diff --git a/gtk/gtkglarea.c b/gtk/gtkglarea.c
index c2f9b584a8..969d1140c7 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkglarea.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkglarea.c
@@ -271,11 +271,11 @@ gtk_gl_area_realize (GtkWidget *widget)
   GdkWindowAttr attributes;
   gint attributes_mask;
 
+  context = gtk_gl_area_create_context (GTK_GL_AREA (widget));
+
   gtk_widget_set_realized (widget, TRUE);
   gtk_widget_get_allocation (widget, &allocation);
 
-  context = gtk_gl_area_create_context (GTK_GL_AREA (widget));
-
   attributes.window_type = GDK_WINDOW_CHILD;
   attributes.x = allocation.x;
   attributes.y = allocation.y;
@@ -524,6 +524,7 @@ static void
 gtk_gl_area_init (GtkGLArea *self)
 {
   gtk_widget_set_has_window (GTK_WIDGET (self), TRUE);
+  gtk_widget_set_app_paintable (GTK_WIDGET (self), TRUE);
 }
 
 /**