diff --git a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
index ab5e53709..f20716dd6 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
@@ -1598,7 +1598,8 @@ bool fgInitSubsystems() {
 
     SGPath mpath( globals->get_fg_root() );
     mpath.append( "materials.xml" );
-    if ( ! globals->get_matlib()->load(globals->get_fg_root(), mpath.str()) ) {
+    string season = fgGetString("/sim/startup/season", "summer");
+    if ( ! globals->get_matlib()->load(globals->get_fg_root(), mpath.str(), season.c_str()) ) {
         SG_LOG( SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Error loading material lib!" );
         exit(-1);
     }