diff --git a/src/gamedata/decallib.cpp b/src/gamedata/decallib.cpp
index 609a87687..eb2192e6a 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/decallib.cpp
+++ b/src/gamedata/decallib.cpp
@@ -871,6 +871,13 @@ void FDecalLib::AddDecal (FDecalBase *decal)
 	}
 }
 
+FDecalBase* FDecalLib::GetDecalBaseByName(const char* name) const
+{
+	if (name == nullptr)
+		return nullptr;
+	return ScanTreeForName(name, Root);
+}
+
 const FDecalTemplate *FDecalLib::GetDecalByNum (uint16_t num) const
 {
 	if (num == 0)
diff --git a/src/gamedata/decallib.h b/src/gamedata/decallib.h
index 9bb3b9ce5..b466bda06 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/decallib.h
+++ b/src/gamedata/decallib.h
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ public:
 	void ReadDecals (FScanner &sc);
 	void ReadAllDecals ();
 
+	FDecalBase* GetDecalBaseByName(const char* name) const;
 	const FDecalTemplate *GetDecalByNum (uint16_t num) const;
 	const FDecalTemplate *GetDecalByName (const char *name) const;
 
diff --git a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
index 260ecf623..4e034ebff 100644
--- a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -434,7 +434,8 @@ void AActor::Serialize(FSerializer &arc)
 		("premorphproperties", PremorphProperties)
 		("morphexitflash", MorphExitFlash)
 		("damagesource", damagesource)
-		("behaviors", Behaviors);
+		("behaviors", Behaviors)
+		A("decalgenerator", DecalGenerator);
 
 
 		SerializeTerrain(arc, "floorterrain", floorterrain, &def->floorterrain);
diff --git a/src/scripting/thingdef_data.cpp b/src/scripting/thingdef_data.cpp
index db69e09b9..d3c9b35b6 100644
--- a/src/scripting/thingdef_data.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/thingdef_data.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 #include "types.h"
 #include "dictionary.h"
 #include "events.h"
+#include "decallib.h"
 
 static TArray<FPropertyInfo*> properties;
 static TArray<AFuncDesc> AFTable;
@@ -779,6 +780,21 @@ void InitThingdef()
 	skillstruct->Size = sizeof(FSkillInfo);
 	skillstruct->Align = alignof(FSkillInfo);
 
+	auto decalbasestruct = NewStruct("DecalBase", nullptr, true);
+	decalbasestruct->Size = sizeof(FDecalBase);
+	decalbasestruct->Align = alignof(FDecalBase);
+	NewPointer(decalbasestruct, false)->InstallHandlers(
+		[](FSerializer& ar, const char* key, const void* addr)
+		{
+			ar(key, *(FDecalBase**)addr);
+		},
+		[](FSerializer& ar, const char* key, void* addr)
+		{
+			Serialize<FDecalBase>(ar, key, *(FDecalBase**)addr, nullptr);
+			return true;
+		}
+	);
+
 	PStruct *pstruct = NewStruct("PlayerInfo", nullptr, true);
 	pstruct->Size = sizeof(player_t);
 	pstruct->Align = alignof(player_t);
diff --git a/src/serializer_doom.cpp b/src/serializer_doom.cpp
index a950a5d8e..59a371ec0 100644
--- a/src/serializer_doom.cpp
+++ b/src/serializer_doom.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "g_levellocals.h"
 #include "p_conversation.h"
 #include "p_terrain.h"
+#include "decallib.h"
 
 #include "serializer_internal.h"
 
@@ -449,6 +450,34 @@ FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FState *&state, FState
 
 }
 
+template<> FSerializer& Serialize(FSerializer& arc, const char* key, FDecalBase*& decal, FDecalBase** def)
+{
+	if (arc.isWriting())
+	{
+		if (!arc.w->inObject() || def == nullptr || decal != *def)
+		{
+			arc.WriteKey(key);
+			if (decal == nullptr)
+				arc.w->Null();
+			else
+				arc.w->String(decal->GetDecalName().GetChars());
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		auto d = arc.r->FindKey(key);
+		if (d != nullptr)
+		{
+			if (!d->IsString())
+				decal = nullptr;
+			else
+				decal = DecalLibrary.GetDecalBaseByName(d->GetString());
+		}
+	}
+
+	return arc;
+}
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 //
diff --git a/src/serializer_doom.h b/src/serializer_doom.h
index bc87df74a..ae653437e 100644
--- a/src/serializer_doom.h
+++ b/src/serializer_doom.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ struct FDoorAnimation;
 struct FPolyObj;
 struct FInterpolator;
 struct FLevelLocals;
+class FDecalBase;
 
 class FDoomSerializer : public FSerializer
 {
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ template<> FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FDoorAnimat
 template<> FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, char *&pstr, char **def);
 template<> FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FLevelLocals *&font, FLevelLocals **def);
 FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FState *&state, FState **def, bool *retcode);
+template<> FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FDecalBase *&decal, FDecalBase **def);
 template<> inline FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FState *&state, FState **def)
 {
 	return Serialize(arc, key, state, def, nullptr);
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
index c3b70460d..d49e6acc0 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class Actor : Thinker native
 	native readonly State SeeState;
 	native State MeleeState;
 	native State MissileState;
-	native readonly internal voidptr /*DecalBase*/ DecalGenerator;
+	native DecalBase DecalGenerator;
 	native uint8 fountaincolor;
 	native double CameraHeight;	// Height of camera when used as such
 	native double CameraFOV;
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/doombase.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/doombase.zs
index 39410cbce..fbfcb0247 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/doombase.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/doombase.zs
@@ -1027,3 +1027,6 @@ struct FRailParams
 	native int SpiralOffset;
 	native int limit;
 };	// [RH] Shoot a railgun
+
+// This is just here to prevent mods that used setting this directly from breaking.
+struct DecalBase native {}