Index: gnome-panel/panel-menu-bar.c
===================================================================
--- gnome-panel/panel-menu-bar.c	(revision 10191)
+++ gnome-panel/panel-menu-bar.c	(working copy)
@@ -529,9 +529,16 @@ set_item_text_angle_and_alignment (GtkWi
 				   float      xalign,
 				   float      yalign)
 {
-	GtkWidget *label;
+	GtkWidget *label = GTK_BIN (item)->child;
 
-	label = GTK_BIN (item)->child;
+#if defined(PANGO_VERSION_CHECK) && PANGO_VERSION_CHECK(1,15,4)
+	PangoLayout *layout;
+	PangoContext *context;
+
+	layout = gtk_label_get_layout (label);
+	context = pango_layout_get_context (layout);
+	pango_context_set_base_gravity (context, PANGO_GRAVITY_AUTO);
+#endif
 
 	gtk_label_set_angle (GTK_LABEL (label), text_angle);