diff --git a/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp b/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
index efc161bab1..0d7eebe9c8 100644
--- a/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ EglGbmBackend::EglGbmBackend(DrmBackend *b)
     init();
     // Egl is always direct rendering
     setIsDirectRendering(true);
+    setSyncsToVBlank(true);
     connect(m_backend, &DrmBackend::outputAdded, this, &EglGbmBackend::createOutput);
     connect(m_backend, &DrmBackend::outputRemoved, this,
         [this] (DrmOutput *output) {