diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/painter.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/painter.cpp
index b70f91906..e2a3df625 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/painter.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/painter.cpp
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ void Painter::render(const Style& style, TransformState state_, TimePoint time)
                 }
             } else {
                 const gl::group group("background");
+                setStrata(i * strata_thickness);
                 renderBackground(item.layer);
             }
         }