diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index 221cdced60..35c58c1104 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ static Notifier mouse_mode_notifier;
 #define SDL2_MAX_IDLE_COUNT (2 * GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL_DEFAULT \
                              / SDL2_REFRESH_INTERVAL_BUSY + 1)
 
+/* introduced in SDL 2.0.10 */
+#ifndef SDL_HINT_RENDER_BATCHING
+#define SDL_HINT_RENDER_BATCHING "SDL_RENDER_BATCHING"
+#endif
+
 static void sdl_update_caption(struct sdl2_console *scon);
 
 static struct sdl2_console *get_scon_from_window(uint32_t window_id)
@@ -99,7 +104,18 @@ void sdl2_window_create(struct sdl2_console *scon)
                                          surface_width(scon->surface),
                                          surface_height(scon->surface),
                                          flags);
+    if (scon->opengl) {
+        const char *driver = "opengl";
+
+        if (scon->opts->gl == DISPLAYGL_MODE_ES) {
+            driver = "opengles2";
+        }
+
+        SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_DRIVER, driver);
+        SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_BATCHING, "1");
+    }
     scon->real_renderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(scon->real_window, -1, 0);
+
     if (scon->opengl) {
         scon->winctx = SDL_GL_CreateContext(scon->real_window);
     }