diff --git a/ICSharpCode.Decompiler/CSharp/Transforms/PatternStatementTransform.cs b/ICSharpCode.Decompiler/CSharp/Transforms/PatternStatementTransform.cs
index 3d5ff0eaa..f61f4c402 100644
--- a/ICSharpCode.Decompiler/CSharp/Transforms/PatternStatementTransform.cs
+++ b/ICSharpCode.Decompiler/CSharp/Transforms/PatternStatementTransform.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ using ICSharpCode.Decompiler.CSharp.TypeSystem;
 using ICSharpCode.Decompiler.TypeSystem;
 using ICSharpCode.Decompiler.CSharp.Analysis;
 using Mono.Cecil;
+using ICSharpCode.Decompiler.Semantics;
 
 namespace ICSharpCode.Decompiler.CSharp.Transforms
 {
@@ -80,6 +81,11 @@ namespace ICSharpCode.Decompiler.CSharp.Transforms
 				if (result != null)
 					return result;
 			}
+			if (context.Settings.AutomaticProperties) {
+				result = ReplaceBackingFieldUsage(expressionStatement);
+				if (result != null)
+					return result;
+			}
 			return base.VisitExpressionStatement(expressionStatement);
 		}
 		
@@ -1030,6 +1036,27 @@ namespace ICSharpCode.Decompiler.CSharp.Transforms
 					section.Remove();
 			}
 		}
+
+		ExpressionStatement ReplaceBackingFieldUsage(ExpressionStatement expressionStatement)
+		{
+			foreach (var identifier in expressionStatement.Descendants.OfType<Identifier>()) {
+				if (identifier.Name.StartsWith("<") && identifier.Name.EndsWith(">k__BackingField")) {
+					var parent = identifier.Parent;
+					var mrr = parent.Annotation<MemberResolveResult>();
+					var field = mrr?.Member as IField;
+					if (field != null && field.IsCompilerGenerated()) {
+						var propertyName = identifier.Name.Substring(1, identifier.Name.Length - 1 - ">k__BackingField".Length);
+						var property = field.DeclaringTypeDefinition.GetProperties(p => p.Name == propertyName, GetMemberOptions.IgnoreInheritedMembers).FirstOrDefault();
+						if (property != null) {
+							identifier.ReplaceWith(Identifier.Create(propertyName));
+							parent.RemoveAnnotations<MemberResolveResult>();
+							parent.AddAnnotation(new MemberResolveResult(mrr.TargetResult, property));
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			return null;
+		}
 		#endregion
 		
 		#region Automatic Events