diff --git a/include/lsWriteVisualizationMesh.hpp b/include/lsWriteVisualizationMesh.hpp
index 765d861e..8990009a 100644
--- a/include/lsWriteVisualizationMesh.hpp
+++ b/include/lsWriteVisualizationMesh.hpp
@@ -513,8 +513,9 @@ template <class T, int D> class lsWriteVisualizationMesh {
     }
 #endif
 
+    const bool useMaterialMap = materialMap != nullptr;
     materialMeshes.push_back(clipper->GetOutput());
-    materialIds.push_back(0);
+    materialIds.push_back(useMaterialMap ? materialMap->getMaterialId(0) : 0);
 
 #ifdef LS_TO_VISUALIZATION_DEBUG
     {
@@ -526,7 +527,6 @@ template <class T, int D> class lsWriteVisualizationMesh {
 #endif
 
     unsigned counter = 1;
-    const bool useMaterialMap = materialMap != nullptr;
 
     // now cut large volume mesh with all the smaller ones
     for (typename LevelSetsType::const_reverse_iterator it =