diff --git a/scene_opengl.cpp b/scene_opengl.cpp
index 9c1e98ca4a..889f07e0c3 100644
--- a/scene_opengl.cpp
+++ b/scene_opengl.cpp
@@ -617,7 +617,18 @@ SceneOpenGL2::SceneOpenGL2(OpenGLBackend *backend)
         init_ok = false;
         return; // error
     }
+
     kDebug(1212) << "OpenGL 2 compositing successfully initialized";
+
+#ifndef KWIN_HAVE_OPENGLES
+    // It is not legal to not have a vertex array object bound in a core context
+    if (hasGLExtension("GL_ARB_vertex_array_object")) {
+        glGenVertexArrays(1, &vao);
+        glBindVertexArray(vao);
+    }
+#endif
+
+    init_ok = true;
 }
 
 SceneOpenGL2::~SceneOpenGL2()
diff --git a/scene_opengl.h b/scene_opengl.h
index 774057dc3c..cb01664ea4 100644
--- a/scene_opengl.h
+++ b/scene_opengl.h
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ private:
 private:
     LanczosFilter *m_lanczosFilter;
     ColorCorrection *m_colorCorrection;
+    GLuint vao;
 };
 
 #ifdef KWIN_HAVE_OPENGL_1