diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/LevitatingItemRenderer.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/LevitatingItemRenderer.java
index 646d3cf6..05892f23 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/LevitatingItemRenderer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/LevitatingItemRenderer.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class LevitatingItemRenderer {
 
             IRenderItem renderItem = (IRenderItem)Minecraft.getMinecraft().getRenderItem();
             renderItem.useTransparency(true);
-            ((IRenderItem)PonySkullRenderer.instance).useTransparency(true);
+            PonySkullRenderer.ponyInstance.useTransparency(true);
 
             setColor(pony.getMetadata().getGlowColor());
 
@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ public class LevitatingItemRenderer {
             renderer.renderItemSide(entity, stack, transform, left);
 
             renderItem.useTransparency(false);
-            ((IRenderItem)PonySkullRenderer.instance).useTransparency(false);
+            PonySkullRenderer.ponyInstance.useTransparency(false);
+
             unsetColor();
             enableLighting();
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/PonySkullRenderer.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/PonySkullRenderer.java
index 0eb26786..e558abcc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/PonySkullRenderer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/render/PonySkullRenderer.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation;
  */
 public class PonySkullRenderer extends TileEntitySkullRenderer implements IRenderItem {
 
-    private static PonySkullRenderer ponyInstance = new PonySkullRenderer();
+    public static PonySkullRenderer ponyInstance = new PonySkullRenderer();
     private static TileEntitySkullRenderer backup = null;
 
     private static final Map<Integer, ISkull> skullMap = new HashMap<Integer, ISkull>();
@@ -43,8 +43,11 @@ public class PonySkullRenderer extends TileEntitySkullRenderer implements IRende
                 instance = ponyInstance;
             }
         } else {
-            if ((instance instanceof PonySkullRenderer) && backup != null) {
+            if ((instance instanceof PonySkullRenderer)) {
                 ponyInstance = (PonySkullRenderer)instance;
+                if (backup == null) {
+                    backup = new TileEntitySkullRenderer();
+                }
                 ModUtilities.addRenderer(TileEntitySkull.class, backup);
                 instance = backup;
             }