diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index 9139b2ed262f..9f764cc2332f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -1636,6 +1636,8 @@ def add_subfigure(self, subplotspec, **kwargs):
         sf = SubFigure(self, subplotspec, **kwargs)
         self.subfigs += [sf]
         sf._remove_method = self.subfigs.remove
+        sf.stale_callback = _stale_figure_callback
+        self.stale = True
         return sf
 
     def sca(self, a):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_figure.py
index e8edcf61815d..5a8894b10496 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_figure.py
@@ -1741,3 +1741,27 @@ def test_subfigure_row_order():
     sf_arr = fig.subfigures(4, 3)
     for a, b in zip(sf_arr.ravel(), fig.subfigs):
         assert a is b
+
+
+def test_subfigure_stale_propagation():
+    fig = plt.figure()
+
+    fig.draw_without_rendering()
+    assert not fig.stale
+
+    sfig1 = fig.subfigures()
+    assert fig.stale
+
+    fig.draw_without_rendering()
+    assert not fig.stale
+    assert not sfig1.stale
+
+    sfig2 = sfig1.subfigures()
+    assert fig.stale
+
+    fig.draw_without_rendering()
+    assert not fig.stale
+    assert not sfig2.stale
+
+    sfig2.stale = True
+    assert fig.stale