diff --git a/fabric-renderer-api-v1/src/client/java/net/fabricmc/fabric/api/renderer/v1/model/ForwardingBakedModel.java b/fabric-renderer-api-v1/src/client/java/net/fabricmc/fabric/api/renderer/v1/model/ForwardingBakedModel.java
index b76b5f92a..8c22435cf 100644
--- a/fabric-renderer-api-v1/src/client/java/net/fabricmc/fabric/api/renderer/v1/model/ForwardingBakedModel.java
+++ b/fabric-renderer-api-v1/src/client/java/net/fabricmc/fabric/api/renderer/v1/model/ForwardingBakedModel.java
@@ -119,7 +119,13 @@ public TriState useAmbientOcclusion(BlockState state, ModelData data, RenderType
 
 	@Override
 	public BakedModel applyTransform(ItemDisplayContext transformType, PoseStack poseStack, boolean applyLeftHandTransform) {
-		return wrapped.applyTransform(transformType, poseStack, applyLeftHandTransform);
+		BakedModel result = wrapped.applyTransform(transformType, poseStack, applyLeftHandTransform);
+
+		if (result == wrapped) {
+		    return this;
+		}
+
+		return result;
 	}
 
 	@Override