diff --git a/include/wx/bookctrl.h b/include/wx/bookctrl.h
index 4cea68ba31..d1dfe04f50 100644
--- a/include/wx/bookctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/bookctrl.h
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ public:
     // calculate the size of the control from the size of its page
     virtual wxSize CalcSizeFromPage(const wxSize& sizePage) const = 0;
 
+    // get the default alignment
+    virtual int GetDefaultAlignment() const { return wxBK_TOP; }
+
     // get/set size of area between book control area and page area
     unsigned int GetInternalBorder() const { return m_internalBorder; }
     void SetInternalBorder(unsigned int border) { m_internalBorder = border; }
@@ -127,7 +130,7 @@ public:
     int GetControlMargin() const { return m_controlMargin; }
 
     // returns true if we have wxBK_TOP or wxBK_BOTTOM style
-    bool IsVertical() const { return HasFlag(wxBK_BOTTOM | wxBK_TOP); }
+    bool IsVertical() const { return HasFlag(wxBK_ALIGN_MASK) ? HasFlag(wxBK_BOTTOM | wxBK_TOP) : (0 != (GetDefaultAlignment() & (wxBK_BOTTOM | wxBK_TOP))); }
 
     // set/get option to shrink to fit current page
     void SetFitToCurrentPage(bool fit) { m_fitToCurrentPage = fit; }
diff --git a/src/common/bookctrl.cpp b/src/common/bookctrl.cpp
index 0d86e64008..e8539c12f4 100644
--- a/src/common/bookctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/common/bookctrl.cpp
@@ -268,7 +268,11 @@ wxRect wxBookCtrlBase::GetPageRect() const
 
     wxPoint pt;
     wxRect rectPage(pt, GetClientSize());
-    switch ( GetWindowStyle() & wxBK_ALIGN_MASK )
+    long style = GetWindowStyle();
+    if ( !HasFlag(wxBK_ALIGN_MASK) )
+        style = GetDefaultAlignment();
+
+    switch ( style )
     {
         default:
             wxFAIL_MSG( _T("unexpected alignment") );