diff --git a/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx b/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
index f894f59b1a..ad96b0dc82 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/config_display.cxx
@@ -291,6 +291,9 @@ ConfigVariableInt stencil_bits
 ConfigVariableInt multisamples
 ("multisamples", 0,
  PRC_DESC("The minimum number of samples requested."));
+ConfigVariableInt back_buffers
+("back-buffers", 1,
+ PRC_DESC("The default number of back buffers requested."));
 
 ConfigVariableDouble background_color
 ("background-color", "0.41 0.41 0.41",
diff --git a/panda/src/display/config_display.h b/panda/src/display/config_display.h
index 777749a083..53dd702401 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/config_display.h
+++ b/panda/src/display/config_display.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableInt color_bits;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableInt alpha_bits;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableInt stencil_bits;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableInt multisamples;
+extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableInt back_buffers;
 
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableDouble background_color;
 extern EXPCL_PANDA_DISPLAY ConfigVariableBool sync_video;
diff --git a/panda/src/display/frameBufferProperties.cxx b/panda/src/display/frameBufferProperties.cxx
index 1228d133e3..b29ff95723 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/frameBufferProperties.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/frameBufferProperties.cxx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ subsumes(const FrameBufferProperties &other) const {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 const FrameBufferProperties &FrameBufferProperties::
 get_default() {
-  static bool                  default_ready = false;
+  static bool default_ready = false;
   static FrameBufferProperties default_props;
 
   if (default_ready) {
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ get_default() {
   }
 
   default_props.set_rgb_color(1);
-  default_props.set_back_buffers(1);
+  default_props.set_back_buffers(back_buffers);
   
   int num_words = framebuffer_mode.get_num_words();
   if (num_words > 0) {