diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglcontext.c b/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglcontext.c
index 9ef92c8f99..a5843f58fd 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglcontext.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglcontext.c
@@ -1063,6 +1063,12 @@ _create_context_info (GstGLContext * context, GstGLAPI gl_api, gint * gl_major,
 
   gl = context->gl_vtable;
 
+  if (!gl->GetString || !gl->GetString (GL_VERSION)) {
+    g_set_error (error, GST_GL_CONTEXT_ERROR, GST_GL_CONTEXT_ERROR_FAILED,
+        "glGetString not defined or returned invalid value");
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
   GST_INFO ("GL_VERSION: %s",
       GST_STR_NULL ((const gchar *) gl->GetString (GL_VERSION)));
   GST_INFO ("GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION: %s", GST_STR_NULL ((const gchar *)