diff --git a/src/sextante/ftools/Buffer.py b/src/sextante/ftools/Buffer.py
index de257db5294..d68ce09c8ba 100644
--- a/src/sextante/ftools/Buffer.py
+++ b/src/sextante/ftools/Buffer.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ def buffering(progress, output, distance, field, useSelection, useField, layer,
     allAttrs = vproviderA.attributeIndexes()
     vproviderA.select( allAttrs )
     fields = vproviderA.fields()
+    if useField:
+        field = vproviderA.fieldNameIndex(field)
     writer = QgsVectorFileWriter(output, systemEncoding,  fields, QGis.WKBPolygon, vproviderA.crs() )
     # check if writer was created properly, if not, return with error
     if writer.hasError():
diff --git a/src/sextante/ftools/VariableDistanceBuffer.py b/src/sextante/ftools/VariableDistanceBuffer.py
index 7be77e0c15c..f8c5e31ecc3 100644
--- a/src/sextante/ftools/VariableDistanceBuffer.py
+++ b/src/sextante/ftools/VariableDistanceBuffer.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class VariableDistanceBuffer(GeoAlgorithm):
         field = self.getParameterValue(VariableDistanceBuffer.FIELD)
         segments = int(self.getParameterValue(VariableDistanceBuffer.SEGMENTS))
         layer = QGisLayers.getObjectFromUri(self.getParameterValue(VariableDistanceBuffer.INPUT))
-        buff.buffering(progress, output, 0, field, useSelection, False, layer, dissolve, segments)
+        buff.buffering(progress, output, 0, field, useSelection, True, layer, dissolve, segments)
 
     def defineCharacteristics(self):
         self.name = "Variable distance buffer"