diff --git a/gtk/gtkboxgadget.c b/gtk/gtkboxgadget.c
index c5657a9261..e47f64b03a 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkboxgadget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkboxgadget.c
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@
 typedef struct _GtkBoxGadgetPrivate GtkBoxGadgetPrivate;
 struct _GtkBoxGadgetPrivate {
   GtkOrientation orientation;
-  gboolean draw_focus;
   GArray *children;
+
+  guint draw_focus : 1;
+  guint draw_reverse : 1;
 };
 
 typedef gboolean (* ComputeExpandFunc) (GObject *object, GtkOrientation orientation);
@@ -452,9 +454,10 @@ gtk_box_gadget_draw (GtkCssGadget *gadget,
   GtkWidget *owner = gtk_css_gadget_get_owner (gadget);
   guint i;
 
-  for (i = 0 ; i < priv->children->len; i++)
+  for (i = 0; i < priv->children->len; i++)
     {
-      GtkBoxGadgetChild *child = &g_array_index (priv->children, GtkBoxGadgetChild, i);
+      guint draw_index = priv->draw_reverse ? priv->children->len - 1 - i : i;
+      GtkBoxGadgetChild *child = &g_array_index (priv->children, GtkBoxGadgetChild, draw_index);
 
       if (GTK_IS_WIDGET (child->object))
         gtk_container_propagate_draw (GTK_CONTAINER (owner), GTK_WIDGET (child->object), cr);
@@ -559,6 +562,15 @@ gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_focus (GtkBoxGadget *gadget,
   priv->draw_focus = draw_focus;
 }
 
+void
+gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GtkBoxGadget *gadget,
+                                 gboolean      draw_reverse)
+{
+  GtkBoxGadgetPrivate *priv = gtk_box_gadget_get_instance_private (gadget);
+
+  priv->draw_reverse = draw_reverse;
+}
+
 static GtkCssNode *
 get_css_node (GObject *child)
 {
diff --git a/gtk/gtkboxgadgetprivate.h b/gtk/gtkboxgadgetprivate.h
index e59ab9afd9..2fd224010d 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkboxgadgetprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkboxgadgetprivate.h
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ void                    gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation          (GtkBoxGadget
                                                                  GtkOrientation          orientation);
 void                    gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_focus           (GtkBoxGadget           *gadget,
                                                                  gboolean                draw_focus);
+void                    gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse         (GtkBoxGadget           *gadget,
+                                                                 gboolean                draw_reverse);
 
 void                    gtk_box_gadget_insert_widget            (GtkBoxGadget           *gadget,
                                                                  int                     pos,
diff --git a/gtk/gtknotebook.c b/gtk/gtknotebook.c
index abd62b2e77..4b2a75b6b5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtknotebook.c
+++ b/gtk/gtknotebook.c
@@ -1304,6 +1304,7 @@ gtk_notebook_init (GtkNotebook *notebook)
                                               GTK_WIDGET (notebook));
   gtk_css_gadget_add_class (priv->gadget, GTK_STYLE_CLASS_FRAME);
   gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
+  gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), TRUE);
 
   priv->stack_gadget = gtk_css_custom_gadget_new ("stack",
                                                   GTK_WIDGET (notebook),
@@ -6995,6 +6996,7 @@ gtk_notebook_update_tab_pos (GtkNotebook *notebook)
     case GTK_POS_TOP:
       if (priv->show_tabs)
         gtk_box_gadget_insert_gadget (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), 0, priv->header_gadget, FALSE, FALSE, GTK_ALIGN_FILL);
+      gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), TRUE);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->header_gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL);
       break;
@@ -7002,6 +7004,7 @@ gtk_notebook_update_tab_pos (GtkNotebook *notebook)
     case GTK_POS_BOTTOM:
       if (priv->show_tabs)
         gtk_box_gadget_insert_gadget (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), 1, priv->header_gadget, FALSE, FALSE, GTK_ALIGN_FILL);
+      gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), FALSE);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->header_gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL);
       break;
@@ -7009,6 +7012,7 @@ gtk_notebook_update_tab_pos (GtkNotebook *notebook)
     case GTK_POS_LEFT:
       if (priv->show_tabs)
         gtk_box_gadget_insert_gadget (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), 0, priv->header_gadget, FALSE, FALSE, GTK_ALIGN_FILL);
+      gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), TRUE);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->header_gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
       break;
@@ -7016,6 +7020,7 @@ gtk_notebook_update_tab_pos (GtkNotebook *notebook)
     case GTK_POS_RIGHT:
       if (priv->show_tabs)
         gtk_box_gadget_insert_gadget (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), 1, priv->header_gadget, FALSE, FALSE, GTK_ALIGN_FILL);
+      gtk_box_gadget_set_draw_reverse (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), FALSE);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_HORIZONTAL);
       gtk_box_gadget_set_orientation (GTK_BOX_GADGET (priv->header_gadget), GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL);
       break;