diff --git a/gfx/drivers/gl_capabilities.c b/gfx/drivers/gl_capabilities.c
index 327f3ec3eb..a3e2ec6de7 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/gl_capabilities.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/gl_capabilities.c
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@
 #include <boolean.h>
 
 #include "gl_capabilities.h"
+
+#ifdef RARCH_INTERNAL
 #include "../video_driver.h"
+#endif
 
 static bool gl_core_context       = false;
 
@@ -42,6 +45,19 @@ void gl_query_core_context_unset(void)
    gl_core_context = false;
 }
 
+static bool has_hardware_stencil(void)
+{
+#ifdef RARCH_INTERNAL
+   struct retro_hw_render_callback *hwr =
+      video_driver_get_hw_context();
+   if (!hwr)
+      return false;
+   return hwr->stencil;
+#else
+   return true;
+#endif
+}
+
 static bool gl_query_extension(const char *ext)
 {
    bool ret = false;
@@ -205,12 +221,11 @@ bool gl_check_capability(enum gl_capability_enum enum_idx)
          break;
       case GL_CAPS_PACKED_DEPTH_STENCIL:
          {
-            struct retro_hw_render_callback *hwr =
-               video_driver_get_hw_context();
+            if (!has_hardware_stencil())
+               return false;
             if (major >= 3)
                return true;
-            if (hwr->stencil
-                  && !gl_query_extension("OES_packed_depth_stencil")
+            if (     !gl_query_extension("OES_packed_depth_stencil")
                   && !gl_query_extension("EXT_packed_depth_stencil"))
                return false;
          }