diff --git a/doc/ReleaseNotes b/doc/ReleaseNotes
index 4cbfd69fb4..49ed03cd78 100644
--- a/doc/ReleaseNotes
+++ b/doc/ReleaseNotes
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ This issue fixes several bugs that were still found in 1.9.2.
 * Add normalized() method to vectors
 * asyncFlattenStrong with inPlace=True caused node to disappear
 * Fix asyncFlattenStrong called on nodes without parent
+* Fix is_playing() check when playing an animation backwards
 
 ------------------------  RELEASE 1.9.2  ------------------------
 
diff --git a/panda/src/putil/animInterface.cxx b/panda/src/putil/animInterface.cxx
index 515c54027a..690afa89d8 100644
--- a/panda/src/putil/animInterface.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/putil/animInterface.cxx
@@ -415,7 +415,12 @@ is_playing() const {
     return false;
 
   case PM_play:
-    return get_f() < _play_frames;
+    if (_effective_frame_rate < 0.0) {
+      // If we're playing backwards, check if we're at the beginning.
+      return get_f() > 0;
+   } else {
+      return get_f() < _play_frames;
+    }
 
   case PM_loop:
   case PM_pingpong: