diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.cpp b/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.cpp
index a169efaa65..951fc6790a 100644
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.cpp
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.cpp
@@ -632,9 +632,14 @@ void GLPlatform::detect()
             m_driver = Driver_Nouveau;
         }
 
-        else if (m_chipset == "softpipe" || m_chipset == "llvmpipe") {
-            // Vendor: VMware, Inc.
-            // TODO
+        // softpipe
+        else if (m_vendor == "VMware, Inc." && m_chipset == "softpipe" ) {
+            m_driver = Driver_Softpipe;
+        }
+
+        // llvmpipe
+        else if (m_vendor == "VMware, Inc." && m_chipset == "llvmpipe") {
+            m_driver = Driver_Llvmpipe;
         }
     }
 
@@ -712,6 +717,11 @@ void GLPlatform::detect()
     // Loose binding is broken with Gallium drivers in Mesa 7.10
     if (isGalliumDriver() && mesaVersion() >= kVersionNumber(7, 10))
         m_looseBinding = false;
+
+    if (isSoftwareEmulation()) {
+        // Software emulation does not provide GLSL
+        m_limitedGLSL = m_supportsGLSL = false;
+    }
 }
 
 static void print(const QString &label, const QString &setting)
@@ -851,6 +861,11 @@ bool GLPlatform::isIntel() const
     return m_chipClass >= I8XX && m_chipClass <= UnknownIntel;
 }
 
+bool GLPlatform::isSoftwareEmulation() const
+{
+    return m_driver == Driver_Softpipe || m_driver == Driver_Swrast || m_driver == Driver_Llvmpipe;
+}
+
 } // namespace KWin
 
 #endif // KWIN_HAVE_OPENGL
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.h b/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.h
index fa2528d1b6..714dc43c3c 100644
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.h
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglplatform.h
@@ -238,6 +238,12 @@ public:
      */
     bool isIntel() const;
 
+    /**
+     * @returns @c true if OpenGL is emulated in software.
+     * @since 4.7
+     **/
+    bool isSoftwareEmulation() const;
+
 private:
     GLPlatform();
 
diff --git a/scene_opengl_glx.cpp b/scene_opengl_glx.cpp
index 221ba20fbe..edfff07cc9 100644
--- a/scene_opengl_glx.cpp
+++ b/scene_opengl_glx.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ SceneOpenGL::SceneOpenGL(Workspace* ws)
     // Initialize OpenGL
     initGL();
     GLPlatform *glPlatform = GLPlatform::instance();
-    if (glPlatform->driver() == Driver_Swrast || glPlatform->driver() == Driver_Softpipe) {
+    if (glPlatform->isSoftwareEmulation()) {
         kError(1212) << "OpenGL Software Rasterizer detected. Falling back to XRender.";
         QTimer::singleShot(0, Workspace::self(), SLOT(fallbackToXRenderCompositing()));
         return;