diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9e4cc7947..f6903ca0f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Change Log
 
+## wgpu-core-0.6.5 (2020-10-14)
+  - fix setting the stencil reference on an incompatible pipeline
+
 ## wgpu-core-0.6.4 (2020-10-05)
   - don't request device features that aren't needed
   - fix texture depth == 0 checks
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index def87599f..a0c35697a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1619,7 +1619,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "wgpu-core"
-version = "0.6.4"
+version = "0.6.5"
 dependencies = [
  "arrayvec",
  "bitflags",
diff --git a/wgpu-core/Cargo.toml b/wgpu-core/Cargo.toml
index 1ed57474a..cb865a9dd 100644
--- a/wgpu-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/wgpu-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "wgpu-core"
-version = "0.6.4"
+version = "0.6.5"
 authors = ["wgpu developers"]
 edition = "2018"
 description = "WebGPU core logic on gfx-hal"
diff --git a/wgpu-core/src/command/render.rs b/wgpu-core/src/command/render.rs
index 6dc994d99..7bcb07648 100644
--- a/wgpu-core/src/command/render.rs
+++ b/wgpu-core/src/command/render.rs
@@ -269,9 +269,10 @@ impl VertexState {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 struct State {
+    pipeline_flags: PipelineFlags,
     binder: Binder,
     blend_color: OptionalState,
-    stencil_reference: OptionalState,
+    stencil_reference: u32,
     pipeline: OptionalState,
     index: IndexState,
     vertex: VertexState,
@@ -294,9 +295,6 @@ impl State {
         if self.blend_color == OptionalState::Required {
             return Err(DrawError::MissingBlendColor);
         }
-        if self.stencil_reference == OptionalState::Required {
-            return Err(DrawError::MissingStencilReference);
-        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -929,9 +927,10 @@ impl<G: GlobalIdentityHandlerFactory> Global<G> {
         };
 
         let mut state = State {
+            pipeline_flags: PipelineFlags::empty(),
             binder: Binder::new(cmd_buf.limits.max_bind_groups),
             blend_color: OptionalState::Unused,
-            stencil_reference: OptionalState::Unused,
+            stencil_reference: 0,
             pipeline: OptionalState::Required,
             index: IndexState::default(),
             vertex: VertexState::default(),
@@ -995,12 +994,14 @@ impl<G: GlobalIdentityHandlerFactory> Global<G> {
                     };
                 }
                 RenderCommand::SetPipeline(pipeline_id) => {
-                    state.pipeline = OptionalState::Set;
                     let pipeline = trackers
                         .render_pipes
                         .use_extend(&*pipeline_guard, pipeline_id, (), ())
                         .unwrap();
 
+                    state.pipeline = OptionalState::Set;
+                    state.pipeline_flags = pipeline.flags;
+
                     if !context.compatible(&pipeline.pass_context) {
                         return Err(RenderCommandError::IncompatiblePipeline.into());
                     }
@@ -1013,14 +1014,20 @@ impl<G: GlobalIdentityHandlerFactory> Global<G> {
                     state
                         .blend_color
                         .require(pipeline.flags.contains(PipelineFlags::BLEND_COLOR));
-                    state
-                        .stencil_reference
-                        .require(pipeline.flags.contains(PipelineFlags::STENCIL_REFERENCE));
 
                     unsafe {
                         raw.bind_graphics_pipeline(&pipeline.raw);
                     }
 
+                    if pipeline.flags.contains(PipelineFlags::STENCIL_REFERENCE) {
+                        unsafe {
+                            raw.set_stencil_reference(
+                                hal::pso::Face::all(),
+                                state.stencil_reference,
+                            );
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     // Rebind resource
                     if state.binder.pipeline_layout_id != Some(pipeline.layout_id.value) {
                         let pipeline_layout = &pipeline_layout_guard[pipeline.layout_id.value];
@@ -1187,9 +1194,14 @@ impl<G: GlobalIdentityHandlerFactory> Global<G> {
                     }
                 }
                 RenderCommand::SetStencilReference(value) => {
-                    state.stencil_reference = OptionalState::Set;
-                    unsafe {
-                        raw.set_stencil_reference(hal::pso::Face::all(), value);
+                    state.stencil_reference = value;
+                    if state
+                        .pipeline_flags
+                        .contains(PipelineFlags::STENCIL_REFERENCE)
+                    {
+                        unsafe {
+                            raw.set_stencil_reference(hal::pso::Face::all(), value);
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 RenderCommand::SetViewport {
diff --git a/wgpu-core/src/device/mod.rs b/wgpu-core/src/device/mod.rs
index b81a742a2..2ddb3872a 100644
--- a/wgpu-core/src/device/mod.rs
+++ b/wgpu-core/src/device/mod.rs
@@ -2928,7 +2928,7 @@ impl<G: GlobalIdentityHandlerFactory> Global<G> {
             }
         }
         if let Some(ds) = depth_stencil_state.as_ref() {
-            if ds.stencil.needs_ref_value() {
+            if ds.stencil.is_enabled() && ds.stencil.needs_ref_value() {
                 flags |= pipeline::PipelineFlags::STENCIL_REFERENCE;
             }
             if !ds.is_read_only() {