diff --git a/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Code/Source/Material/EditorMaterialComponentSlot.cpp b/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Code/Source/Material/EditorMaterialComponentSlot.cpp
index 7d89fb0571..39dde65a99 100644
--- a/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Code/Source/Material/EditorMaterialComponentSlot.cpp
+++ b/Gems/AtomLyIntegration/CommonFeatures/Code/Source/Material/EditorMaterialComponentSlot.cpp
@@ -227,11 +227,9 @@ namespace AZ
                 OnPropertyChanged();
             };
 
-            Data::Asset<RPI::MaterialAsset> assetToEdit = m_materialAsset.GetId().IsValid() ? m_materialAsset : m_defaultMaterialAsset;
-
-            if (assetToEdit.GetId().IsValid())
+            if (m_materialAsset.GetId().IsValid())
             {
-                if (EditorMaterialComponentInspector::OpenInspectorDialog(GetLabel(), assetToEdit.GetId(), m_propertyOverrides, applyPropertyChangedCallback))
+                if (EditorMaterialComponentInspector::OpenInspectorDialog(GetLabel(), m_materialAsset.GetId(), m_propertyOverrides, applyPropertyChangedCallback))
                 {
                     OnMaterialChanged();
                 }
@@ -247,11 +245,9 @@ namespace AZ
                 OnPropertyChanged();
             };
             
-            Data::Asset<RPI::MaterialAsset> assetToEdit = m_materialAsset.GetId().IsValid() ? m_materialAsset : m_defaultMaterialAsset;
-            
-            if (assetToEdit.GetId().IsValid())
+            if (m_materialAsset.GetId().IsValid())
             {
-                if (EditorMaterialComponentInspector::OpenInspectorDialog(assetToEdit.GetId(), m_matModUvOverrides, m_modelUvNames, applyMatModUvOverrideChangedCallback))
+                if (EditorMaterialComponentInspector::OpenInspectorDialog(m_materialAsset.GetId(), m_matModUvOverrides, m_modelUvNames, applyMatModUvOverrideChangedCallback))
                 {
                     OnMaterialChanged();
                 }