diff --git a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
index 9baee9ead9..367b64d2da 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
@@ -297,7 +297,9 @@ void BitmapText::DrawPrimitives()
 		DISPLAY->SetBlendModeNormal();
 
 
-	if( m_temp.diffuse[0].a != 0 )
+	/* Draw if we're not fully transparent or the zbuffer is enabled (which ignores
+	 * alpha). */
+	if( m_temp.diffuse[0].a != 0 || DISPLAY->ZBufferEnabled())
 	{
 		//////////////////////
 		// render the shadow
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
index 878d33c8e7..f6ae37955e 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
@@ -267,10 +267,9 @@ void Sprite::DrawPrimitives()
 	else
 		DISPLAY->SetBlendModeNormal();
 
-
-
-
-	if( m_temp.diffuse[0].a != 0 )
+	/* Draw if we're not fully transparent or the zbuffer is enabled (which ignores
+	 * alpha). */
+	if( m_temp.diffuse[0].a != 0 || DISPLAY->ZBufferEnabled())
 	{
 		//////////////////////
 		// render the shadow