diff --git a/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.cpp b/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.cpp
index 76d05624d60..fe7713f175c 100644
--- a/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.cpp
+++ b/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,19 @@
 #include "scene/resources/particle_process_material.h"
 #include "scene/resources/sky_material.h"
 
+void MaterialEditor::gui_input(const Ref<InputEvent> &p_event) {
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(p_event.is_null());
+
+	Ref<InputEventMouseMotion> mm = p_event;
+	if (mm.is_valid() && (mm->get_button_mask() & MouseButton::MASK_LEFT) != MouseButton::NONE) {
+		rot.x -= mm->get_relative().y * 0.01;
+		rot.y -= mm->get_relative().x * 0.01;
+
+		rot.x = CLAMP(rot.x, -Math_PI / 2, Math_PI / 2);
+		_update_rotation();
+	}
+}
+
 void MaterialEditor::_update_theme_item_cache() {
 	Control::_update_theme_item_cache();
 
@@ -77,6 +90,13 @@ void MaterialEditor::_notification(int p_what) {
 	}
 }
 
+void MaterialEditor::_update_rotation() {
+	Transform3D t;
+	t.basis.rotate(Vector3(0, 1, 0), -rot.y);
+	t.basis.rotate(Vector3(1, 0, 0), -rot.x);
+	rotation->set_transform(t);
+}
+
 void MaterialEditor::edit(Ref<Material> p_material, const Ref<Environment> &p_env) {
 	material = p_material;
 	camera->set_environment(p_env);
@@ -102,6 +122,10 @@ void MaterialEditor::edit(Ref<Material> p_material, const Ref<Environment> &p_en
 	} else {
 		hide();
 	}
+
+	rot.x = Math::deg_to_rad(-15.0);
+	rot.y = Math::deg_to_rad(30.0);
+	_update_rotation();
 }
 
 void MaterialEditor::_button_pressed(Node *p_button) {
@@ -130,9 +154,6 @@ void MaterialEditor::_button_pressed(Node *p_button) {
 	}
 }
 
-void MaterialEditor::_bind_methods() {
-}
-
 MaterialEditor::MaterialEditor() {
 	// canvas item
 
@@ -163,7 +184,7 @@ MaterialEditor::MaterialEditor() {
 	viewport->set_msaa_3d(Viewport::MSAA_4X);
 
 	camera = memnew(Camera3D);
-	camera->set_transform(Transform3D(Basis(), Vector3(0, 0, 3)));
+	camera->set_transform(Transform3D(Basis(), Vector3(0, 0, 1.1)));
 	// Use low field of view so the sphere/box is fully encompassed within the preview,
 	// without much distortion.
 	camera->set_perspective(20, 0.1, 10);
@@ -183,18 +204,17 @@ MaterialEditor::MaterialEditor() {
 	light2->set_color(Color(0.7, 0.7, 0.7));
 	viewport->add_child(light2);
 
+	rotation = memnew(Node3D);
+	viewport->add_child(rotation);
+
 	sphere_instance = memnew(MeshInstance3D);
-	viewport->add_child(sphere_instance);
+	rotation->add_child(sphere_instance);
 
 	box_instance = memnew(MeshInstance3D);
-	viewport->add_child(box_instance);
+	rotation->add_child(box_instance);
 
-	Transform3D box_xform;
-	box_xform.basis.rotate(Vector3(1, 0, 0), Math::deg_to_rad(25.0));
-	box_xform.basis = box_xform.basis * Basis().rotated(Vector3(0, 1, 0), Math::deg_to_rad(-25.0));
-	box_xform.basis.scale(Vector3(0.7, 0.7, 0.7));
-	box_xform.origin.y = 0.05;
-	box_instance->set_transform(box_xform);
+	box_instance->set_transform(Transform3D() * 0.25);
+	sphere_instance->set_transform(Transform3D() * 0.375);
 
 	sphere_mesh.instantiate();
 	sphere_instance->set_mesh(sphere_mesh);
diff --git a/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.h b/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.h
index 7ce6deee650..8e64434d8b8 100644
--- a/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.h
+++ b/editor/plugins/material_editor_plugin.h
@@ -45,11 +45,14 @@ class SubViewportContainer;
 class MaterialEditor : public Control {
 	GDCLASS(MaterialEditor, Control);
 
+	Vector2 rot = Vector2();
+
 	HBoxContainer *layout_2d = nullptr;
 	ColorRect *rect_instance = nullptr;
 
 	SubViewportContainer *vc = nullptr;
 	SubViewport *viewport = nullptr;
+	Node3D *rotation = nullptr;
 	MeshInstance3D *sphere_instance = nullptr;
 	MeshInstance3D *box_instance = nullptr;
 	DirectionalLight3D *light1 = nullptr;
@@ -87,7 +90,8 @@ class MaterialEditor : public Control {
 protected:
 	virtual void _update_theme_item_cache() override;
 	void _notification(int p_what);
-	static void _bind_methods();
+	void gui_input(const Ref<InputEvent> &p_event) override;
+	void _update_rotation();
 
 public:
 	void edit(Ref<Material> p_material, const Ref<Environment> &p_env);