diff --git a/doc/XMLreference.rst b/doc/XMLreference.rst
index 0c30586d..0b0d1bee 100644
--- a/doc/XMLreference.rst
+++ b/doc/XMLreference.rst
@@ -1424,6 +1424,11 @@ The full list of processing steps applied by the compiler to each mesh is as fol
    The parameters used to generate a builtin mesh. The number and type of parameters and their semantic depends on the
    mesh type. See :ref:`mesh/builtin<asset-mesh-builtin>` for details.
 
+.. _asset-mesh-material:
+
+:at:`material`: :at-val:`string, optional`
+   Fallback material for mesh geoms that do not specify their own material.
+
 .. _mesh-plugin:
 
 :el-prefix:`mesh/` |-| **plugin** (?)
@@ -2553,13 +2558,15 @@ helps clarify the role of bodies and geoms in MuJoCo.
 .. _body-geom-material:
 
 :at:`material`: :at-val:`string, optional`
-   If specified, this attribute applies a material to the geom. The material determines the visual properties of the
-   geom. The only exception is color: if the rgba attribute below is different from its internal default, it takes
-   precedence while the remaining material properties are still applied. Note that if the same material is referenced
-   from multiple geoms (as well as sites and tendons) and the user changes some of its properties at runtime, these
-   changes will take effect immediately for all model elements referencing the material. This is because the compiler
-   saves the material and its properties as a separate element in mjModel, and the elements using this material only
-   keep a reference to it.
+   If specified, this attribute applies a material to the geom. Otherwise, if unspecified and the type of the geom is
+   a **mesh** the compiler will apply the mesh asset :ref:`material <asset-mesh-material>` if present.
+
+   The material determines the visual properties of the geom. The only exception is color: if the rgba attribute below
+   is different from its internal default, it takes precedence while the remaining material properties are still
+   applied. Note that if the same material is referenced from multiple geoms (as well as sites and tendons) and the user
+   changes some of its properties at runtime, these changes will take effect immediately for all model elements
+   referencing the material. This is because the compiler saves the material and its properties as a separate element in
+   mjModel, and the elements using this material only keep a reference to it.
 
 .. _body-geom-rgba:
 
diff --git a/doc/XMLschema.rst b/doc/XMLschema.rst
index 762879b2..45504b7c 100644
--- a/doc/XMLschema.rst
+++ b/doc/XMLschema.rst
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@
 |                                    |    |    +-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ |
 |                                    |    |    | :ref:`maxhullvert<asset-mesh-maxhullvert>`                      | :ref:`inertia<asset-mesh-inertia>`                              | :ref:`builtin<asset-mesh-builtin>`                              | :ref:`params<asset-mesh-params>`                                | |
 |                                    |    |    +-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ |
+|                                    |    |    | :ref:`material<asset-mesh-material>`                            |                                                                 |                                                                 |                                                                 | |
+|                                    |    |    +-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------+ |
 +------------------------------------+----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 | |_2| mesh |br| |_2| |L|            |    | .. table::                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
 | :ref:`plugin                       | \* |    :class: mjcf-attributes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
diff --git a/doc/changelog.rst b/doc/changelog.rst
index 26541fff..1adedb24 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.rst
+++ b/doc/changelog.rst
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ General
 - Added support for shells with a curved reference configuration. See this `example
   <https://github.com/google-deepmind/mujoco/blob/main/model/flex/basket.xml>`__.
 
+- Added support for assigning a default material to a mesh asset using the :ref:`mesh/material <asset-mesh-material>`
+  attribute.
+
 MJX
 ^^^
 - Promote ``ten_length`` to the public MJX API. Add Warp support for ``mjx.tendon``.
diff --git a/doc/includes/references.h b/doc/includes/references.h
index 90d939ff..3ba9c150 100644
--- a/doc/includes/references.h
+++ b/doc/includes/references.h
@@ -2144,6 +2144,7 @@ typedef struct mjsMesh_ {          // mesh specification
   mjIntVec* userface;              // user vertex indices
   mjIntVec* userfacetexcoord;      // user texcoord indices
   mjsPlugin plugin;                // sdf plugin
+  mjString* material;              // name of material
   mjString* info;                  // message appended to compiler errors
 } mjsMesh;
 typedef struct mjsHField_ {        // height field specification
diff --git a/include/mujoco/mjspec.h b/include/mujoco/mjspec.h
index 222c4fd0..a8aa6f4c 100644
--- a/include/mujoco/mjspec.h
+++ b/include/mujoco/mjspec.h
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ typedef struct mjsMesh_ {          // mesh specification
   mjIntVec* userface;              // user vertex indices
   mjIntVec* userfacetexcoord;      // user texcoord indices
   mjsPlugin plugin;                // sdf plugin
+  mjString* material;              // name of material
   mjString* info;                  // message appended to compiler errors
 } mjsMesh;
 
diff --git a/python/mujoco/introspect/structs.py b/python/mujoco/introspect/structs.py
index 537b7394..98b39032 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/introspect/structs.py
+++ b/python/mujoco/introspect/structs.py
@@ -9353,6 +9353,13 @@ STRUCTS: Mapping[str, StructDecl] = dict([
                  type=ValueType(name='mjsPlugin'),
                  doc='sdf plugin',
              ),
+             StructFieldDecl(
+                 name='material',
+                 type=PointerType(
+                     inner_type=ValueType(name='mjString'),
+                 ),
+                 doc='name of material',
+             ),
              StructFieldDecl(
                  name='info',
                  type=PointerType(
diff --git a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
index 6f08cbfb..35472845 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
+++ b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
@@ -1478,6 +1478,34 @@ class SpecsTest(absltest.TestCase):
     self.assertEqual(mj_model.sensor_dim[0], 4)
     self.assertEqual(mj_model.sensor_dim[1], 1)
 
+  def test_mesh_material(self):
+    spec = mujoco.MjSpec()
+
+    spec.add_material(name='red', rgba=(1, 0, 0, 1))
+    spec.add_material(name='green', rgba=(0, 1, 0, 1))
+
+    mesh = spec.add_mesh(name='sphere')
+    mesh.make_sphere(subdivision=1)
+    mesh.material = 'red'
+
+    geom = spec.worldbody.add_geom()
+    geom.type = mujoco.mjtGeom.mjGEOM_MESH
+    geom.meshname = 'sphere'
+
+    geom_2 = spec.worldbody.add_geom()
+    geom_2.type = mujoco.mjtGeom.mjGEOM_MESH
+    geom_2.meshname = 'sphere'
+    geom_2.material = 'green'
+
+    model = spec.compile()
+
+    self.assertEqual(model.geom_matid[0], 0)
+    self.assertEqual(model.geom_matid[1], 1)
+
+    mesh.material = 'green'
+    model = spec.compile()
+
+    self.assertEqual(model.geom_matid[0], 1)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   absltest.main()
diff --git a/src/user/user_mesh.cc b/src/user/user_mesh.cc
index a4f82f66..e0534dec 100644
--- a/src/user/user_mesh.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_mesh.cc
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ void mjCMesh::PointToLocal() {
   spec.userface = &spec_face_;
   spec.usertexcoord = &spec_texcoord_;
   spec.userfacetexcoord = &spec_facetexcoord_;
+  spec.material = &spec_material_;
   spec.plugin.plugin_name = &plugin_name;
   spec.plugin.name = &plugin_instance_name;
   spec.info = &info;
@@ -317,6 +318,7 @@ void mjCMesh::CopyFromSpec() {
   content_type_ = spec_content_type_;
   normal_ = spec_normal_;
   face_ = spec_face_;
+  material_ = spec_material_;
   ProcessVertices(spec_vert_);
   texcoord_ = spec_texcoord_;
   facetexcoord_ = spec_facetexcoord_;
@@ -476,6 +478,7 @@ void mjCMesh::CacheMesh(mjCCache* cache, const mjResource* resource) {
   mesh->polygon_map_ = polygon_map_;
   mesh->surface_ = surface_;
   mesh->volume_ = volume_;
+  mesh->material_ = material_;
   std::copy(boxsz_, boxsz_ + 3, mesh->boxsz_);
   std::copy(aamm_, aamm_ + 6, mesh->aamm_);
   std::copy(pos_, pos_ + 3, mesh->pos_);
diff --git a/src/user/user_model.cc b/src/user/user_model.cc
index 36ab30a6..27861189 100644
--- a/src/user/user_model.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_model.cc
@@ -1879,7 +1879,23 @@ void mjCModel::IndexAssets(bool discard) {
   for (int i=0; i < geoms_.size(); i++) {
     mjCGeom* geom = geoms_[i];
 
-    // find material by name
+
+    // find mesh by name
+    if (!geom->get_meshname().empty()) {
+      mjCMesh* mesh = static_cast<mjCMesh*>(FindObject(mjOBJ_MESH, geom->get_meshname()));
+      if (mesh) {
+        if (!geom->visual_) {
+          mesh->SetNotVisual();  // reset to true by mesh->Compile()
+        }
+        geom->mesh = (discard && geom->visual_) ? nullptr : mesh;
+        mesh->spec.needsdf |= geom->spec.type == mjGEOM_SDF;
+      } else {
+        throw mjCError(geom, "mesh '%s' not found in geom %d", geom->get_meshname().c_str(), i);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // find material by name, this has to happen after mesh assignment so that if
+    // the geom does not specify a material but the mesh does it can fall back.
     if (!geom->get_material().empty()) {
       mjCBase* material = FindObject(mjOBJ_MATERIAL, geom->get_material());
       if (material) {
@@ -1889,20 +1905,6 @@ void mjCModel::IndexAssets(bool discard) {
       }
     }
 
-    // find mesh by name
-    if (!geom->get_meshname().empty()) {
-      mjCBase* mesh = FindObject(mjOBJ_MESH, geom->get_meshname());
-      if (mesh) {
-        if (!geom->visual_) {
-          ((mjCMesh*)mesh)->SetNotVisual();  // reset to true by mesh->Compile()
-        }
-        geom->mesh = (discard && geom->visual_) ? nullptr : (mjCMesh*)mesh;
-        static_cast<mjCMesh*>(mesh)->spec.needsdf |= geom->spec.type == mjGEOM_SDF;
-      } else {
-        throw mjCError(geom, "mesh '%s' not found in geom %d", geom->get_meshname().c_str(), i);
-      }
-    }
-
     // find hfield by name
     if (!geom->get_hfieldname().empty()) {
       mjCBase* hfield = FindObject(mjOBJ_HFIELD, geom->get_hfieldname());
diff --git a/src/user/user_objects.cc b/src/user/user_objects.cc
index e405fa2a..674143dd 100644
--- a/src/user/user_objects.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_objects.cc
@@ -3365,7 +3365,12 @@ void mjCGeom::ComputeAABB(void) {
   mjuu_copyvec(aabb+3, size, 3);
 }
 
-
+const std::string& mjCGeom::get_material() const {
+  if (mesh && spec_material_.empty()) {
+    return mesh->Material();
+  }
+  return spec_material_;
+}
 
 // compiler
 void mjCGeom::Compile(void) {
diff --git a/src/user/user_objects.h b/src/user/user_objects.h
index 3d5b983b..d9896521 100644
--- a/src/user/user_objects.h
+++ b/src/user/user_objects.h
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ class mjCSite;
 class mjCCamera;
 class mjCLight;
 class mjCHField;
-class mjCFlex;         // defined in user_mesh.h
-class mjCMesh;         // defined in user_mesh.h
-class mjCSkin;         // defined in user_mesh.h
+class mjCFlex;
+class mjCMesh;
+class mjCSkin;
 class mjCTexture;
 class mjCMaterial;
 class mjCPair;
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ class mjCGeom : public mjCGeom_, private mjsGeom {
   const std::vector<double>& get_userdata() const { return userdata_; }
   const std::string& get_hfieldname() const { return spec_hfieldname_; }
   const std::string& get_meshname() const { return spec_meshname_; }
-  const std::string& get_material() const { return spec_material_; }
+  const std::string& get_material() const;
   void del_material() { spec_material_.clear(); }
 
  private:
@@ -1029,6 +1029,7 @@ class mjCMesh_ : public mjCBase {
   std::vector<int> face_;                        // vertex indices
   std::vector<int> facenormal_;                  // normal indices
   std::vector<int> facetexcoord_;                // texcoord indices
+  std::string material_;                         // mesh fallback material
 
   std::string spec_content_type_;
   std::string spec_file_;
@@ -1038,6 +1039,7 @@ class mjCMesh_ : public mjCBase {
   std::vector<int> spec_face_;
   std::vector<int> spec_facenormal_;
   std::vector<int> spec_facetexcoord_;
+  std::string spec_material_;
 
   // used by the compiler
   bool needreorient_;                            // needs reorientation
@@ -1117,6 +1119,8 @@ class mjCMesh: public mjCMesh_, private mjsMesh {
   const std::vector<int>& Face() const { return face_; }
   const std::vector<int>& UserFace() const { return spec_face_; }
   mjtMeshInertia Inertia() const { return spec.inertia; }
+  const std::string& Material() const { return material_; }
+
   // setters
   void SetNeedHull(bool needhull) { needhull_ = needhull; }
 
diff --git a/src/xml/xml_native_reader.cc b/src/xml/xml_native_reader.cc
index d2de7d74..f99d255c 100644
--- a/src/xml/xml_native_reader.cc
+++ b/src/xml/xml_native_reader.cc
@@ -230,9 +230,9 @@ const char* MJCF[nMJCF][mjXATTRNUM] = {
 
     {"asset", "*", "0"},
     {"<"},
-        {"mesh", "*", "16", "name", "class", "content_type", "file", "vertex", "normal",
+        {"mesh", "*", "17", "name", "class", "content_type", "file", "vertex", "normal",
             "texcoord", "face", "refpos", "refquat", "scale", "smoothnormal",
-            "maxhullvert", "inertia", "builtin", "params"},
+            "maxhullvert", "inertia", "builtin", "params", "material"},
         {"<"},
           {"plugin", "*", "2", "plugin", "instance"},
           {"<"},
@@ -1569,6 +1569,11 @@ void mjXReader::OneMesh(XMLElement* elem, mjsMesh* mesh, const mjVFS* vfs) {
     }
   }
 
+  std::string material;
+  if (ReadAttrTxt(elem, "material", material)) {
+    mjs_setString(mesh->material, material.c_str());
+  }
+
   // write error info
   mjs_setString(mesh->info, ("line " + std::to_string(elem->GetLineNum())).c_str());
 }
diff --git a/test/user/user_mesh_test.cc b/test/user/user_mesh_test.cc
index bfefa0e3..3713bc56 100644
--- a/test/user/user_mesh_test.cc
+++ b/test/user/user_mesh_test.cc
@@ -1379,5 +1379,28 @@ TEST_F(MjCMeshTest, SphereSizes) {
   mj_deleteModel(model);
 }
 
+TEST_F(MjCMeshTest, MeshMaterial) {
+  static constexpr char xml[] = R"(
+  <mujoco model="mesh_material">
+    <asset>
+      <mesh name="h0" builtin="sphere" params="0" material="m1"/>
+      <material name="m0" rgba="1 0 0 1"/>
+      <material name="m1" rgba="1 1 0 1"/>
+    </asset>
+
+    <worldbody>
+      <geom name="g0" type="mesh" mesh="h0"/>
+      <geom name="g1" type="mesh" mesh="h0" material="m0"/>
+    </worldbody>
+  </mujoco>
+  )";
+  std::array<char, 1024> error;
+  mjModel* model = LoadModelFromString(xml, error.data(), error.size());
+  ASSERT_THAT(model, NotNull()) << error.data();
+  EXPECT_EQ(model->geom_matid[0], 1);
+  EXPECT_EQ(model->geom_matid[1], 0);
+  mj_deleteModel(model);
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 }  // namespace mujoco