diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/AbstractShadowRenderer.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/AbstractShadowRenderer.java
index d1b4586b3..6fd739713 100644
--- a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/AbstractShadowRenderer.java
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/shadow/AbstractShadowRenderer.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractShadowRenderer implements SceneProcessor, Savable
     protected CompareMode shadowCompareMode = CompareMode.Hardware;
     protected Picture[] dispPic;
     protected RenderState forcedRenderState = new RenderState();
-    protected Boolean renderBackFacesShadows;
+    protected Boolean renderBackFacesShadows = true;
 
     /**
      * true if the fallback material should be used, otherwise false