diff --git a/Robust.Client/ResourceManagement/ResourceTypes/RSIResource.cs b/Robust.Client/ResourceManagement/ResourceTypes/RSIResource.cs
index a9c3f5ad24f..c808b7907ff 100644
--- a/Robust.Client/ResourceManagement/ResourceTypes/RSIResource.cs
+++ b/Robust.Client/ResourceManagement/ResourceTypes/RSIResource.cs
@@ -142,8 +142,17 @@ internal static void CreatePlaceholderBump(Image<Rgba32> original, Vector2i bloc
             }
         }
 
-        internal static void CreatePlaceholderNormal(Image<Rgba32> original, Vector2i blocksize, out Image<Rgba32> normalmap)
+        internal static void CreatePlaceholderNormal(Image<Rgba32> original, Vector2i blocksize, out Image<Rgba32> normalmap, bool? flat = false)
         {
+            if (flat ?? false)
+            {
+                normalmap = new Image<Rgba32>(original.Width, original.Height);
+                int x, y;
+                for (x = 0; x < original.Width; x++)
+                for (y = 0; y < original.Height; y++)
+                    normalmap[x, y] = new Rgba32(0.5f, 0.5f, 1f);
+                return;
+            }
             CreatePlaceholderBump(original, blocksize, out var bumpmap);
             ConvertBumpToNormal(bumpmap, blocksize, out normalmap);
             bumpmap.Dispose();
@@ -213,7 +222,7 @@ internal static void LoadPreTexture(IResourceManager manager, LoadStepData data,
                         }
                         else
                         {
-                            CreatePlaceholderNormal(texture, stateObject.Size, out normalImage);
+                            CreatePlaceholderNormal(texture, stateObject.Size, out normalImage, metadata.FlatNormal ?? stateObject.FlatNormal ?? false);
                         }
                     }
                     if (normalLoading)
diff --git a/Robust.Shared/Resources/RsiLoading.cs b/Robust.Shared/Resources/RsiLoading.cs
index 34d4c82573f..c2e326827be 100644
--- a/Robust.Shared/Resources/RsiLoading.cs
+++ b/Robust.Shared/Resources/RsiLoading.cs
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ internal static RsiMetadata LoadRsiMetadata(Stream manifestFile)
             var stateName = stateObject.Name;
             var normalName = stateObject.Normal;
             var bumpName = stateObject.Bump;
+            var flatNormal = stateObject.FlatNormal;
             int dirValue;
 
             if (stateObject.Directions is { } dirVal)
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ internal static RsiMetadata LoadRsiMetadata(Stream manifestFile)
                 }
             }
 
-            states[stateI] = new StateMetadata(stateName, normalName, bumpName, size, dirValue, delays);
+            states[stateI] = new StateMetadata(stateName, normalName, bumpName, flatNormal, size, dirValue, delays);
         }
 
         var textureParams = TextureLoadParameters.Default;
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ internal static RsiMetadata LoadRsiMetadata(Stream manifestFile)
             };
         }
 
-        return new RsiMetadata(size, states, textureParams, manifestJson.MetaAtlas);
+        return new RsiMetadata(size, states, manifestJson.FlatNormal, textureParams, manifestJson.MetaAtlas);
     }
 
     public static void Warmup()
@@ -116,10 +117,11 @@ public static void Warmup()
         JsonSerializer.Deserialize<RsiJsonMetadata>(warmupJson, SerializerOptions);
     }
 
-    internal sealed class RsiMetadata(Vector2i size, StateMetadata[] states, TextureLoadParameters loadParameters, bool metaAtlas)
+    internal sealed class RsiMetadata(Vector2i size, StateMetadata[] states, bool? flatNormal, TextureLoadParameters loadParameters, bool metaAtlas)
     {
         public readonly Vector2i Size = size;
         public readonly StateMetadata[] States = states;
+        public readonly bool? FlatNormal = flatNormal;
         public readonly TextureLoadParameters LoadParameters = loadParameters;
         public readonly bool MetaAtlas = metaAtlas;
     }
@@ -129,15 +131,17 @@ internal sealed class StateMetadata
         public readonly string StateId;
         public readonly string? NormalId;
         public readonly string? BumpId;
+        public readonly bool? FlatNormal;
         public readonly Vector2i Size;
         public readonly int DirCount;
         public readonly float[][] Delays;
 
-        public StateMetadata(string stateId, string? normalId, string? bumpId, Vector2i size, int dirCount, float[][] delays)
+        public StateMetadata(string stateId, string? normalId, string? bumpId, bool? flatNormal, Vector2i size, int dirCount, float[][] delays)
         {
             StateId = stateId;
             NormalId = normalId;
             BumpId = bumpId;
+            FlatNormal = flatNormal;
             Size = size;
             DirCount = dirCount;
 
@@ -152,11 +156,12 @@ public StateMetadata(string stateId, string? normalId, string? bumpId, Vector2i
     private sealed record RsiJsonMetadata(
         Vector2i Size,
         StateJsonMetadata[] States,
+        bool? FlatNormal,
         RsiJsonLoad? Load,
         bool MetaAtlas = true);
 
     [UsedImplicitly]
-    private sealed record StateJsonMetadata(string Name, string? Normal, string? Bump, int? Directions, float[][]? Delays);
+    private sealed record StateJsonMetadata(string Name, string? Normal, string? Bump, bool? FlatNormal, int? Directions, float[][]? Delays);
 
     [UsedImplicitly]
     private sealed record RsiJsonLoad(bool Srgb = true);