diff --git a/src/client/content_cao.cpp b/src/client/content_cao.cpp
index 1c66062e0..48c09b769 100644
--- a/src/client/content_cao.cpp
+++ b/src/client/content_cao.cpp
@@ -619,6 +619,8 @@ void GenericCAO::addToScene(ITextureSource *tsrc, scene::ISceneManager *smgr)
 
 	infostream << "GenericCAO::addToScene(): " << m_prop.visual << std::endl;
 
+	m_material_type_param = 0.5f; // May cut off alpha < 128 depending on m_material_type
+
 	if (m_enable_shaders) {
 		IShaderSource *shader_source = m_client->getShaderSource();
 		MaterialType material_type;
@@ -633,8 +635,12 @@ void GenericCAO::addToScene(ITextureSource *tsrc, scene::ISceneManager *smgr)
 		u32 shader_id = shader_source->getShader("object_shader", material_type, NDT_NORMAL);
 		m_material_type = shader_source->getShaderInfo(shader_id).material;
 	} else {
-		m_material_type = (m_prop.use_texture_alpha) ?
-			video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL : video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
+		if (m_prop.use_texture_alpha) {
+			m_material_type = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL;
+			m_material_type_param = 1.0f / 256.f; // minimal alpha for texture rendering
+		} else {
+			m_material_type = video::EMT_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_CHANNEL_REF;
+		}
 	}
 
 	auto grabMatrixNode = [this] {
@@ -1340,7 +1346,7 @@ void GenericCAO::updateTextures(std::string mod)
 
 			video::SMaterial &material = m_spritenode->getMaterial(0);
 			material.MaterialType = m_material_type;
-			material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+			material.MaterialTypeParam = m_material_type_param;
 			material.setTexture(0, tsrc->getTextureForMesh(texturestring));
 
 			// This allows setting per-material colors. However, until a real lighting
@@ -1376,7 +1382,7 @@ void GenericCAO::updateTextures(std::string mod)
 				// Set material flags and texture
 				video::SMaterial &material = m_animated_meshnode->getMaterial(i);
 				material.MaterialType = m_material_type;
-				material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+				material.MaterialTypeParam = m_material_type_param;
 				material.TextureLayers[0].Texture = texture;
 				material.Lighting = true;
 				material.BackfaceCulling = m_prop.backface_culling;
@@ -1420,7 +1426,7 @@ void GenericCAO::updateTextures(std::string mod)
 				// Set material flags and texture
 				video::SMaterial &material = m_meshnode->getMaterial(i);
 				material.MaterialType = m_material_type;
-				material.MaterialTypeParam = 0.5f;
+				material.MaterialTypeParam = m_material_type_param;
 				material.Lighting = false;
 				material.setTexture(0, tsrc->getTextureForMesh(texturestring));
 				material.getTextureMatrix(0).makeIdentity();
diff --git a/src/client/content_cao.h b/src/client/content_cao.h
index b090cdc08..8180ceb14 100644
--- a/src/client/content_cao.h
+++ b/src/client/content_cao.h
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ private:
 	bool m_is_visible = false;
 	// Material
 	video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE m_material_type;
+	f32 m_material_type_param;
 	// Settings
 	bool m_enable_shaders = false;