diff --git a/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/read.hpp b/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/read.hpp
index 95da2a1a..e8a3f39c 100644
--- a/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/read.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/read.hpp
@@ -127,7 +127,14 @@ class reader< Device
                     {
                         this->_scanline_length = this->_info._width * ( this->_info._bits_per_pixel / 8 );
 
-                        read_data< bgr8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        if( this->_info._descriptor & 0x20 )
+                        {
+                            read_data< bgr8_view_t >( flipped_up_down_view( dst_view ) );
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            read_data< bgr8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        }
 
                         break;
                     }
@@ -135,7 +142,14 @@ class reader< Device
                     {
                         this->_scanline_length = this->_info._width * ( this->_info._bits_per_pixel / 8 );
 
-                        read_data< bgra8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        if( this->_info._descriptor & 0x20 )
+                        {
+                            read_data< bgra8_view_t >( flipped_up_down_view( dst_view ) );
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            read_data< bgra8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        }
 
                         break;
                     }
@@ -164,12 +178,26 @@ class reader< Device
                 {
                     case 24:
                     {
-                        read_rle_data< bgr8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        if( this->_info._descriptor & 0x20 )
+                        {
+                            read_rle_data< bgr8_view_t >( flipped_up_down_view( dst_view ) );
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            read_rle_data< bgr8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        }
                         break;
                     }
                     case 32:
                     {
-                        read_rle_data< bgra8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        if( this->_info._descriptor & 0x20 )
+                        {
+                            read_rle_data< bgra8_view_t >( flipped_up_down_view( dst_view ) );
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            read_rle_data< bgra8_view_t >( dst_view );
+                        }
                         break;
                     }
                     default:
diff --git a/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/reader_backend.hpp b/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/reader_backend.hpp
index 67130666..e5d4493d 100644
--- a/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/reader_backend.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/gil/extension/io/formats/targa/reader_backend.hpp
@@ -94,8 +94,10 @@ struct reader_backend< Device
         }
         
         _info._descriptor = _io_dev.read_uint8();
-        if(    ( _info._bits_per_pixel == 24 && _info._descriptor != 0 ) 
-            || ( _info._bits_per_pixel == 32 && _info._descriptor != 8 )
+        targa_descriptor::type pixel_type = _info._descriptor & 0xdf;
+
+        if(    ( _info._bits_per_pixel == 24 && pixel_type != 0 )
+            || ( _info._bits_per_pixel == 32 && pixel_type != 8 )
           )
         {
             io_error( "Unsupported descriptor for targa file" );