diff --git a/src/osgUtil/RenderStage.cpp b/src/osgUtil/RenderStage.cpp
index 05296478d..499fc0683 100644
--- a/src/osgUtil/RenderStage.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUtil/RenderStage.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ RenderStage::RenderStage(const RenderStage& rhs,const osg::CopyOp& copyop):
         _renderStageLighting(rhs._renderStageLighting)
 
 {
+    _stage = this;
 }