diff --git a/backend/drm/renderer.c b/backend/drm/renderer.c
index 4c65afae..fd5d637d 100644
--- a/backend/drm/renderer.c
+++ b/backend/drm/renderer.c
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ bool init_drm_renderer(struct wlr_drm_backend *drm,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	renderer->wlr_rend = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&renderer->egl,
-		EGL_PLATFORM_GBM_KHR, renderer->gbm);
+	renderer->wlr_rend = wlr_renderer_autocreate(EGL_PLATFORM_GBM_KHR,
+			renderer->gbm);
 	if (!renderer->wlr_rend) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create EGL/WLR renderer");
 		goto error_gbm;
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ void finish_drm_renderer(struct wlr_drm_renderer *renderer) {
 
 	wlr_allocator_destroy(&renderer->allocator->base);
 	wlr_renderer_destroy(renderer->wlr_rend);
-	wlr_egl_finish(&renderer->egl);
 	gbm_device_destroy(renderer->gbm);
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +116,8 @@ bool drm_surface_make_current(struct wlr_drm_surface *surf,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(&surf->renderer->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(surf->renderer->wlr_rend);
+	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (!wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(surf->renderer->wlr_rend, surf->back_buffer)) {
@@ -130,9 +130,10 @@ bool drm_surface_make_current(struct wlr_drm_surface *surf,
 
 void drm_surface_unset_current(struct wlr_drm_surface *surf) {
 	assert(surf->back_buffer != NULL);
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(surf->renderer->wlr_rend);
 
 	wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(surf->renderer->wlr_rend, NULL);
-	wlr_egl_unset_current(&surf->renderer->egl);
+	wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 
 	wlr_buffer_unlock(surf->back_buffer);
 	surf->back_buffer = NULL;
diff --git a/backend/headless/backend.c b/backend/headless/backend.c
index 5e5cee6a..963773a5 100644
--- a/backend/headless/backend.c
+++ b/backend/headless/backend.c
@@ -71,10 +71,11 @@ static void backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
 	wlr_signal_emit_safe(&wlr_backend->events.destroy, backend);
 
 	free(backend->format);
-	if (backend->egl == &backend->priv_egl) {
+
+	if (!backend->has_parent_renderer) {
 		wlr_renderer_destroy(backend->renderer);
-		wlr_egl_finish(&backend->priv_egl);
 	}
+
 	wlr_allocator_destroy(backend->allocator);
 	free(backend);
 }
@@ -114,7 +115,6 @@ static bool backend_init(struct wlr_headless_backend *backend,
 
 	backend->allocator = allocator;
 	backend->renderer = renderer;
-	backend->egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(renderer);
 
 	const struct wlr_drm_format_set *formats =
 		wlr_renderer_get_dmabuf_render_formats(backend->renderer);
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_headless_backend_create(struct wl_display *display) {
 		goto error_backend;
 	}
 
-	struct wlr_renderer *renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&backend->priv_egl,
+	struct wlr_renderer *renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(
 		EGL_PLATFORM_GBM_KHR, gbm_alloc->gbm_device);
 	if (!renderer) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create renderer");
@@ -257,6 +257,8 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_headless_backend_create_with_renderer(
 		goto error_backend;
 	}
 
+	backend->has_parent_renderer = true;
+
 	if (!backend_init(backend, display, &gbm_alloc->base, renderer)) {
 		goto error_init;
 	}
diff --git a/backend/headless/output.c b/backend/headless/output.c
index bb15c23d..ee1fd317 100644
--- a/backend/headless/output.c
+++ b/backend/headless/output.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_output.h>
+#include <wlr/render/gles2.h>
 #include <wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 #include "backend/headless.h"
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		int *buffer_age) {
 	struct wlr_headless_output *output =
 		headless_output_from_output(wlr_output);
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+			output->backend->renderer);
 
 	wlr_buffer_unlock(output->back_buffer);
 	output->back_buffer = wlr_swapchain_acquire(output->swapchain, buffer_age);
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(output->backend->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
+	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (!wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer,
@@ -97,7 +100,10 @@ static bool output_commit(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 			assert(output->back_buffer != NULL);
 
 			wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, NULL);
-			wlr_egl_unset_current(output->backend->egl);
+
+			struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+					output->backend->renderer);
+			wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 
 			buffer = output->back_buffer;
 			output->back_buffer = NULL;
@@ -122,10 +128,12 @@ static bool output_commit(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 static void output_rollback_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 	struct wlr_headless_output *output =
 		headless_output_from_output(wlr_output);
-	assert(wlr_egl_is_current(output->backend->egl));
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+			output->backend->renderer);
+	assert(wlr_egl_is_current(egl));
 
 	wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, NULL);
-	wlr_egl_unset_current(output->backend->egl);
+	wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 
 	wlr_buffer_unlock(output->back_buffer);
 	output->back_buffer = NULL;
diff --git a/backend/wayland/backend.c b/backend/wayland/backend.c
index d562be7a..1e2d2d72 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/backend.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/backend.c
@@ -206,7 +206,6 @@ static void backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 	wl_event_source_remove(wl->remote_display_src);
 
 	wlr_renderer_destroy(wl->renderer);
-	wlr_egl_finish(&wl->egl);
 
 	wlr_drm_format_set_finish(&wl->linux_dmabuf_v1_formats);
 
@@ -314,7 +313,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_wl_backend_create(struct wl_display *display,
 	}
 	wl_event_source_check(wl->remote_display_src);
 
-	wl->renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&wl->egl, EGL_PLATFORM_WAYLAND_EXT,
+	wl->renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(EGL_PLATFORM_WAYLAND_EXT,
 		wl->remote_display);
 	if (!wl->renderer) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Could not create renderer");
diff --git a/backend/wayland/output.c b/backend/wayland/output.c
index 633e9a59..bf2d97ca 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/output.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/output.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <wayland-client.h>
 
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_output.h>
+#include <wlr/render/gles2.h>
 #include <wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_matrix.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
@@ -115,6 +116,8 @@ static bool output_set_custom_mode(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		int *buffer_age) {
 	struct wlr_wl_output *output = get_wl_output_from_output(wlr_output);
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+			output->backend->renderer);
 
 	wlr_buffer_unlock(output->back_buffer);
 	output->back_buffer = wlr_swapchain_acquire(output->swapchain, buffer_age);
@@ -122,7 +125,7 @@ static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(&output->backend->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
+	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (!wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer,
@@ -309,7 +312,10 @@ static bool output_commit(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 			wlr_buffer = output->back_buffer;
 
 			wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, NULL);
-			wlr_egl_unset_current(&output->backend->egl);
+
+			struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+					output->backend->renderer);
+			wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 			break;
 		case WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_BUFFER_SCANOUT:;
 			wlr_buffer = wlr_output->pending.buffer;
@@ -369,8 +375,10 @@ static bool output_commit(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 
 static void output_rollback_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 	struct wlr_wl_output *output = get_wl_output_from_output(wlr_output);
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+			output->backend->renderer);
 	wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, NULL);
-	wlr_egl_unset_current(&output->backend->egl);
+	wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 }
 
 static bool output_set_cursor(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
@@ -402,6 +410,8 @@ static bool output_set_cursor(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 	struct wl_surface *surface = output->cursor.surface;
 
 	if (texture != NULL) {
+		struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(
+				output->backend->renderer);
 		int width = texture->width * wlr_output->scale / scale;
 		int height = texture->height * wlr_output->scale / scale;
 
@@ -423,7 +433,7 @@ static bool output_set_cursor(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if (!wlr_egl_make_current(&output->backend->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
+		if (!wlr_egl_make_current(egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
 			return false;
 		}
 		if (!wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, wlr_buffer)) {
@@ -447,7 +457,7 @@ static bool output_set_cursor(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		wlr_renderer_end(backend->renderer);
 
 		wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(output->backend->renderer, NULL);
-		wlr_egl_unset_current(&output->backend->egl);
+		wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 
 		struct wlr_wl_buffer *buffer =
 			get_or_create_wl_buffer(output->backend, wlr_buffer);
diff --git a/backend/x11/backend.c b/backend/x11/backend.c
index c16191f8..e8908e5b 100644
--- a/backend/x11/backend.c
+++ b/backend/x11/backend.c
@@ -181,7 +181,6 @@ static void backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 	wl_list_remove(&x11->display_destroy.link);
 
 	wlr_renderer_destroy(x11->renderer);
-	wlr_egl_finish(&x11->egl);
 	wlr_allocator_destroy(x11->allocator);
 	wlr_drm_format_set_finish(&x11->dri3_formats);
 	free(x11->drm_format);
@@ -535,7 +534,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_x11_backend_create(struct wl_display *display,
 	}
 	x11->allocator = &gbm_alloc->base;
 
-	x11->renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&x11->egl, EGL_PLATFORM_GBM_KHR,
+	x11->renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(EGL_PLATFORM_GBM_KHR,
 		gbm_alloc->gbm_device);
 	if (x11->renderer == NULL) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create renderer");
diff --git a/backend/x11/output.c b/backend/x11/output.c
index 86729ace..4d764414 100644
--- a/backend/x11/output.c
+++ b/backend/x11/output.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_output.h>
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_pointer.h>
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_touch.h>
+#include <wlr/render/gles2.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 
 #include "backend/x11.h"
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		int *buffer_age) {
 	struct wlr_x11_output *output = get_x11_output_from_output(wlr_output);
 	struct wlr_x11_backend *x11 = output->x11;
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(x11->renderer);
 
 	wlr_buffer_unlock(output->back_buffer);
 	output->back_buffer = wlr_swapchain_acquire(output->swapchain, buffer_age);
@@ -104,7 +106,7 @@ static bool output_attach_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(&x11->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
+	if (!wlr_egl_make_current(egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL)) {
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (!wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(x11->renderer, output->back_buffer)) {
@@ -204,11 +206,12 @@ static struct wlr_x11_buffer *get_or_create_x11_buffer(
 
 static bool output_commit_buffer(struct wlr_x11_output *output) {
 	struct wlr_x11_backend *x11 = output->x11;
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(x11->renderer);
 
 	assert(output->back_buffer != NULL);
 
 	wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(x11->renderer, NULL);
-	wlr_egl_unset_current(&x11->egl);
+	wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 
 	struct wlr_x11_buffer *x11_buffer =
 		get_or_create_x11_buffer(output, output->back_buffer);
@@ -315,8 +318,10 @@ static bool output_commit(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 static void output_rollback_render(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 	struct wlr_x11_output *output = get_x11_output_from_output(wlr_output);
 	struct wlr_x11_backend *x11 = output->x11;
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = wlr_gles2_renderer_get_egl(x11->renderer);
+
 	wlr_renderer_bind_buffer(x11->renderer, NULL);
-	wlr_egl_unset_current(&x11->egl);
+	wlr_egl_unset_current(egl);
 }
 
 static const struct wlr_output_impl output_impl = {
diff --git a/include/backend/drm/renderer.h b/include/backend/drm/renderer.h
index a22cc56a..e422ac4b 100644
--- a/include/backend/drm/renderer.h
+++ b/include/backend/drm/renderer.h
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ struct wlr_buffer;
 struct wlr_drm_renderer {
 	struct wlr_drm_backend *backend;
 	struct gbm_device *gbm;
-	struct wlr_egl egl;
 
 	struct wlr_renderer *wlr_rend;
 	struct wlr_gbm_allocator *allocator;
diff --git a/include/backend/headless.h b/include/backend/headless.h
index 4a29b033..bf15f5c7 100644
--- a/include/backend/headless.h
+++ b/include/backend/headless.h
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 
 struct wlr_headless_backend {
 	struct wlr_backend backend;
-	struct wlr_egl priv_egl; // may be uninitialized
-	struct wlr_egl *egl;
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wlr_allocator *allocator;
 	struct wlr_drm_format *format;
@@ -19,6 +17,7 @@ struct wlr_headless_backend {
 	struct wl_list input_devices;
 	struct wl_listener display_destroy;
 	struct wl_listener renderer_destroy;
+	bool has_parent_renderer;
 	bool started;
 };
 
diff --git a/include/backend/wayland.h b/include/backend/wayland.h
index 1c874b35..dc9670f5 100644
--- a/include/backend/wayland.h
+++ b/include/backend/wayland.h
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ struct wlr_wl_backend {
 	struct wl_display *local_display;
 	struct wl_list devices;
 	struct wl_list outputs;
-	struct wlr_egl egl;
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wlr_drm_format *format;
 	struct wlr_allocator *allocator;
diff --git a/include/backend/x11.h b/include/backend/x11.h
index e952587d..db6e5870 100644
--- a/include/backend/x11.h
+++ b/include/backend/x11.h
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ struct wlr_x11_backend {
 	struct wlr_keyboard keyboard;
 	struct wlr_input_device keyboard_dev;
 
-	struct wlr_egl egl;
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer;
 	struct wlr_drm_format_set dri3_formats;
 	const struct wlr_x11_format *x11_format;
diff --git a/include/wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h b/include/wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h
index 22c37b77..c736722a 100644
--- a/include/wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h
+++ b/include/wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ struct wlr_renderer {
 	} events;
 };
 
-struct wlr_renderer *wlr_renderer_autocreate(struct wlr_egl *egl, EGLenum platform,
+struct wlr_renderer *wlr_renderer_autocreate(EGLenum platform,
 	void *remote_display);
 
 void wlr_renderer_begin(struct wlr_renderer *r, uint32_t width, uint32_t height);
diff --git a/render/gles2/renderer.c b/render/gles2/renderer.c
index 76114278..6ae5e843 100644
--- a/render/gles2/renderer.c
+++ b/render/gles2/renderer.c
@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ static void gles2_destroy(struct wlr_renderer *wlr_renderer) {
 	struct wlr_gles2_renderer *renderer = gles2_get_renderer(wlr_renderer);
 
 	wlr_egl_make_current(renderer->egl, EGL_NO_SURFACE, NULL);
+	wlr_egl_finish(renderer->egl);
 
 	struct wlr_gles2_buffer *buffer, *buffer_tmp;
 	wl_list_for_each_safe(buffer, buffer_tmp, &renderer->buffers, link) {
diff --git a/render/wlr_renderer.c b/render/wlr_renderer.c
index e77c41d9..69cc0363 100644
--- a/render/wlr_renderer.c
+++ b/render/wlr_renderer.c
@@ -247,13 +247,24 @@ bool wlr_renderer_init_wl_display(struct wlr_renderer *r,
 	return true;
 }
 
-struct wlr_renderer *wlr_renderer_autocreate(struct wlr_egl *egl,
-		EGLenum platform, void *remote_display) {
+struct wlr_renderer *wlr_renderer_autocreate(EGLenum platform,
+		void *remote_display) {
+	struct wlr_egl *egl = calloc(1, sizeof(*egl));
+	if (egl == NULL) {
+		wlr_log_errno(WLR_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	if (!wlr_egl_init(egl, platform, remote_display, NULL, 0)) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Could not initialize EGL");
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * wlr_renderer becomes the owner of the previously wlr_egl, and will
+	 * take care of freeing the allocated memory
+	 * TODO: move the wlr_egl logic to wlr_gles2_renderer
+	 */
 	struct wlr_renderer *renderer = wlr_gles2_renderer_create(egl);
 	if (!renderer) {
 		wlr_egl_finish(egl);