diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
index 774c0febf7..2bf38bd52c 100644
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
@@ -1421,7 +1421,7 @@ void GLVertexBuffer::initStatic()
 #ifdef KWIN_HAVE_OPENGLES
     GLVertexBufferPrivate::supported = true;
 #else
-    GLVertexBufferPrivate::supported = hasGLExtension("GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object");
+    GLVertexBufferPrivate::supported = hasGLVersion(1, 5) || hasGLExtension("GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object");
 #endif
     GLVertexBufferPrivate::streamingBuffer = new GLVertexBuffer(GLVertexBuffer::Stream);
 }
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils_funcs.cpp b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils_funcs.cpp
index e3f463b4c1..83b989e817 100644
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils_funcs.cpp
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils_funcs.cpp
@@ -410,8 +410,14 @@ void glResolveFunctions(OpenGLPlatformInterface platformInterface)
         glProgramLocalParameter4fARB = NULL;
         glGetProgramivARB = NULL;
     }
-    if (hasGLExtension("GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object")) {
+
+    if (hasGLVersion(1, 5)) {
         // see http://www.opengl.org/registry/specs/ARB/vertex_buffer_object.txt
+        GL_RESOLVE(glGenBuffers);
+        GL_RESOLVE(glDeleteBuffers);
+        GL_RESOLVE(glBindBuffer);
+        GL_RESOLVE(glBufferData);
+    } else if (hasGLExtension("GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object")) {
         GL_RESOLVE_WITH_EXT(glGenBuffers, glGenBuffersARB);
         GL_RESOLVE_WITH_EXT(glDeleteBuffers, glDeleteBuffersARB);
         GL_RESOLVE_WITH_EXT(glBindBuffer, glBindBufferARB);