diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/vertexTransform.h b/panda/src/gobj/vertexTransform.h
index 51e84c9edb..ff106bf56e 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/vertexTransform.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/vertexTransform.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ private:
     virtual int complete_pointers(TypedWritable **plist, BamReader *manager);
     virtual void fillin(DatagramIterator &scan, BamReader *manager);
     virtual TypeHandle get_parent_type() const {
+      VertexTransform::init_type();
       return VertexTransform::get_class_type();
     }