diff --git a/src/osgUtil/RenderLeaf.cpp b/src/osgUtil/RenderLeaf.cpp
index 323fe54ae..0cb890dd1 100644
--- a/src/osgUtil/RenderLeaf.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUtil/RenderLeaf.cpp
@@ -4,16 +4,26 @@
 using namespace osg;
 using namespace osgUtil;
 
+// comment if you are are working with vertex programs,
+// but it does break osgreflect demo and perhaps others, so keep an eye
+// out artifacts.
+// #define APPLY_MATICES_BEFORE_STATE
+
 void RenderLeaf::render(State& state,RenderLeaf* previous)
 {
 
     if (previous)
     {
 
+#ifdef APPLY_MATICES_BEFORE_STATE
+        // apply matrices if required.
+        state.applyProjectionMatrix(_projection.get());
+        state.applyModelViewMatrix(_modelview.get());
+#endif        
+        // apply state if required.
         RenderGraph* prev_rg = previous->_parent;
         RenderGraph* prev_rg_parent = prev_rg->_parent;
         RenderGraph* rg = _parent;
-
         if (prev_rg_parent!=rg->_parent)
         {
             RenderGraph::moveRenderGraph(state,prev_rg_parent,rg->_parent);
@@ -30,21 +40,35 @@ void RenderLeaf::render(State& state,RenderLeaf* previous)
 
         }
         
+#ifndef APPLY_MATICES_BEFORE_STATE
+        // apply matrices if required.
         state.applyProjectionMatrix(_projection.get());
         state.applyModelViewMatrix(_modelview.get());
+#endif
 
+        // draw the drawable
         _drawable->draw(state);
     }
     else
     {
-        RenderGraph::moveRenderGraph(state,NULL,_parent->_parent);
-
-        // send state changes and matrix changes to OpenGL.
-        state.apply(_parent->_stateset.get());
-
+#ifdef APPLY_MATICES_BEFORE_STATE
+        // apply matrices if required.
         state.applyProjectionMatrix(_projection.get());
         state.applyModelViewMatrix(_modelview.get());
+#endif        
 
+        // apply state if required.
+         RenderGraph::moveRenderGraph(state,NULL,_parent->_parent);
+
+        state.apply(_parent->_stateset.get());
+
+#ifndef APPLY_MATICES_BEFORE_STATE
+        // apply matrices if required.
+        state.applyProjectionMatrix(_projection.get());
+        state.applyModelViewMatrix(_modelview.get());
+#endif
+
+        // draw the drawable
         _drawable->draw(state);
     }
 }