diff --git a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/gpu/Shader.java b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/gpu/Shader.java
index 1146fd3332..759db67cb6 100644
--- a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/gpu/Shader.java
+++ b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/gpu/Shader.java
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ public class Shader
 			{
 				Unit unit = units.get(i);
 				int shader = gl.glCreateShader(unit.type);
+				if (shader == 0)
+				{
+					throw new ShaderException("Unable to create shader of type " + unit.type);
+				}
+
 				String source = template.load(unit.filename);
 				gl.glShaderSource(shader, 1, new String[]{source}, null);
 				gl.glCompileShader(shader);