diff --git a/doc/org.texi b/doc/org.texi
index 56779e8bb..a32d15ea3 100644
--- a/doc/org.texi
+++ b/doc/org.texi
@@ -14900,21 +14900,20 @@ By default, Org will ask before returning to an open edit buffer.  Set this
 variable to @code{nil} to switch without asking.
 @end table
 
-To turn on native code fontification in the @emph{Org} buffer, configure the
-variable @code{org-src-fontify-natively}.  You can also change the appearance
-of source blocks by customizing the @code{org-block} face or for specific
-languages, by defining @code{org-block-LANGUAGE} faces.  The following
-example shades the background of ``ordinary'' blocks while allowing Emacs
-Lisp source blocks to have a special color.
+To turn on native code fontification in the @emph{Org} buffer, set the
+variable @code{org-src-fontify-natively} to non-@code{nil}.  You can also
+change the appearance of source blocks in general by customizing the
+@code{org-block} face or @code{org-src-block-faces} for specific languages.
+The following example shades the background of ``ordinary'' blocks while
+allowing Emacs Lisp and Python source blocks to have a separate colors.
 @lisp
 (require 'color)
 (set-face-attribute 'org-block nil :background
                     (color-darken-name
                      (face-attribute 'default :background) 3))
 
-(defface org-block-emacs-lisp
-  '((t (:background "#EEE2FF")))
-  "Face for Emacs Lisp src blocks")
+(setq org-src-block-faces '(("emacs-lisp" (:background "#EEE2FF"))
+                            ("python" (:background "#E5FFB8"))))
 @end lisp
 
 @node Exporting code blocks
diff --git a/etc/ORG-NEWS b/etc/ORG-NEWS
index 9342cb26f..eda018f3f 100644
--- a/etc/ORG-NEWS
+++ b/etc/ORG-NEWS
@@ -374,7 +374,8 @@ Repeated footnotes are now numbered by referring to a label in the
 first footnote.
 *** The ~org-block~ face is inherited by ~src-blocks~
 This works also when =org-src-fontify-natively= is non-nil.  It is also
-possible to specify per-languages faces.  See the manual for details.
+possible to specify per-languages faces.  See =org-src-block-faces= and
+the manual for details.
 *** Links are now customizable
 Links can now have custom colors, tooltips, keymaps, display behavior,
 etc... Links are now centralized in ~org-link-parameters~.
diff --git a/lisp/org-faces.el b/lisp/org-faces.el
index 18eae1ba1..1d9058019 100644
--- a/lisp/org-faces.el
+++ b/lisp/org-faces.el
@@ -395,11 +395,32 @@ follows a #+DATE:, #+AUTHOR: or #+EMAIL: keyword."
 
 (defface org-block '((t :inherit shadow))
   "Face text in #+begin ... #+end blocks.
-In addition to this face that take precedence for particular
-languages.  For instance, to change the block face for Emacs-Lisp
-blocks define a `org-block-emacs-lisp' face."
+For source-blocks `org-src-block-faces' takes precedence.
+See also `org-fontify-quote-and-verse-blocks'."
   :group 'org-faces
-  :version "22.1")
+  :version "25.2")
+
+(defcustom org-src-block-faces nil
+  "Alist of faces to be used for source-block.
+Each element is a cell of the format
+
+     (\"language\" FACE)
+
+Where FACE is either a defined face or an anonymous face.
+
+For instance, the following value would color the background of
+emacs-lisp source blocks and python source blocks in purple and
+green, respectability.
+
+    '((\"emacs-lisp\" (:background \"#EEE2FF\"))
+      (\"python\" (:background \"#e5ffb8\")))"
+  :group 'org-faces
+  :type '(repeat (list (string :tag "language")
+                       (choice
+                        (face :tag "Face")
+                        (sexp :tag "Anonymous face"))))
+  :version "25.2"
+  :package-version '(Org . "9.0"))
 
 (defface org-block-begin-line '((t (:inherit org-meta-line)))
   "Face used for the line delimiting the begin of source blocks."
diff --git a/lisp/org-src.el b/lisp/org-src.el
index ab23b4ac6..8985dfb46 100644
--- a/lisp/org-src.el
+++ b/lisp/org-src.el
@@ -513,9 +513,9 @@ as `org-src-fontify-natively' is non-nil."
 		   org-buffer)))
 	      (setq pos next))))
 	;; Add Org faces.
-	(let ((face-name (intern (format "org-block-%s" lang))))
-	  (when (facep face-name)
-	    (font-lock-append-text-property start end 'face face-name))
+	(let ((src-face (cadr (assoc-ignore-case lang org-src-block-faces))))
+          (when (or (facep src-face) (listp))
+            (font-lock-append-text-property start end 'face src-face))
 	  (font-lock-append-text-property start end 'face 'org-block))
 	(add-text-properties
 	 start end