diff --git a/indra/llrender/llimagegl.cpp b/indra/llrender/llimagegl.cpp
index e623baa6533fa70ffa64bca4594525d5c9079ede..eda61d3c74ea97ac3b1977f14f9bac34b51c1082 100644
--- a/indra/llrender/llimagegl.cpp
+++ b/indra/llrender/llimagegl.cpp
@@ -2268,6 +2268,10 @@ void LLImageGLThread::run()
     LL_PROFILE_ZONE_SCOPED;
     // We must perform setup on this thread before actually servicing our
     // WorkQueue, likewise cleanup afterwards.
+    while (mContext == nullptr)
+    { // HACK -- wait for mContext to be initialized since this thread will usually start before mContext is set
+        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1));
+    }
     mWindow->makeContextCurrent(mContext);
     gGL.init();
     ThreadPool::run();
diff --git a/indra/llrender/llimagegl.h b/indra/llrender/llimagegl.h
index 27496def1d62b184731a2cd9312ca78e71a9c197..ae773bb36259393981a6d509f2750a8e0d0697b8 100644
--- a/indra/llrender/llimagegl.h
+++ b/indra/llrender/llimagegl.h
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ class LLImageGLThread : public LLSimpleton<LLImageGLThread>, LL::ThreadPool
 
 private:
     LLWindow* mWindow;
-    void* mContext;
+    void* mContext = nullptr;
     LLAtomicBool mFinished;
 };