diff --git a/clutter/cogl/gl/cogl-context.c b/clutter/cogl/gl/cogl-context.c
index 14d6cbd38..bf24225ae 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/gl/cogl-context.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/gl/cogl-context.c
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ cogl_create_context ()
 
   _context->enable_flags = 0;
 
+  _context->enable_backface_culling = FALSE;
+
   _context->material_handles = NULL;
   _context->material_layer_handles = NULL;
   _context->default_material = cogl_material_new ();
diff --git a/clutter/cogl/gles/cogl-context.c b/clutter/cogl/gles/cogl-context.c
index ed8553e48..498896e61 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/gles/cogl-context.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/gles/cogl-context.c
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ cogl_create_context ()
 
   _context->enable_flags = 0;
 
+  _context->enable_backface_culling = FALSE;
+
   _context->material_handles = NULL;
   _context->material_layer_handles = NULL;
   _context->default_material = cogl_material_new ();