diff --git a/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h b/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
index 1dbef0ba014..d235441d53e 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
+++ b/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ void uiExplicitBoundsBlock(uiBlock *block, int minx, int miny, int maxx, int max
 
 int     uiBlocksGetYMin(struct ListBase *lb);
 
-void    uiBlockSetDirection(uiBlock *block, int direction);
+void    uiBlockSetDirection(uiBlock *block, char direction);
 void    uiBlockFlipOrder(uiBlock *block);
 void    uiBlockSetFlag(uiBlock *block, int flag);
 void    uiBlockClearFlag(uiBlock *block, int flag);
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface.c b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface.c
index 2e6cb35faaa..aa3be71aa5d 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface.c
@@ -3684,7 +3684,7 @@ int uiBlocksGetYMin(ListBase *lb)
 	return min;
 }
 
-void uiBlockSetDirection(uiBlock *block, int direction)
+void uiBlockSetDirection(uiBlock *block, char direction)
 {
 	block->direction = direction;
 }
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_layout.c b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_layout.c
index e27177be4b4..57e7ebfd800 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_layout.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_layout.c
@@ -1793,6 +1793,9 @@ static void menu_item_enum_opname_menu(bContext *UNUSED(C), uiLayout *layout, vo
 
 	uiLayoutSetOperatorContext(layout, lvl->opcontext);
 	uiItemsEnumO(layout, lvl->opname, lvl->propname);
+
+	/* override default, needed since this was assumed pre 2.70 */
+	uiBlockSetDirection(layout->root->block, UI_DOWN);
 }
 
 void uiItemMenuEnumO(uiLayout *layout, bContext *C, const char *opname, const char *propname, const char *name, int icon)
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_regions.c b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_regions.c
index 9bb8ed0d1e0..e413808f1dd 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_regions.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_regions.c
@@ -2102,7 +2102,9 @@ static uiBlock *ui_block_func_POPUP(bContext *C, uiPopupBlockHandle *handle, voi
 	uiBlock *block;
 	uiBut *bt;
 	uiPopupMenu *pup = arg_pup;
-	int offset[2], direction, minwidth, width, height, flip;
+	int offset[2], minwidth, width, height;
+	char direction;
+	bool flip;
 
 	if (pup->menu_func) {
 		pup->block->handle = handle;
@@ -2116,21 +2118,26 @@ static uiBlock *ui_block_func_POPUP(bContext *C, uiPopupBlockHandle *handle, voi
 
 		/* settings (typically rna-enum-popups) show above the button,
 		 * menu's like file-menu, show below */
-		if (pup->but->type == PULLDOWN || (uiButGetMenuType(pup->but) != NULL)) {
+		if (pup->block->direction != 0) {
+			/* allow overriding the direction from menu_func */
+			direction = pup->block->direction;
+		}
+		else if ((pup->but->type == PULLDOWN) ||
+		    (uiButGetMenuType(pup->but) != NULL))
+		{
 			direction = UI_DOWN;
-			flip = 1;
 		}
 		else {
 			direction = UI_TOP;
-			flip = 0;
 		}
 	}
 	else {
 		minwidth = 50;
 		direction = UI_DOWN;
-		flip = 1;
 	}
 
+	flip = (direction == UI_DOWN);
+
 	block = pup->block;
 	
 	/* in some cases we create the block before the region,