diff --git a/gtk/gtkinscription.c b/gtk/gtkinscription.c
index c8937df9e9..5f13063fb6 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkinscription.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkinscription.c
@@ -233,6 +233,24 @@ gtk_inscription_set_property (GObject      *object,
     }
 }
 
+static void
+update_pango_alignment (GtkInscription *self)
+{
+  PangoAlignment align;
+  gboolean ltr;
+
+  ltr = _gtk_widget_get_direction (GTK_WIDGET (self)) != GTK_TEXT_DIR_RTL;
+
+  if (self->xalign < 0.33)
+      align = ltr ? PANGO_ALIGN_LEFT : PANGO_ALIGN_RIGHT;
+  else if (self->xalign < 0.67)
+      align = PANGO_ALIGN_CENTER;
+  else
+      align = ltr ? PANGO_ALIGN_RIGHT : PANGO_ALIGN_LEFT;
+
+  pango_layout_set_alignment (self->layout, align);
+}
+
 static void
 gtk_inscription_update_layout_attributes (GtkInscription *self,
                                           PangoAttrList  *css_attrs)
@@ -267,6 +285,17 @@ gtk_inscription_css_changed (GtkWidget         *widget,
     }
 }
 
+static void
+gtk_inscription_direction_changed (GtkWidget        *widget,
+                                   GtkTextDirection  previous_direction)
+{
+  GtkInscription *self = GTK_INSCRIPTION (widget);
+
+  GTK_WIDGET_CLASS (gtk_inscription_parent_class)->direction_changed (widget, previous_direction);
+
+  update_pango_alignment (self);
+}
+
 static PangoFontMetrics *
 gtk_inscription_get_font_metrics (GtkInscription *self)
 {
@@ -491,6 +520,7 @@ gtk_inscription_class_init (GtkInscriptionClass *klass)
   gobject_class->set_property = gtk_inscription_set_property;
 
   widget_class->css_changed = gtk_inscription_css_changed;
+  widget_class->direction_changed = gtk_inscription_direction_changed;
   widget_class->measure = gtk_inscription_measure;
   widget_class->size_allocate = gtk_inscription_allocate;
   widget_class->snapshot = gtk_inscription_snapshot;
@@ -700,6 +730,7 @@ gtk_inscription_init (GtkInscription *self)
 
   self->layout = gtk_widget_create_pango_layout (GTK_WIDGET (self), NULL);
   pango_layout_set_wrap (self->layout, PANGO_WRAP_WORD_CHAR);
+  update_pango_alignment (self);
 }
 
 /* for a11y */
@@ -988,6 +1019,8 @@ gtk_inscription_set_xalign (GtkInscription *self,
 
   self->xalign = xalign;
 
+  update_pango_alignment (self);
+
   gtk_widget_queue_draw (GTK_WIDGET (self));
 
   g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (self), properties[PROP_XALIGN]);