diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Bizware.BizwareGL/OpenTKConfigurator.cs b/src/BizHawk.Bizware.BizwareGL/OpenTKConfigurator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ddc53bc1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Bizware.BizwareGL/OpenTKConfigurator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using System;
+
+using OpenTK;
+
+namespace BizHawk.Bizware.BizwareGL
+{
+	public static class OpenTKConfigurator
+	{
+		static OpenTKConfigurator()
+		{
+			// make sure OpenTK initializes without getting wrecked on the SDL check and throwing an exception to annoy our MDA's
+			var toolkitOptions = ToolkitOptions.Default;
+			toolkitOptions.Backend = PlatformBackend.PreferNative;
+			Toolkit.Init(toolkitOptions);
+			// NOTE: this throws EGL exceptions anyway. I'm going to ignore it and whine about it later
+			// still seeing the exception in VS as of 2.5.3 dev... --yoshi
+		}
+
+		/// <summary>no-op; this class' static ctor is guaranteed to be called exactly once if this is called at least once</summary>
+		public static void EnsureConfigurated() {}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Bizware.DirectX/IGL_SlimDX9.cs b/src/BizHawk.Bizware.DirectX/IGL_SlimDX9.cs
index 961d8b8220..80f7be5747 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Bizware.DirectX/IGL_SlimDX9.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Bizware.DirectX/IGL_SlimDX9.cs
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Bizware.DirectX
 				_d3d = new Direct3D();
 			}
 
+			OpenTKConfigurator.EnsureConfigurated();
+
 			// make an 'offscreen context' so we can at least do things without having to create a window
 			_offscreenNativeWindow = new NativeWindow { ClientSize = new Size(8, 8) };
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/GraphicsImplementations/IGL_TK.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/GraphicsImplementations/IGL_TK.cs
index fbaee47271..d625bd956c 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/GraphicsImplementations/IGL_TK.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk/GraphicsImplementations/IGL_TK.cs
@@ -34,15 +34,6 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 		private Pipeline _currPipeline;
 		private RenderTarget _currRenderTarget;
 
-		static IGL_TK()
-		{
-			//make sure OpenTK initializes without getting wrecked on the SDL check and throwing an exception to annoy our MDA's
-			var toolkitOptions = global::OpenTK.ToolkitOptions.Default;
-			toolkitOptions.Backend = PlatformBackend.PreferNative;
-			global::OpenTK.Toolkit.Init(toolkitOptions);
-			//NOTE: this throws EGL exceptions anyway. I'm going to ignore it and whine about it later
-		}
-
 		public string API => "OPENGL";
 
 		public int Version
@@ -66,6 +57,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.EmuHawk
 
 		public IGL_TK(int majorVersion, int minorVersion, bool forwardCompatible)
 		{
+			OpenTKConfigurator.EnsureConfigurated();
+
 			//make an 'offscreen context' so we can at least do things without having to create a window
 			OffscreenNativeWindow = new NativeWindow { ClientSize = new sd.Size(8, 8) };
 			GraphicsContext = new GraphicsContext(GraphicsMode.Default, OffscreenNativeWindow.WindowInfo, majorVersion, minorVersion, forwardCompatible ? GraphicsContextFlags.ForwardCompatible : GraphicsContextFlags.Default);