diff --git a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.cpp b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.cpp
index b1555a5ba2..ee03567894 100644
--- a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.cpp
+++ b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ HdEmbree_Light::Sync(HdSceneDelegate *sceneDelegate,
     // Store luminance parameters
     _lightData.intensity = sceneDelegate->GetLightParamValue(
         id, HdLightTokens->intensity).GetWithDefault(1.0f);
+    _lightData.diffuse = sceneDelegate->GetLightParamValue(
+        id, HdLightTokens->diffuse).GetWithDefault(1.0f);
     _lightData.exposure = sceneDelegate->GetLightParamValue(
         id, HdLightTokens->exposure).GetWithDefault(0.0f);
     _lightData.color = sceneDelegate->GetLightParamValue(
diff --git a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.h b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.h
index 906ba185bc..2dd44d0898 100644
--- a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.h
+++ b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/light.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ struct HdEmbree_LightData
     GfMatrix4f xformWorldToLight;
     GfVec3f color;
     float intensity = 1.0f;
+    float diffuse = 1.0f;
     float exposure = 0.0f;
     float colorTemperature = 6500.0f;
     bool enableColorTemperature = false;
diff --git a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/renderer.cpp b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/renderer.cpp
index 276110c405..345f27a1d5 100644
--- a/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/renderer.cpp
+++ b/pxr/imaging/plugin/hdEmbree/renderer.cpp
@@ -402,7 +402,9 @@ _SampleCylinder(GfMatrix4f const& xf, GfMatrix3f const& normalXform,
 GfVec3f
 _EvalLightBasic(HdEmbree_LightData const& light)
 {
-    GfVec3f Le = light.color * light.intensity * powf(2.0f, light.exposure);
+    // Our current material model is always 100% diffuse, so diffuse parameter
+    // is a stright multiplier
+    GfVec3f Le = light.color * light.intensity * light.diffuse * powf(2.0f, light.exposure);
     if (light.enableColorTemperature) {
         Le = GfCompMult(Le,
             _BlackbodyTemperatureAsRgb(light.colorTemperature));