diff --git a/src/gamedata/r_defs.h b/src/gamedata/r_defs.h
index a5e73a186..4540ab805 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/r_defs.h
+++ b/src/gamedata/r_defs.h
@@ -1320,15 +1320,21 @@ struct side_t
 		textures[which].yScale *= delta;
 	}
 
-	void SetSpecialColor(int which, int slot, int r, int g, int b)
+	void SetSpecialColor(int which, int slot, int r, int g, int b, bool useown = true)
 	{
 		textures[which].SpecialColors[slot] = PalEntry(255, r, g, b);
+		if (useown) textures[which].flags |= part::UseOwnSpecialColors;
+		else  textures[which].flags &= ~part::UseOwnSpecialColors;
+		Flags |= WALLF_EXTCOLOR;
 	}
 
-	void SetSpecialColor(int which, int slot, PalEntry rgb)
+	void SetSpecialColor(int which, int slot, PalEntry rgb, bool useown = true)
 	{
 		rgb.a = 255;
 		textures[which].SpecialColors[slot] = rgb;
+		if (useown) textures[which].flags |= part::UseOwnSpecialColors;
+		else  textures[which].flags &= ~part::UseOwnSpecialColors;
+		Flags |= WALLF_EXTCOLOR;
 	}
 
 	// Note that the sector being passed in here may not be the actual sector this sidedef belongs to
diff --git a/src/scripting/vmthunks.cpp b/src/scripting/vmthunks.cpp
index 3b796bf7b..bde617aa0 100644
--- a/src/scripting/vmthunks.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/vmthunks.cpp
@@ -1399,11 +1399,11 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(_Sector, SetXOffset, SetXOffset)
 	 ACTION_RETURN_POINTER(self->V2());
  }
 
- static void SetSideSpecialColor(side_t *self, int tier, int position, int color)
+ static void SetSideSpecialColor(side_t *self, int tier, int position, int color, int useown)
  {
 	 if (tier >= 0 && tier < 3 && position >= 0 && position < 2)
 	 {
-		 self->SetSpecialColor(tier, position, color);
+		 self->SetSpecialColor(tier, position, color, useown);
 	 }
  }
 
@@ -1413,7 +1413,8 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(_Sector, SetXOffset, SetXOffset)
 	 PARAM_INT(tier);
 	 PARAM_INT(position);
 	 PARAM_COLOR(color);
-	 SetSideSpecialColor(self, tier, position, color);
+	 PARAM_BOOL(useown)
+	 SetSideSpecialColor(self, tier, position, color, useown);
 	 return 0;
  }
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/mapdata.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/mapdata.zs
index b681711d4..23181ef47 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/mapdata.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/mapdata.zs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ struct Side native play
 	native void SetTextureYScale(int which, double scale);
 	native double GetTextureYScale(int which);
 	native void MultiplyTextureYScale(int which, double delta);
-	native void SetSpecialColor(int tier, int position, Color scolor);
+	native void SetSpecialColor(int tier, int position, Color scolor, bool useowncolor = true);
 	native Color GetAdditiveColor(int tier);
 	native void SetAdditiveColor(int tier, Color color);
 	native void EnableAdditiveColor(int tier, bool enable);