diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a71222989..982184454 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     Bug #4820: Spell absorption is broken
     Bug #4827: NiUVController is handled incorrectly
     Bug #4828: Potion looping effects VFX are not shown for NPCs
+    Bug #4837: CTD when a mesh with NiLODNode root node with particles is loaded
     Feature #2229: Improve pathfinding AI
     Feature #3442: Default values for fallbacks from ini file
     Feature #3610: Option to invert X axis
diff --git a/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp b/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
index 52e548a69..d45f37b25 100644
--- a/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
+++ b/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
@@ -434,8 +434,23 @@ namespace NifOsg
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> node;
             osg::Object::DataVariance dataVariance = osg::Object::UNSPECIFIED;
 
+            // TODO: it is unclear how to handle transformations of LOD and Switch nodes and controllers for them.
             switch (nifNode->recType)
             {
+            case Nif::RC_NiLODNode:
+            {
+                const Nif::NiLODNode* niLodNode = static_cast<const Nif::NiLODNode*>(nifNode);
+                node = handleLodNode(niLodNode);
+                dataVariance = osg::Object::STATIC;
+                break;
+            }
+            case Nif::RC_NiSwitchNode:
+            {
+                const Nif::NiSwitchNode* niSwitchNode = static_cast<const Nif::NiSwitchNode*>(nifNode);
+                node = handleSwitchNode(niSwitchNode);
+                dataVariance = osg::Object::STATIC;
+                break;
+            }
             case Nif::RC_NiTriShape:
             case Nif::RC_NiAutoNormalParticles:
             case Nif::RC_NiRotatingParticles:
@@ -597,35 +612,6 @@ namespace NifOsg
             if (nifNode->recType != Nif::RC_NiTriShape && !nifNode->controller.empty() && node->getDataVariance() == osg::Object::DYNAMIC)
                 handleNodeControllers(nifNode, static_cast<osg::MatrixTransform*>(node.get()), animflags);
 
-            if (nifNode->recType == Nif::RC_NiLODNode)
-            {
-                const Nif::NiLODNode* niLodNode = static_cast<const Nif::NiLODNode*>(nifNode);
-                osg::ref_ptr<osg::LOD> lod = handleLodNode(niLodNode);
-                node->addChild(lod); // unsure if LOD should be above or below this node's transform
-                node = lod;
-            }
-
-            if (nifNode->recType == Nif::RC_NiSwitchNode)
-            {
-                const Nif::NiSwitchNode* niSwitchNode = static_cast<const Nif::NiSwitchNode*>(nifNode);
-                osg::ref_ptr<osg::Switch> switchNode = handleSwitchNode(niSwitchNode);
-                node->addChild(switchNode);
-
-                if (niSwitchNode->name == Constants::NightDayLabel && !SceneUtil::hasUserDescription(rootNode, Constants::NightDayLabel))
-                    rootNode->getOrCreateUserDataContainer()->addDescription(Constants::NightDayLabel);
-
-                const Nif::NodeList &children = niSwitchNode->children;
-                for(size_t i = 0;i < children.length();++i)
-                {
-                    if(!children[i].empty())
-                        handleNode(children[i].getPtr(), switchNode, imageManager, boundTextures, animflags, skipMeshes, hasMarkers, isAnimated, textKeys, rootNode);
-                }
-
-                // show only first child by default
-                switchNode->setSingleChildOn(0);
-                return switchNode;
-            }
-
             const Nif::NiNode *ninode = dynamic_cast<const Nif::NiNode*>(nifNode);
             if(ninode)
             {
@@ -644,6 +630,16 @@ namespace NifOsg
                 }
             }
 
+            if (nifNode->recType == Nif::RC_NiSwitchNode)
+            {
+                // show only first child by default
+                node->asSwitch()->setSingleChildOn(0);
+
+                const Nif::NiSwitchNode* niSwitchNode = static_cast<const Nif::NiSwitchNode*>(nifNode);
+                if (niSwitchNode->name == Constants::NightDayLabel && !SceneUtil::hasUserDescription(rootNode, Constants::NightDayLabel))
+                    rootNode->getOrCreateUserDataContainer()->addDescription(Constants::NightDayLabel);
+            }
+
             return node;
         }