diff --git a/src/serializers/USDSerializer.cpp b/src/serializers/USDSerializer.cpp
index 8cbb2a1986..870b15f696 100644
--- a/src/serializers/USDSerializer.cpp
+++ b/src/serializers/USDSerializer.cpp
@@ -44,19 +44,14 @@ USDSerializer::USDSerializer(const std::string& out_filename, const SerializerSe
   	auto world = pxr::UsdGeomXform::Define(stage_, pxr::SdfPath("/World"));
   	stage_->SetDefaultPrim(world.GetPrim());
   	pxr::UsdGeomScope::Define(stage_, pxr::SdfPath("/Looks"));
-  	createLighting();
+  	auto light = pxr::UsdLuxDistantLight::Define(stage_, pxr::SdfPath("/defaultLight"));
+  	light.CreateIntensityAttr().Set(1000.0f);
+  	light.CreateColorAttr().Set(pxr::GfVec3f(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f));
   	ready_ = true;
 }
 
 USDSerializer::~USDSerializer() {
-	
-}
 
-void USDSerializer::createLighting() {
-  	const std::string& light_path = "/World/defaultLight";
-  	auto light = pxr::UsdLuxDistantLight::Define(stage_, pxr::SdfPath(light_path));
-  	light.CreateIntensityAttr().Set(1000.0f);
-  	light.CreateColorAttr().Set(pxr::GfVec3f(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f));
 }
 
 std::vector<pxr::UsdShadeMaterial> USDSerializer::createMaterials(const std::vector<IfcGeom::Material>& styles) 
diff --git a/src/serializers/USDSerializer.h b/src/serializers/USDSerializer.h
index ca950961f1..ce23ee2316 100644
--- a/src/serializers/USDSerializer.h
+++ b/src/serializers/USDSerializer.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include <map>
 
 namespace usd_utils {
+	// creates a valid USD path from a string
 	inline std::string toPath(std::string& s) {
 		std::replace_if(s.begin(), s.end(),
 			[](char c) { return c < 48 || (c < 65 && c > 57) || (c < 97 && c > 90) || c > 122; },
@@ -65,7 +66,6 @@ private:
 	std::map<std::string, pxr::UsdShadeMaterial> materials_;
 
 	std::vector<pxr::UsdShadeMaterial> createMaterials(const std::vector<IfcGeom::Material>&);
-    void createLighting();
 public:
 	USDSerializer(const std::string&, const SerializerSettings&);
 	virtual ~USDSerializer();