diff --git a/code/hud/hudshield.cpp b/code/hud/hudshield.cpp
index 7b13af6d881..98075d9d01b 100644
--- a/code/hud/hudshield.cpp
+++ b/code/hud/hudshield.cpp
@@ -697,17 +697,23 @@ void HudGaugeShield::showShields(const object *objp, ShieldGaugeType mode, bool
 			model_render_params render_info;
 
 			// If this comment is here then I have not tested this
-			int mi = -1;
+			int model_num = sip->model_num;
+			int model_instance_number = -1;
+
 			if (!config) {
-				mi = sp->model_instance_num;
-				render_info.set_replacement_textures(model_get_instance(mi)->texture_replace);
+				model_instance_number = sp->model_instance_num;
+				render_info.set_replacement_textures(model_get_instance(model_instance_number)->texture_replace);
+			}
+
+			if (model_num < 0 && config) {
+				model_num = model_load(sip, false);
 			}
 
 			render_info.set_flags(MR_NO_LIGHTING | MR_AUTOCENTER | MR_NO_FOGGING);
 			render_info.set_detail_level_lock(1);
 			render_info.set_object_number(OBJ_INDEX(objp));
 
-			model_render_immediate( &render_info, sip->model_num, &object_orient, &vmd_zero_vector );
+			model_render_immediate( &render_info, model_num, model_instance_number, &object_orient, &vmd_zero_vector );
 		}
 
 		//We're done