diff --git a/packages/dev/core/src/Materials/materialHelper.ts b/packages/dev/core/src/Materials/materialHelper.ts
index aca91bf549d..52c3314c15e 100644
--- a/packages/dev/core/src/Materials/materialHelper.ts
+++ b/packages/dev/core/src/Materials/materialHelper.ts
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ export class MaterialHelper {
             defines["VERTEXALPHA"] = mesh.hasVertexAlpha && hasVertexColors && useVertexAlpha;
         }
 
-        if (mesh.isVerticesDataPresent(VertexBuffer.ColorInstanceKind)) {
+        if (mesh.isVerticesDataPresent(VertexBuffer.ColorInstanceKind) && (mesh.hasInstances || mesh.hasThinInstances)) {
             defines["INSTANCESCOLOR"] = true;
         }