diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index 62f33ec0b..71710e395 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ clutter_backend_real_create_context (ClutterBackend  *backend,
   int i;
 
   if (allowed_drivers == NULL)
-    allowed_drivers = "*";
+    allowed_drivers = CLUTTER_DRIVERS;
 
   allow_any = strstr (allowed_drivers, "*") != NULL;
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 985dc1b83..e32f5dd71 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -585,6 +585,13 @@ dnl other tools such as glib-mkenums and gir-scanner don't end up
 dnl using the define also.
 AC_DEFINE([COGL_ENABLE_EXPERIMENTAL_2_0_API], [1], [Can use Cogl 2.0 API internally])
 
+AC_ARG_WITH([default-drivers],
+            [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-default-drivers=DRIVER], [Comma-separated list of Cogl drivers to use])],
+            [clutter_drivers=$withval],
+            [clutter_drivers="*"])
+
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([CLUTTER_DRIVERS], ["$clutter_drivers"], [List of Cogl drivers])
+
 dnl strip leading spaces
 CLUTTER_BACKENDS=${CLUTTER_BACKENDS#* }
 AC_SUBST(CLUTTER_BACKENDS)
@@ -1285,6 +1292,8 @@ else
 echo "        Input backends: ${CLUTTER_INPUT_BACKENDS} (WARNING: Experimental backends enabled)"
 fi
 
+echo "        Cogl drivers: $clutter_drivers"
+
 if test "x$SUPPORT_X11" = "x1"; then
 echo ""
 echo "     - X11 backend options:"