diff --git a/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-egl.c b/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-egl.c
index e48b65498..96a399e24 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-egl.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl/winsys/cogl-winsys-egl.c
@@ -329,6 +329,8 @@ try_create_context (CoglDisplay *display,
   if (renderer->driver == COGL_DRIVER_GL ||
       renderer->driver == COGL_DRIVER_GL3)
     eglBindAPI (EGL_OPENGL_API);
+  else if (renderer->driver == COGL_DRIVER_GLES2)
+    eglBindAPI (EGL_OPENGL_ES_API);
 
   egl_attributes_from_framebuffer_config (display,
                                           &display->onscreen_template->config,