 #include "moc_mdlpart.cpp"
diff --git a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.h b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.h
index 81fd836..dd83905 100644
--- a/parts/mdl/mdlpart.h
+++ b/parts/mdl/mdlpart.h
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
     /// Clears all stored MDLs.
     void clear();
 
-    /// Adds a new MDL with a list of materials used.
+    // TODO: all of this API is terrible and should be redone
+    bool modelExists(const QString &name);
+
     void addModel(physis_MDL mdl,
                   bool skinned,
                   glm::vec3 position,
@@ -75,6 +77,8 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
                   uint16_t fromBodyId = 101,
                   uint16_t toBodyId = 101);
 
+    void addExistingModel(const QString &name, glm::vec3 position);
+
     void removeModel(const physis_MDL &mdl);
 
     /// Sets the skeleton any skinned MDLs should bind to.