diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/art3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/art3d.py
index 4f050803f051..96b374144da4 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/art3d.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/mplot3d/art3d.py
@@ -507,8 +507,9 @@ def do_3d_projection(self, renderer):
         vzs = vzs[z_markers_idx]
         vxs = vxs[z_markers_idx]
         vys = vys[z_markers_idx]
-        fcs = fcs[z_markers_idx]
-        ecs = ecs[z_markers_idx]
+        if self._depthshade:
+            fcs = fcs[z_markers_idx]
+            ecs = ecs[z_markers_idx]
         if len(sizes) > 1:
             sizes = sizes[z_markers_idx]
         vps = np.column_stack((vxs, vys))
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
index f74df7e49d9c..6fa77c1758b8 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
@@ -242,6 +242,17 @@ def test_scatter3d_color():
                color='b', marker='s')
 
 
+def test_scatter3d_depthshade_false():
+    """
+    Test that 3d scatter plot doesn't throw
+    IndexError with depthshade=False (issue #18037)
+    """
+    x = y = z = np.arange(16)
+    fig_test = plt.figure()
+    ax_test = fig_test.add_subplot(projection='3d')
+    ax_test.scatter(x, y, z, depthshade=False)
+
+
 @check_figures_equal(extensions=['png'])
 def test_scatter3d_size(fig_ref, fig_test):
     """Test that large markers in correct position (issue #18135)"""