diff --git a/src/Objects/matlib.cxx b/src/Objects/matlib.cxx
index 55a6b25db..6c8cf6b7f 100644
--- a/src/Objects/matlib.cxx
+++ b/src/Objects/matlib.cxx
@@ -130,8 +130,14 @@ bool FGMaterialLib::load( const string& mpath ) {
 	    in >> token;
 
 	    if ( token == '{' ) {
+                // Read the data into a temporary but stack allocated
+                // copy of the structure
+                FGNewMat tmp;
+		in >> tmp;
+
+                // create a pointer to a heap allocated copy of the structure
 		FGNewMat *m = new FGNewMat;
-		in >> *m;
+                *m = tmp;
 
 		// build the ssgSimpleState
 		SGPath tex_path( globals->get_fg_root() );
diff --git a/src/Objects/newmat.cxx b/src/Objects/newmat.cxx
index 2fa702d61..1e917524d 100644
--- a/src/Objects/newmat.cxx
+++ b/src/Objects/newmat.cxx
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ void FGNewMat::dump_info () {
 FGNewMat::~FGNewMat ( void ) {
 }
 
-
 istream&
 operator >> ( istream& in, FGNewMat& m )
 {