diff --git a/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/entity/EntityHumanNPC.java b/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/entity/EntityHumanNPC.java
index 7556dacd6..e8680df94 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/entity/EntityHumanNPC.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/entity/EntityHumanNPC.java
@@ -235,6 +235,8 @@ public class EntityHumanNPC extends EntityPlayer implements NPCHolder, Skinnable
         controllerMove = new PlayerControllerMove(this);
         navigation = new PlayerNavigation(this, world);
         NMS.setStepHeight(this, 1); // the default (0) breaks step climbing
+
+        setSkinFlags((byte)0xFF);
     }
 
     public boolean isNavigating() {
@@ -278,6 +280,18 @@ public class EntityHumanNPC extends EntityPlayer implements NPCHolder, Skinnable
         controllerJump.a();
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void setSkinFlags(byte flags) {
+        // set skin flag byte (DataWatcher API is lacking so
+        // catch the NPE as a sign that this is a MC 1.7 server without the
+        // skin flag)
+        try {
+            getDataWatcher().watch(10, flags);
+        } catch (NullPointerException e) {
+            getDataWatcher().a(10, flags);
+        }
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void setSkinName(String name) {
         Preconditions.checkNotNull(name);
@@ -333,15 +347,6 @@ public class EntityHumanNPC extends EntityPlayer implements NPCHolder, Skinnable
     private void updatePackets(boolean navigating) {
 
         if (world.getWorld().getFullTime() % Setting.PACKET_UPDATE_DELAY.asInt() == 0) {
-            // set skin flag byte to all visible (DataWatcher API is lacking so
-            // catch the NPE as a sign that this is a MC 1.7 server without the
-            // skin flag)
-            try {
-                datawatcher.watch(10, Byte.valueOf((byte) 127));
-            } catch (NullPointerException e) {
-                datawatcher.a(10, Byte.valueOf((byte) 127));
-            }
-
             Location current = getBukkitEntity().getLocation(packetLocationCache);
             Packet<?>[] packets = new Packet[navigating ? 5 : 6];
             if (!navigating) {
@@ -422,6 +427,11 @@ public class EntityHumanNPC extends EntityPlayer implements NPCHolder, Skinnable
             cserver.getEntityMetadata().setMetadata(this, metadataKey, newMetadataValue);
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public void setSkinFlags(byte flags) {
+            ((SkinnableEntity) this.entity).setSkinFlags(flags);
+        }
+
         @Override
         public void setSkinName(String name) {
             ((SkinnableEntity) this.entity).setSkinName(name);
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/skin/SkinnableEntity.java b/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/skin/SkinnableEntity.java
index e98a54f2e..d3b91eac6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/skin/SkinnableEntity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/citizensnpcs/npc/skin/SkinnableEntity.java
@@ -9,11 +9,6 @@ import org.bukkit.entity.Player;
  */
 public interface SkinnableEntity extends NPCHolder {
 
-    /**
-     * Get the entities skin packet tracker.
-     */
-    SkinPacketTracker getSkinTracker();
-
     /**
      * Get the bukkit entity.
      */
@@ -29,12 +24,33 @@ public interface SkinnableEntity extends NPCHolder {
      */
     String getSkinName();
 
+    /**
+     * Get the entities skin packet tracker.
+     */
+    SkinPacketTracker getSkinTracker();
+
+    /**
+     * Set the bit flags that represent the skin layer parts visibility.
+     *
+     * <p>
+     * Setting the skin flags automatically updates the NPC skin.
+     * </p>
+     *
+     * @param flags
+     *            The bit flags.
+     */
+    void setSkinFlags(byte flags);
+
     /**
      * Set the name of the player whose skin the NPC
      * uses.
      *
-     * <p>Setting the skin name automatically updates and
-     * respawn the NPC.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Setting the skin name automatically updates and respawn the NPC.
+     * </p>
+     *
+     * @param name
+     *            The skin name.
      */
     void setSkinName(String name);
 }