diff --git a/src/i_video.c b/src/i_video.c
index 311b76ea..3acc3e56 100644
--- a/src/i_video.c
+++ b/src/i_video.c
@@ -1367,7 +1367,10 @@ static void I_InitGraphicsMode(void)
         flags |= SDL_RENDERER_PRESENTVSYNC;
     }
 
-    SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_DRIVER, sdl_renderdriver);
+    if (*sdl_renderdriver)
+    {
+        SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_DRIVER, sdl_renderdriver);
+    }
 
     // [FG] create renderer
     renderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(screen, -1, flags);
diff --git a/src/m_misc.c b/src/m_misc.c
index a3bd605a..55475e5c 100644
--- a/src/m_misc.c
+++ b/src/m_misc.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ default_t defaults[] = {
 #if defined(_WIN32)
     {.s = "direct3d11"},
 #else
-    {.s = "opengl"},
+    {.s = ""},
 #endif
     {0}, string, ss_none, wad_no,
     "SDL render driver, possible values are "