diff --git a/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.cpp b/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.cpp
index 865e5a8050..26e0cb1f97 100644
--- a/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.cpp
+++ b/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.cpp
@@ -94,97 +94,6 @@ GLTexture::GLTexture(std::unique_ptr<GLTexturePrivate> &&dd)
 {
 }
 
-GLTexture::GLTexture(const QImage &image, GLenum target)
-    : d_ptr(new GLTexturePrivate())
-{
-    Q_D(GLTexture);
-
-    if (image.isNull()) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    d->m_target = target;
-
-    if (d->m_target != GL_TEXTURE_RECTANGLE_ARB) {
-        d->m_scale.setWidth(1.0 / image.width());
-        d->m_scale.setHeight(1.0 / image.height());
-    } else {
-        d->m_scale.setWidth(1.0);
-        d->m_scale.setHeight(1.0);
-    }
-
-    d->m_size = image.size();
-    setContentTransform(TextureTransform::MirrorY);
-    d->m_canUseMipmaps = false;
-    d->m_mipLevels = 1;
-
-    d->updateMatrix();
-
-    const bool created = create();
-    Q_ASSERT(created);
-    bind();
-
-    if (!GLPlatform::instance()->isGLES()) {
-        QImage im;
-        GLenum internalFormat;
-        GLenum format;
-        GLenum type;
-
-        const QImage::Format index = image.format();
-
-        if (index < sizeof(formatTable) / sizeof(formatTable[0]) && formatTable[index].internalFormat
-            && !(formatTable[index].type == GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT && !d->s_supportsTexture16Bit)) {
-            internalFormat = formatTable[index].internalFormat;
-            format = formatTable[index].format;
-            type = formatTable[index].type;
-            im = image;
-        } else {
-            im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
-            internalFormat = GL_RGBA8;
-            format = GL_BGRA;
-            type = GL_UNSIGNED_INT_8_8_8_8_REV;
-        }
-
-        d->m_internalFormat = internalFormat;
-
-        if (d->s_supportsTextureStorage) {
-            glTexStorage2D(d->m_target, 1, internalFormat, im.width(), im.height());
-            glTexSubImage2D(d->m_target, 0, 0, 0, im.width(), im.height(),
-                            format, type, im.constBits());
-            d->m_immutable = true;
-        } else {
-            glTexParameteri(d->m_target, GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, d->m_mipLevels - 1);
-            glTexImage2D(d->m_target, 0, internalFormat, im.width(), im.height(), 0,
-                         format, type, im.constBits());
-        }
-    } else {
-        d->m_internalFormat = GL_RGBA8;
-
-        if (d->s_supportsARGB32) {
-            const QImage im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
-            glTexImage2D(d->m_target, 0, GL_BGRA_EXT, im.width(), im.height(),
-                         0, GL_BGRA_EXT, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, im.constBits());
-        } else {
-            const QImage im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_RGBA8888_Premultiplied);
-            glTexImage2D(d->m_target, 0, GL_RGBA, im.width(), im.height(),
-                         0, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, im.constBits());
-        }
-    }
-
-    unbind();
-    setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
-}
-
-GLTexture::GLTexture(const QPixmap &pixmap, GLenum target)
-    : GLTexture(pixmap.toImage(), target)
-{
-}
-
-GLTexture::GLTexture(const QString &fileName)
-    : GLTexture(QImage(fileName))
-{
-}
-
 GLTexture::GLTexture(GLuint textureId, GLenum internalFormat, const QSize &size, int levels, bool isImmutable)
     : d_ptr(new GLTexturePrivate())
 {
@@ -767,4 +676,74 @@ std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> GLTexture::allocate(GLenum internalFormat, const QSiz
     return ret;
 }
 
+std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> GLTexture::upload(const QImage &image)
+{
+    if (image.isNull()) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    GLuint texture = 0;
+    glGenTextures(1, &texture);
+    if (texture == 0) {
+        qCWarning(LIBKWINGLUTILS, "generating OpenGL texture handle failed");
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, texture);
+
+    GLenum internalFormat;
+    bool immutable = false;
+    if (!GLPlatform::instance()->isGLES()) {
+        QImage im;
+        GLenum format;
+        GLenum type;
+
+        const QImage::Format index = image.format();
+
+        if (index < sizeof(formatTable) / sizeof(formatTable[0]) && formatTable[index].internalFormat
+            && !(formatTable[index].type == GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT && !GLTexturePrivate::s_supportsTexture16Bit)) {
+            internalFormat = formatTable[index].internalFormat;
+            format = formatTable[index].format;
+            type = formatTable[index].type;
+            im = image;
+        } else {
+            im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
+            internalFormat = GL_RGBA8;
+            format = GL_BGRA;
+            type = GL_UNSIGNED_INT_8_8_8_8_REV;
+        }
+
+        if (GLTexturePrivate::s_supportsTextureStorage) {
+            glTexStorage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 1, internalFormat, im.width(), im.height());
+            glTexSubImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, 0, 0, im.width(), im.height(),
+                            format, type, im.constBits());
+            immutable = true;
+        } else {
+            glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
+            glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, internalFormat, im.width(), im.height(), 0,
+                         format, type, im.constBits());
+        }
+    } else {
+        internalFormat = GL_RGBA8;
+
+        if (GLTexturePrivate::s_supportsARGB32) {
+            const QImage im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
+            glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_BGRA_EXT, im.width(), im.height(),
+                         0, GL_BGRA_EXT, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, im.constBits());
+        } else {
+            const QImage im = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_RGBA8888_Premultiplied);
+            glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_RGBA, im.width(), im.height(),
+                         0, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, im.constBits());
+        }
+    }
+    glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0);
+    auto ret = std::make_unique<GLTexture>(texture, internalFormat, image.size(), 1, immutable);
+    ret->setContentTransform(TextureTransform::MirrorY);
+    ret->d_ptr->m_foreign = false;
+    return ret;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> GLTexture::upload(const QPixmap &pixmap)
+{
+    return upload(pixmap.toImage());
+}
+
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.h b/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.h
index 61fd7cbb12..6124f87787 100644
--- a/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.h
+++ b/src/libkwineffects/kwingltexture.h
@@ -49,9 +49,6 @@ class KWINGLUTILS_EXPORT GLTexture
 {
 public:
     explicit GLTexture(GLenum target);
-    explicit GLTexture(const QImage &image, GLenum target = GL_TEXTURE_2D);
-    explicit GLTexture(const QPixmap &pixmap, GLenum target = GL_TEXTURE_2D);
-    explicit GLTexture(const QString &fileName);
 
     /**
      * Creates the underlying texture object. Returns @c true if the texture has been created
@@ -157,6 +154,8 @@ public:
     static bool supportsFormatRG();
 
     static std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> allocate(GLenum internalFormat, const QSize &size, int levels = 1, bool needsMutability = false);
+    static std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> upload(const QImage &image);
+    static std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> upload(const QPixmap &pixmap);
 
 protected:
     const std::unique_ptr<GLTexturePrivate> d_ptr;
diff --git a/src/libkwineffects/kwinoffscreenquickview.cpp b/src/libkwineffects/kwinoffscreenquickview.cpp
index 0825d19c13..1d78bc2145 100644
--- a/src/libkwineffects/kwinoffscreenquickview.cpp
+++ b/src/libkwineffects/kwinoffscreenquickview.cpp
@@ -407,10 +407,7 @@ void OffscreenQuickView::hide()
 GLTexture *OffscreenQuickView::bufferAsTexture()
 {
     if (d->m_useBlit) {
-        if (d->m_image.isNull()) {
-            return nullptr;
-        }
-        d->m_textureExport.reset(new GLTexture(d->m_image));
+        d->m_textureExport = GLTexture::upload(d->m_image);
     } else {
         if (!d->m_fbo) {
             return nullptr;
diff --git a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_internal.cpp b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_internal.cpp
index 9df1ac2b97..d5689d9f80 100644
--- a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_internal.cpp
+++ b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_internal.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ bool BasicEGLSurfaceTextureInternal::updateFromImage(const QRegion &region)
     }
 
     if (!m_texture) {
-        m_texture.reset(new GLTexture(image));
+        m_texture = GLTexture::upload(image);
     } else {
         const QRegion nativeRegion = scale(region, image.devicePixelRatio());
         for (const QRect &rect : nativeRegion) {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ bool BasicEGLSurfaceTextureInternal::updateFromImage(const QRegion &region)
         }
     }
 
-    return true;
+    return m_texture != nullptr;
 }
 
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_wayland.cpp b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_wayland.cpp
index b303b8c77f..1f6bea097f 100644
--- a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/basiceglsurfacetexture_wayland.cpp
@@ -60,12 +60,10 @@ void BasicEGLSurfaceTextureWayland::update(const QRegion &region)
 
 bool BasicEGLSurfaceTextureWayland::loadShmTexture(KWaylandServer::ShmClientBuffer *buffer)
 {
-    const QImage &image = buffer->data();
-    if (Q_UNLIKELY(image.isNull())) {
+    m_texture = GLTexture::upload(buffer->data());
+    if (!m_texture) {
         return false;
     }
-
-    m_texture.reset(new GLTexture(image));
     m_texture->setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
     m_texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
     m_texture->setContentTransform(TextureTransform::MirrorY);
diff --git a/src/plugins/blur/blur.cpp b/src/plugins/blur/blur.cpp
index 8833fab9e1..5aa3fab8c4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/blur/blur.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/blur/blur.cpp
@@ -691,7 +691,10 @@ void BlurEffect::generateNoiseTexture()
     // The noise texture looks distorted when not scaled with integer
     noiseImage = noiseImage.scaled(noiseImage.size() * m_scalingFactor);
 
-    m_noiseTexture.reset(new GLTexture(noiseImage));
+    m_noiseTexture = GLTexture::upload(noiseImage);
+    if (!m_noiseTexture) {
+        return;
+    }
     m_noiseTexture->setFilter(GL_NEAREST);
     m_noiseTexture->setWrapMode(GL_REPEAT);
 }
@@ -833,6 +836,9 @@ void BlurEffect::applyNoise(const ScreenData &data, const RenderTarget &renderTa
 {
     if (!m_noiseTexture) {
         generateNoiseTexture();
+        if (!m_noiseTexture) {
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     m_shader->bind(BlurShader::NoiseSampleType);
diff --git a/src/plugins/screencast/screencaststream.cpp b/src/plugins/screencast/screencaststream.cpp
index 1b36b61647..726f84a9a2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/screencast/screencaststream.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/screencast/screencaststream.cpp
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ void ScreenCastStream::recordFrame(const QRegion &_damagedRegion)
                 if (cursorImage.isNull()) {
                     m_cursor.texture = nullptr;
                 } else {
-                    m_cursor.texture = std::make_unique<GLTexture>(cursorImage.image());
+                    m_cursor.texture = GLTexture::upload(cursorImage.image());
                 }
             }
             if (m_cursor.texture) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.cpp b/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.cpp
index 9cc84fa56c..dd95209ff0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ void ScreenEdgeEffect::paintScreen(const RenderTarget &renderTarget, const Rende
         }
         if (effects->isOpenGLCompositing()) {
             GLTexture *texture = glow->texture.get();
+            if (!texture) {
+                return;
+            }
             glEnable(GL_BLEND);
             glBlendFunc(GL_ONE, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA);
             ShaderBinder binder(ShaderTrait::MapTexture | ShaderTrait::Modulate | ShaderTrait::TransformColorspace);
@@ -92,10 +95,10 @@ void ScreenEdgeEffect::paintScreen(const RenderTarget &renderTarget, const Rende
             texture->render(glow->geometry.size(), scale);
             glDisable(GL_BLEND);
         } else if (effects->compositingType() == QPainterCompositing) {
-            QImage tmp(glow->image->size(), QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
+            QImage tmp(glow->image.size(), QImage::Format_ARGB32_Premultiplied);
             tmp.fill(Qt::transparent);
             QPainter p(&tmp);
-            p.drawImage(0, 0, *glow->image.get());
+            p.drawImage(0, 0, glow->image);
             QColor color(Qt::transparent);
             color.setAlphaF(opacity);
             p.setCompositionMode(QPainter::CompositionMode_DestinationIn);
@@ -140,9 +143,9 @@ void ScreenEdgeEffect::edgeApproaching(ElectricBorder border, qreal factor, cons
             effects->addRepaint(glow->geometry);
             if (border == ElectricLeft || border == ElectricRight || border == ElectricTop || border == ElectricBottom) {
                 if (effects->isOpenGLCompositing()) {
-                    glow->texture.reset(createEdgeGlow<GLTexture>(border, geometry.size()));
+                    glow->texture = GLTexture::upload(createEdgeGlow(border, geometry.size()));
                 } else if (effects->compositingType() == QPainterCompositing) {
-                    glow->image.reset(createEdgeGlow<QImage>(border, geometry.size()));
+                    glow->image = createEdgeGlow(border, geometry.size());
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -172,25 +175,23 @@ std::unique_ptr<Glow> ScreenEdgeEffect::createGlow(ElectricBorder border, qreal
     if (effects->isOpenGLCompositing()) {
         effects->makeOpenGLContextCurrent();
         if (border == ElectricTopLeft || border == ElectricTopRight || border == ElectricBottomRight || border == ElectricBottomLeft) {
-            glow->texture.reset(createCornerGlow<GLTexture>(border));
+            glow->texture = GLTexture::upload(createCornerGlow(border));
         } else {
-            glow->texture.reset(createEdgeGlow<GLTexture>(border, geometry.size()));
-        }
-        if (glow->texture) {
-            glow->texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
+            glow->texture = GLTexture::upload(createEdgeGlow(border, geometry.size()));
         }
         if (!glow->texture) {
             return nullptr;
         }
+        glow->texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
     } else if (effects->compositingType() == QPainterCompositing) {
         if (border == ElectricTopLeft || border == ElectricTopRight || border == ElectricBottomRight || border == ElectricBottomLeft) {
-            glow->image.reset(createCornerGlow<QImage>(border));
+            glow->image = createCornerGlow(border);
             glow->pictureSize = cornerGlowSize(border);
         } else {
-            glow->image.reset(createEdgeGlow<QImage>(border, geometry.size()));
+            glow->image = createEdgeGlow(border, geometry.size());
             glow->pictureSize = geometry.size();
         }
-        if (!glow->image) {
+        if (glow->image.isNull()) {
             return nullptr;
         }
     }
@@ -198,22 +199,21 @@ std::unique_ptr<Glow> ScreenEdgeEffect::createGlow(ElectricBorder border, qreal
     return glow;
 }
 
-template<typename T>
-T *ScreenEdgeEffect::createCornerGlow(ElectricBorder border)
+QImage ScreenEdgeEffect::createCornerGlow(ElectricBorder border)
 {
     ensureGlowSvg();
 
     switch (border) {
     case ElectricTopLeft:
-        return new T(m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("bottomright")).toImage());
+        return m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("bottomright")).toImage();
     case ElectricTopRight:
-        return new T(m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("bottomleft")).toImage());
+        return m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("bottomleft")).toImage();
     case ElectricBottomRight:
-        return new T(m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("topleft")).toImage());
+        return m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("topleft")).toImage();
     case ElectricBottomLeft:
-        return new T(m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("topright")).toImage());
+        return m_glow->pixmap(QStringLiteral("topright")).toImage();
     default:
-        return nullptr;
+        return QImage{};
     }
 }
 
@@ -235,8 +235,7 @@ QSize ScreenEdgeEffect::cornerGlowSize(ElectricBorder border)
     }
 }
 
-template<typename T>
-T *ScreenEdgeEffect::createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size)
+QImage ScreenEdgeEffect::createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size)
 {
     ensureGlowSvg();
 
@@ -268,7 +267,7 @@ T *ScreenEdgeEffect::createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size)
         pixmapPosition = QPoint(size.width() - c.width(), 0);
         break;
     default:
-        return nullptr;
+        return QImage{};
     }
     QPixmap image(size);
     image.fill(Qt::transparent);
@@ -294,7 +293,7 @@ T *ScreenEdgeEffect::createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size)
         p.drawPixmap(QPoint(pixmapPosition.x(), size.height() - r.height()), r);
     }
     p.end();
-    return new T(image.toImage());
+    return image.toImage();
 }
 
 bool ScreenEdgeEffect::isActive() const
diff --git a/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.h b/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.h
index b818445282..61f77a3ba2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.h
+++ b/src/plugins/screenedge/screenedgeeffect.h
@@ -42,10 +42,8 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
 private:
     void ensureGlowSvg();
     std::unique_ptr<Glow> createGlow(ElectricBorder border, qreal factor, const QRect &geometry);
-    template<typename T>
-    T *createCornerGlow(ElectricBorder border);
-    template<typename T>
-    T *createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size);
+    QImage createCornerGlow(ElectricBorder border);
+    QImage createEdgeGlow(ElectricBorder border, const QSize &size);
     QSize cornerGlowSize(ElectricBorder border);
     Plasma::Svg *m_glow = nullptr;
     std::map<ElectricBorder, std::unique_ptr<Glow>> m_borders;
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@ class Glow
 {
 public:
     std::unique_ptr<GLTexture> texture;
-    std::unique_ptr<QImage> image;
+    QImage image;
     QSize pictureSize;
     qreal strength;
     QRect geometry;
diff --git a/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp b/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
index 510ef3e27e..2061034b94 100644
--- a/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ void StartupFeedbackEffect::paintScreen(const RenderTarget &renderTarget, const
         default:
             return; // safety
         }
+        if (!texture) {
+            return;
+        }
         glEnable(GL_BLEND);
         glBlendFunc(GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA);
         GLShader *shader = nullptr;
@@ -356,14 +359,20 @@ void StartupFeedbackEffect::prepareTextures(const QPixmap &pix)
     switch (m_type) {
     case BouncingFeedback:
         for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
-            m_bouncingTextures[i].reset(new GLTexture(scalePixmap(pix, BOUNCE_SIZES[i])));
+            m_bouncingTextures[i] = GLTexture::upload(scalePixmap(pix, BOUNCE_SIZES[i]));
+            if (!m_bouncingTextures[i]) {
+                return;
+            }
             m_bouncingTextures[i]->setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
             m_bouncingTextures[i]->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         }
         break;
     case BlinkingFeedback:
     case PassiveFeedback:
-        m_texture.reset(new GLTexture(pix));
+        m_texture = GLTexture::upload(pix);
+        if (!m_texture) {
+            return;
+        }
         m_texture->setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
         m_texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         break;
diff --git a/src/plugins/trackmouse/trackmouse.cpp b/src/plugins/trackmouse/trackmouse.cpp
index 0daa36f56e..5979424da5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/trackmouse/trackmouse.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/trackmouse/trackmouse.cpp
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ void TrackMouseEffect::loadTexture()
     for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
         if (effects->isOpenGLCompositing()) {
             QImage img(f[i]);
-            m_texture[i] = std::make_unique<GLTexture>(img);
+            m_texture[i] = GLTexture::upload(img);
             m_lastRect[i].setSize(img.size());
         }
         if (effects->compositingType() == QPainterCompositing) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/zoom/zoom.cpp b/src/plugins/zoom/zoom.cpp
index 825295ed37..6b4c1dab17 100644
--- a/src/plugins/zoom/zoom.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/zoom/zoom.cpp
@@ -155,7 +155,10 @@ GLTexture *ZoomEffect::ensureCursorTexture()
         m_cursorTextureDirty = false;
         const auto cursor = effects->cursorImage();
         if (!cursor.image().isNull()) {
-            m_cursorTexture = std::make_unique<GLTexture>(cursor.image());
+            m_cursorTexture = GLTexture::upload(cursor.image());
+            if (!m_cursorTexture) {
+                return nullptr;
+            }
             m_cursorTexture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/scene/imageitem.cpp b/src/scene/imageitem.cpp
index adbe038af1..920fc7fe02 100644
--- a/src/scene/imageitem.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/imageitem.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void ImageItemOpenGL::preprocess()
         m_textureKey = m_image.cacheKey();
 
         if (!m_texture || m_texture->size() != m_image.size()) {
-            m_texture = std::make_unique<GLTexture>(m_image);
+            m_texture = GLTexture::upload(m_image);
         } else {
             m_texture->update(m_image);
         }
diff --git a/src/scene/workspacescene_opengl.cpp b/src/scene/workspacescene_opengl.cpp
index fe9f0c4f99..9f7428ba3e 100644
--- a/src/scene/workspacescene_opengl.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/workspacescene_opengl.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,10 @@ std::shared_ptr<GLTexture> DecorationShadowTextureCache::getTexture(ShadowTextur
     }
     Data d;
     d.providers << provider;
-    d.texture = std::make_shared<GLTexture>(shadow->decorationShadowImage());
+    d.texture = GLTexture::upload(shadow->decorationShadowImage());
+    if (!d.texture) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
     d.texture->setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
     d.texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
     m_cache.insert(decoShadow.get(), d);
@@ -252,7 +255,10 @@ void OpenGLShadowTextureProvider::update()
         }
     }
 
-    m_texture = std::make_shared<GLTexture>(image);
+    m_texture = GLTexture::upload(image);
+    if (!m_texture) {
+        return;
+    }
     m_texture->setFilter(GL_LINEAR);
     m_texture->setWrapMode(GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);