diff --git a/src/QuiltiX/quiltix.py b/src/QuiltiX/quiltix.py
index a5ada6c..aeeb2f0 100644
--- a/src/QuiltiX/quiltix.py
+++ b/src/QuiltiX/quiltix.py
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ def on_mx_file_loaded(self, path):
         if self.act_apply_mat.isChecked():
             self.stage_ctrl.apply_first_material_to_all_prims()
         self.stage_tree_widget.refresh_tree()
+        self.hide_node_defs()
 
     def on_node_graph_changed(self, nodegraph):
         if self.act_apply_mat.isChecked():
@@ -366,6 +367,12 @@ def init_menu_bar(self):
         self.act_ng_abstraction.setChecked(True)
         self.options_menu.addAction(self.act_ng_abstraction)
 
+        self.act_hide_defs = QAction("Hide nodegraph definitions", self)
+        self.act_hide_defs.setCheckable(True)
+        self.act_hide_defs.setChecked(True)
+        self.act_hide_defs.toggled.connect(self.hide_node_defs)
+        self.options_menu.addAction(self.act_hide_defs)
+
         self.act_validate = QAction("Validate MaterialX document...", self)
         self.act_validate.triggered.connect(self.validate)
         self.options_menu.addAction(self.act_validate)
@@ -727,6 +734,14 @@ def register_qx_nodes(self):
 
         self.qx_node_graph.register_node(qx_node.QxGroupNode)
 
+    def hide_node_defs(self, hide=None):
+        if hide is None:
+            hide = self.act_hide_defs.isChecked()
+
+        for node in self.qx_node_graph.all_nodes():
+            if node.get_property("nodedef"):
+                node.view.setVisible(not hide)
+
     def validate(self, doc=None, popup=True):
         result = self.qx_node_graph.validate_mtlx_doc(doc)
         if result[0]:
diff --git a/src/QuiltiX/qx_nodegraph.py b/src/QuiltiX/qx_nodegraph.py
index caafa8f..2fdbf37 100644
--- a/src/QuiltiX/qx_nodegraph.py
+++ b/src/QuiltiX/qx_nodegraph.py
@@ -923,6 +923,7 @@ def create_nodegraph_from_mx_nodegraph(
             pos=pos,
             push_undo=push_undo
         )
+        qx_node.create_property("nodedef", mx_node.getNodeDef())
         if create_ports:
             for output in mx_node.getOutputs():
                 color = qx_node_module.QxNodeBase._random_color_from_string(str(output.getType()))