diff --git a/src/graphics/lod_node.cpp b/src/graphics/lod_node.cpp
index 1fea813a6..31ab6d731 100644
--- a/src/graphics/lod_node.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/lod_node.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ int LODNode::getLevel()
     if (camera == NULL)
         return (int)m_detail.size() - 1;
     AbstractKart* kart = camera->getKart();
-    const Vec3 &pos = kart->getFrontXYZ();
+    // use kart position and not camera position when a kart is available,
+    // because for some effects the camera will be moved to various locations
+    // (for instance shadows), so using camera position for LOD may result
+    // in objects being culled when they shouldn't
+    const Vec3 &pos = (kart != NULL ? kart->getFrontXYZ() : camera->getCameraSceneNode()->getAbsolutePosition());
 
     const int dist =
         (int)((m_nodes[0]->getAbsolutePosition()).getDistanceFromSQ(pos.toIrrVector() ));