diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2ae792d41..304d8b01f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -384,6 +384,22 @@ dnl         ========================================================
 dnl         Check window system integration libraries...
 dnl         ========================================================
 
+dnl The "stub" winsys is a fallback option we use when Cogl doesn't
+dnl yet have support for a window system. It enables a toolkit like
+dnl Clutter to provide external support instead. Currently this is
+dnl not compatible with other window system backends.
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(
+  [stub-winsys],
+  [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-stub-winsys=@<:@no/yes@:>@], [Enable support stub winsys @<:@default=no@:>@])],
+  [],
+  enable_stub_winsys=no
+)
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_stub_winsys" = "xyes"],
+      [
+        GL_WINSYS_APIS="$GL_WINSYS_APIS stub"
+        ALLOW_GLX=no
+      ])
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
   [glx],
   [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-glx=@<:@no/yes@:>@], [Enable support GLX @<:@default=auto@:>@])],
@@ -392,6 +408,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 )
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_glx" = "xyes"],
       [
+        AS_IF([test "x$enable_stub_winsys" = "xyes"],
+              [AC_MSG_ERROR([Stub winsys not currently compatible with others])])
+
         AS_IF([test "x$ALLOW_GLX" != "xyes"],
               [AC_MSG_ERROR([GLX not supported with $COGL_DRIVER driver])])
 
@@ -400,6 +419,8 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_glx" = "xyes"],
         GL_WINSYS_APIS="$GL_WINSYS_APIS glx"
 
         AC_DEFINE([COGL_HAS_GLX_SUPPORT], [1], [Cogl supports OpenGL using the GLX API])
+        AC_DEFINE([COGL_HAS_FULL_WINSYS], [1],
+                  [Cogl can create its own OpenGL context])
 
         # We might fall back to DRM for sync-to-vblank on GLX
         PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([libdrm],
@@ -422,6 +443,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 )
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_null_egl_platform" = "xyes"],
       [
+        AS_IF([test "x$enable_stub_winsys" = "xyes"],
+              [AC_MSG_ERROR([Stub winsys not currently compatible with others])])
+
         EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT=$((EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT+1))
         NEED_EGL=yes
         EGL_PLATFORMS="$EGL_PLATFORMS null"
@@ -439,6 +463,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 )
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_gdl_egl_platform" == "xyes"],
       [
+        AS_IF([test "x$enable_stub_winsys" = "xyes"],
+              [AC_MSG_ERROR([Stub winsys not currently compatible with others])])
+
         EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT=$((EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT+1))
         NEED_EGL=yes
         EGL_PLATFORMS="$EGL_PLATFORMS gdl"
@@ -469,6 +496,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 )
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_xlib_egl_platform" = "xyes"],
       [
+        AS_IF([test "x$enable_stub_winsys" = "xyes"],
+              [AC_MSG_ERROR([Stub winsys not currently compatible with others])])
+
         EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT=$((EGL_PLATFORM_COUNT+1))
         NEED_EGL=yes
         NEED_XLIB=yes
@@ -504,6 +534,8 @@ AS_IF([test "x$NEED_EGL" = "xyes" && test "x$EGL_CHECKED" != "xyes"],
         SUPPORT_EGL=yes
         GL_WINSYS_APIS="$GL_WINSYS_APIS egl"
         COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS="$COGL_DEFINES_SYMBOLS COGL_HAS_EGL_SUPPORT"
+        AC_DEFINE([COGL_HAS_FULL_WINSYS], [1],
+                  [Cogl can create its own OpenGL context])
       ])
 AM_CONDITIONAL(SUPPORT_EGL, [test "x$SUPPORT_EGL" = "xyes"])
 
@@ -531,7 +563,6 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL(SUPPORT_XLIB, [test "x$SUPPORT_XLIB" = "xyes"])
 
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(COGL_STANDALONE_BUILD, [true])
-AC_DEFINE([COGL_HAS_FULL_WINSYS], [1], [Cogl can create its own OpenGL context])
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(SUPPORT_OSX, [false])
 AM_CONDITIONAL(SUPPORT_WIN32, [false])