diff --git a/src/flyable.cpp b/src/flyable.cpp
index 53d0e37ab..55d093edd 100644
--- a/src/flyable.cpp
+++ b/src/flyable.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ Flyable::~Flyable()
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void Flyable::getClosestKart(const Kart **minKart, float *minDistSquared,
-                             btVector3 *minDelta, const Kart* inFrontOf) const
+                             btVector3 *minDelta, const Kart* inFrontOf, const bool backwards) const
 {
     btTransform tProjectile = (inFrontOf != NULL ? inFrontOf->getTrans() : getTrans());
     
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ void Flyable::getClosestKart(const Kart **minKart, float *minDistSquared,
                                 trans.getBasis()[1][1],
                                 trans.getBasis()[2][1]);
             
-            float angle = to_target.angle(direction);
+            const float angle = to_target.angle( backwards ? -direction : direction );
             
             if(fabsf(angle) > 1) continue;
         }
diff --git a/src/flyable.hpp b/src/flyable.hpp
index 2d1c4c3eb..a935b3959 100644
--- a/src/flyable.hpp
+++ b/src/flyable.hpp
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ protected:
         Useful e.g. for throwing projectiles in front only.
      */
     void              getClosestKart(const Kart **minKart, float *minDistSquared, 
-                                     btVector3 *minDelta, const Kart* inFrontOf=NULL) const;
+                                     btVector3 *minDelta, const Kart* inFrontOf=NULL,
+                                     const bool backwards=false) const;
     /** init bullet for moving objects like projectiles */
     void              createPhysics(float y_offset, 
                                     const btVector3 velocity,
diff --git a/src/items/plunger.cpp b/src/items/plunger.cpp
index f5075758a..76ef61c98 100644
--- a/src/items/plunger.cpp
+++ b/src/items/plunger.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Plunger::Plunger(Kart *kart) : Flyable(kart, POWERUP_PLUNGER)
     
     // find closest kart in front of the current one
     const Kart *closest_kart=0;   btVector3 direction;   float kartDistSquared;
-    getClosestKart(&closest_kart, &kartDistSquared, &direction, kart /* search in front of this kart */);
+    getClosestKart(&closest_kart, &kartDistSquared, &direction, kart /* search in front of this kart */, m_reverse_mode);
     
     btTransform trans = kart->getTrans();
     
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Plunger::Plunger(Kart *kart) : Flyable(kart, POWERUP_PLUNGER)
     float pitch = kart->getTerrainPitch(heading);
 
     // aim at this kart if it's not too far
-    if(closest_kart != NULL && kartDistSquared < 30*30 && !m_reverse_mode) // aiming doesn't work backwards
+    if(closest_kart != NULL && kartDistSquared < 30*30)
     {
         const float time = sqrt(kartDistSquared) / (m_speed - closest_kart->getSpeed());
         
@@ -69,15 +69,18 @@ Plunger::Plunger(Kart *kart) : Flyable(kart, POWERUP_PLUNGER)
         btMatrix3x3 m;
         m.setEulerZYX(pitch, 0.0f, projectileAngle);
         trans.setBasis(m);
+        
+        createPhysics(y_offset, btVector3(0.0f, m_speed*2, 0.0f),
+                      new btCylinderShape(0.5f*m_extend), 0.0f /* gravity */, false /* rotates */, false, &trans );
     }
     else
     {
         trans = kart->getKartHeading();
+
+        createPhysics(y_offset, btVector3(0.0f, m_speed*2, 0.0f),
+                      new btCylinderShape(0.5f*m_extend), 0.0f /* gravity */, false /* rotates */, m_reverse_mode, &trans );
     }
     
-    createPhysics(y_offset, btVector3(0.0f, m_speed*2, 0.0f),
-                  new btCylinderShape(0.5f*m_extend), 0.0f /* gravity */, false /* rotates */, m_reverse_mode, &trans );
-    
     if(m_reverse_mode)
         m_rubber_band = NULL;
     else