diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/groundcover.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/groundcover.cpp
index 0baa85c52a..fd22462539 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/groundcover.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/groundcover.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <osg/VertexAttribDivisor>
 
 #include <components/esm/esmreader.hpp>
+#include <components/sceneutil/lightmanager.hpp>
 
 #include "apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
 #include "apps/openmw/mwbase/environment.hpp"
@@ -271,6 +272,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         group->getOrCreateStateSet()->setAttributeAndModes(alpha.get(), osg::StateAttribute::ON);
         group->getBound();
         group->setNodeMask(Mask_Groundcover);
+        if (mSceneManager->getLightingMethod() != SceneUtil::LightingMethod::FFP)
+            group->setCullCallback(new SceneUtil::LightListCallback);
         mSceneManager->recreateShaders(group, "groundcover", false, true);
 
         return group;
diff --git a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst
index e1acd9411b..6af5e9ba02 100644
--- a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst
+++ b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ Sets the internal handling of light sources.
 'legacy' is restricted to a maximum of 8 lights per object and guarantees fixed function pipeline compatible lighting.
 
 'default' removes the light limit via :ref:`max lights` and follows a new attenuation formula which can drastically reduce light popping and seams.
+This mode also enables vertex lighting on groundcover, which is otherwise completely disabled with 'legacy'.
 It is recommended to use this mode with older hardware, as the technique ensures a range of compatibility equal to that of 'legacy'.
 
 'experimental' carries all of the benefits that 'legacy' has, but uses a modern approach that allows for a higher 'max lights' count with little to no performance penalties on modern hardware.