diff --git a/src/hardware/r_opengl/r_opengl.c b/src/hardware/r_opengl/r_opengl.c
index 8d6ee3c7..4e5114e8 100644
--- a/src/hardware/r_opengl/r_opengl.c
+++ b/src/hardware/r_opengl/r_opengl.c
@@ -790,6 +790,8 @@ EXPORT void HWRAPI(LoadShaders) (void)
 #ifdef GL_SHADERS
 	GLuint gl_vertShader, gl_fragShader;
 	GLint i, result;
+	
+	if (!pglUseProgram) return;
 
 	gl_customvertexshaders[0] = NULL;
 	gl_customfragmentshaders[0] = NULL;
@@ -902,6 +904,7 @@ EXPORT void HWRAPI(LoadShaders) (void)
 EXPORT void HWRAPI(LoadCustomShader) (int number, char *shader, size_t size, boolean fragment)
 {
 #ifdef GL_SHADERS
+	if (!pglUseProgram) return;
 	if (number < 1 || number > MAXSHADERS)
 		I_Error("LoadCustomShader(): cannot load shader %d (max %d)", number, MAXSHADERS);
 
@@ -951,6 +954,7 @@ EXPORT void HWRAPI(UnSetShader) (void)
 	gl_shadersenabled = false;
 	gl_currentshaderprogram = 0;
 	gl_shaderprogramchanged = true;// not sure if this is needed
+	if (!pglUseProgram) return;
 	pglUseProgram(0);
 #endif
 }
@@ -1672,7 +1676,7 @@ EXPORT void HWRAPI(SetTexture) (FTextureInfo *pTexInfo)
 static void load_shaders(FSurfaceInfo *Surface, GLRGBAFloat *poly, GLRGBAFloat *tint, GLRGBAFloat *fade)
 {
 #ifdef GL_SHADERS
-	if (gl_shadersenabled)
+	if (gl_shadersenabled && pglUseProgram)
 	{
 		gl_shaderprogram_t *shader = &gl_shaderprograms[gl_currentshaderprogram];
 		if (shader->program)
@@ -1760,9 +1764,7 @@ static void load_shaders(FSurfaceInfo *Surface, GLRGBAFloat *poly, GLRGBAFloat *
 		else
 			pglUseProgram(0);
 	}
-	else
 #endif
-		pglUseProgram(0);
 }
 
 // unfinished draw call batching