diff --git a/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-glx.c b/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-glx.c
index a2cb5c548..a8453dd48 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-glx.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-glx.c
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ glx_attributes_from_framebuffer_config (CoglDisplay                 *display,
   attributes[i++] = GLX_DEPTH_SIZE;
   attributes[i++] = 1;
   attributes[i++] = GLX_STENCIL_SIZE;
-  attributes[i++] = config->need_stencil ? 1: GLX_DONT_CARE;
+  attributes[i++] = config->need_stencil ? 2 : 0;
   if (config->stereo_enabled)
     {
       attributes[i++] = GLX_STEREO;