diff --git a/gl/cogl-context.c b/gl/cogl-context.c
index bf24225ae..2ff8aa856 100644
--- a/gl/cogl-context.c
+++ b/gl/cogl-context.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ cogl_create_context ()
   _context->features_cached = FALSE;
 
   _context->enable_flags = 0;
+  _context->color_alpha = 0;
 
   _context->enable_backface_culling = FALSE;
 
diff --git a/gles/cogl-context.c b/gles/cogl-context.c
index 498896e61..0f8592440 100644
--- a/gles/cogl-context.c
+++ b/gles/cogl-context.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ cogl_create_context ()
   _context->features_cached = FALSE;
 
   _context->enable_flags = 0;
+  _context->color_alpha = 0;
 
   _context->enable_backface_culling = FALSE;