diff --git a/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl/GLPipeline.cpp b/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl/GLPipeline.cpp
index 19cf798b19..fa54e7c8fe 100644
--- a/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl/GLPipeline.cpp
+++ b/libraries/gpu-gl/src/gpu/gl/GLPipeline.cpp
@@ -24,8 +24,15 @@ GLPipeline* GLPipeline::sync(const Pipeline& pipeline) {
 
     // No object allocated yet, let's see if it's worth it...
     ShaderPointer shader = pipeline.getProgram();
+
+    // If this pipeline's shader has already failed to compile, don't try again
+    if (shader->compilationHasFailed()) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
     GLShader* programObject = GLShader::sync(*shader);
     if (programObject == nullptr) {
+        shader->setCompilationHasFailed(true);
         return nullptr;
     }
 
diff --git a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Shader.h b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Shader.h
index 59c6401150..e4643f2b7c 100755
--- a/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Shader.h
+++ b/libraries/gpu/src/gpu/Shader.h
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ public:
     bool isProgram() const { return getType() > NUM_DOMAINS; }
     bool isDomain() const { return getType() < NUM_DOMAINS; }
 
+    void setCompilationHasFailed(bool compilationHasFailed) { _compilationHasFailed = compilationHasFailed; }
+    bool compilationHasFailed() const { return _compilationHasFailed; }
+
     const Source& getSource() const { return _source; }
 
     const Shaders& getShaders() const { return _shaders; }
@@ -180,6 +183,9 @@ protected:
 
     // The type of the shader, the master key
     Type _type;
+
+    // Whether or not the shader compilation failed
+    bool _compilationHasFailed { false };
 };
 
 typedef Shader::Pointer ShaderPointer;