diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.cpp b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.cpp
index 20d1b587b5..76aee99e52 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.cpp
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.cpp
@@ -60,13 +60,17 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
         AZ::Data::AssetCatalogRequestBus::Broadcast(&AZ::Data::AssetCatalogRequestBus::Events::EnumerateAssets, nullptr, enumerateCB, nullptr);
 
         //Update the material type file info whenever the combo box selection changes 
-        QObject::connect(m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox, static_cast<void(QComboBox::*)(const int)>(&QComboBox::currentIndexChanged), m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox, [this](int index) {
-            QVariant data = m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->itemData(index);
-            m_materialTypeFileInfo = QFileInfo(data.toString());
-            });
+        QObject::connect(m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox, static_cast<void (QComboBox::*)(const int)>(&QComboBox::currentIndexChanged), this, [this]() { UpdateMaterialTypeSelection(); });
+        QObject::connect(m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox, &QComboBox::currentTextChanged, this, [this]() { UpdateMaterialTypeSelection(); });
 
-        //Select StandardPBR by default but we will later data drive this with editor settings
-        m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->setCurrentText("StandardPBR");
+        // Select StandardPBR by default but we will later data drive this with editor settings
+        const int index = m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->findText("StandardPBR");
+        if (index >= 0)
+        {
+            m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->setCurrentIndex(index);
+        }
+
+        UpdateMaterialTypeSelection();
     }
 
     void CreateMaterialDialog::InitMaterialFileSelection()
@@ -88,15 +92,24 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
                 m_materialFileInfo.absoluteFilePath(),
                 QString("Material (*.material)"));
 
-            //Reject empty or invalid filenames which indicate user cancellation
+            // Reject empty or invalid filenames which indicate user cancellation
             if (!fileInfo.absoluteFilePath().isEmpty())
             {
                 m_materialFileInfo = fileInfo;
                 m_ui->m_materialFilePicker->setText(m_materialFileInfo.fileName());
             }
-            });
+        });
     }
 
+    void CreateMaterialDialog::UpdateMaterialTypeSelection()
+    {
+        const int index = m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->currentIndex();
+        if (index >= 0)
+        {
+            const QVariant itemData = m_ui->m_materialTypeComboBox->itemData(index);
+            m_materialTypeFileInfo = QFileInfo(itemData.toString());
+        }
+    }
 } // namespace MaterialEditor
 
 #include <Window/CreateMaterialDialog/moc_CreateMaterialDialog.cpp>
diff --git a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.h b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.h
index bf39671343..54d7c2175d 100644
--- a/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.h
+++ b/Gems/Atom/Tools/MaterialEditor/Code/Source/Window/CreateMaterialDialog/CreateMaterialDialog.h
@@ -36,5 +36,6 @@ namespace MaterialEditor
         QScopedPointer<Ui::CreateMaterialDialog> m_ui;
         void InitMaterialTypeSelection();
         void InitMaterialFileSelection();
+        void UpdateMaterialTypeSelection();
     };
 } // namespace MaterialEditor