diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex_weight_ops.c b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex_weight_ops.c
index 73014f9f2de..9b8252e1add 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex_weight_ops.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex_weight_ops.c
@@ -594,6 +594,7 @@ typedef struct WPGradient_userData {
 
   /* options */
   bool use_select;
+  bool use_vgroup_restrict;
   short type;
   float weightpaint;
 } WPGradient_userData;
@@ -602,8 +603,13 @@ static void gradientVert_update(WPGradient_userData *grad_data, int index)
 {
   Mesh *me = grad_data->me;
   WPGradient_vertStore *vs = &grad_data->vert_cache->elem[index];
-  float alpha;
 
+  /* Optionally restrict to assigned verices only. */
+  if (grad_data->use_vgroup_restrict && ((vs->flag & VGRAD_STORE_DW_EXIST) == 0)) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  float alpha;
   if (grad_data->type == WPAINT_GRADIENT_TYPE_LINEAR) {
     alpha = line_point_factor_v2(vs->sco, grad_data->sco_start, grad_data->sco_end);
   }
@@ -815,6 +821,7 @@ static int paint_weight_gradient_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
 
     data.brush = brush;
     data.weightpaint = BKE_brush_weight_get(scene, brush);
+    data.use_vgroup_restrict = (ts->wpaint->flag & VP_FLAG_VGROUP_RESTRICT) != 0;
   }
 
   ED_view3d_init_mats_rv3d(ob, region->regiondata);