diff --git a/clutter/cogl/cogl.h.in b/clutter/cogl/cogl.h.in
index b3b0584b0..bd3698312 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/cogl.h.in
+++ b/clutter/cogl/cogl.h.in
@@ -325,9 +325,9 @@ void            cogl_enable_depth_test        (gboolean            setting);
  *
  * Sets whether textures positioned so that their backface is showing
  * should be hidden. This can be used to efficiently draw two-sided
- * textures or fully closed cubes without enabling depth testing. Only
- * calls to cogl_texture_rectangle() and cogl_texture_polygon() are
- * affected. Backface culling is disabled by default.
+ * textures or fully closed cubes without enabling depth testing. This
+ * only affects calls to the cogl_rectangle* family of functions and
+ * cogl_vertex_buffer_draw*. Backface culling is disabled by default.
  */
 void            cogl_enable_backface_culling  (gboolean            setting);
 
diff --git a/clutter/cogl/common/cogl-vertex-buffer.c b/clutter/cogl/common/cogl-vertex-buffer.c
index b7e004a49..28c9df46b 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/common/cogl-vertex-buffer.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/common/cogl-vertex-buffer.c
@@ -1647,6 +1647,9 @@ enable_state_for_drawing_buffer (CoglVertexBuffer *buffer)
 
   enable_flags |= cogl_material_get_cogl_enable_flags (ctx->source_material);
 
+  if (ctx->enable_backface_culling)
+    enable_flags |= COGL_ENABLE_BACKFACE_CULLING;
+
   cogl_enable (enable_flags);
 }