diff --git a/compositor/main.c b/compositor/main.c
index 54fa312f..1092204f 100644
--- a/compositor/main.c
+++ b/compositor/main.c
@@ -1286,6 +1286,7 @@ load_drm_backend(struct weston_compositor *c,
 	struct weston_drm_backend_config config = {{ 0, }};
 	struct weston_config_section *section;
 	struct wet_compositor *wet = to_wet_compositor(c);
+	int use_shadow;
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	wet->drm_use_current_mode = false;
@@ -1306,6 +1307,8 @@ load_drm_backend(struct weston_compositor *c,
 					 NULL);
 	weston_config_section_get_uint(section, "pageflip-timeout",
 	                               &config.pageflip_timeout, 0);
+	weston_config_section_get_bool(section, "pixman-shadow", &use_shadow, 1);
+	config.use_pixman_shadow = use_shadow;
 
 	config.base.struct_version = WESTON_DRM_BACKEND_CONFIG_VERSION;
 	config.base.struct_size = sizeof(struct weston_drm_backend_config);
diff --git a/man/weston-drm.man b/man/weston-drm.man
index 6518563a..d4cb75a7 100644
--- a/man/weston-drm.man
+++ b/man/weston-drm.man
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ Transform for the output, which can be rotated in 90-degree steps
 and possibly flipped. Possible values are
 .BR normal ", " 90 ", " 180 ", " 270 ", "
 .BR flipped ", " flipped-90 ", " flipped-180 ", and " flipped-270 .
+.TP
+\fBpixman-shadow\fR=\fIboolean\fR
+If using the Pixman-renderer, use shadow framebuffers. Defaults to
+.BR true .
 .
 .\" ***************************************************************
 .SH OPTIONS