diff --git a/configure b/configure
index cc435e2503..34fccaa2ba 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -394,7 +394,6 @@ u2f="auto"
 libusb="$default_feature"
 usb_redir="$default_feature"
 opengl="$default_feature"
-opengl_dmabuf="no"
 cpuid_h="no"
 avx2_opt="$default_feature"
 capstone="auto"
@@ -3606,14 +3605,24 @@ if $pkg_config gbm; then
 fi
 
 if test "$opengl" != "no" ; then
-  opengl_pkgs="epoxy gbm"
-  if $pkg_config $opengl_pkgs; then
-    opengl_cflags="$($pkg_config --cflags $opengl_pkgs)"
-    opengl_libs="$($pkg_config --libs $opengl_pkgs)"
+  epoxy=no
+  if $pkg_config epoxy; then
+    cat > $TMPC << EOF
+#include <epoxy/egl.h>
+int main(void) { return 0; }
+EOF
+    if compile_prog "" "" ; then
+      epoxy=yes
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  if test "$epoxy" = "yes" ; then
+    opengl_cflags="$($pkg_config --cflags epoxy)"
+    opengl_libs="$($pkg_config --libs epoxy)"
     opengl=yes
   else
     if test "$opengl" = "yes" ; then
-      feature_not_found "opengl" "Please install opengl (mesa) devel pkgs: $opengl_pkgs"
+      feature_not_found "opengl" "Please install epoxy with EGL"
     fi
     opengl_cflags=""
     opengl_libs=""
@@ -3621,19 +3630,6 @@ if test "$opengl" != "no" ; then
   fi
 fi
 
-if test "$opengl" = "yes"; then
-  cat > $TMPC << EOF
-#include <epoxy/egl.h>
-#ifndef EGL_MESA_image_dma_buf_export
-# error mesa/epoxy lacks support for dmabufs (mesa 10.6+)
-#endif
-int main(void) { return 0; }
-EOF
-  if compile_prog "" "" ; then
-    opengl_dmabuf=yes
-  fi
-fi
-
 ##########################################
 # libxml2 probe
 if test "$libxml2" != "no" ; then
@@ -5836,9 +5832,6 @@ if test "$opengl" = "yes" ; then
   echo "CONFIG_OPENGL=y" >> $config_host_mak
   echo "OPENGL_CFLAGS=$opengl_cflags" >> $config_host_mak
   echo "OPENGL_LIBS=$opengl_libs" >> $config_host_mak
-  if test "$opengl_dmabuf" = "yes" ; then
-    echo "CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF=y" >> $config_host_mak
-  fi
 fi
 
 if test "$gbm" = "yes" ; then
diff --git a/docs/interop/vhost-user.json b/docs/interop/vhost-user.json
index feb5fe58ca..b6ade9e493 100644
--- a/docs/interop/vhost-user.json
+++ b/docs/interop/vhost-user.json
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@
 #   "type": "gpu",
 #   "binary": "/usr/libexec/qemu/vhost-user-gpu",
 #   "tags": [
-#     "CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF=y"
+#     "CONFIG_OPENGL=y",
+#     "CONFIG_GBM=y"
 #   ]
 # }
 #
diff --git a/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c b/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
index 4d8cb3525b..a01f9315e1 100644
--- a/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
+++ b/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
@@ -193,10 +193,8 @@ vhost_user_gpu_handle_display(VhostUserGPU *g, VhostUserGpuMsg *msg)
         s = &g->parent_obj.scanout[m->scanout_id];
         con = s->con;
 
-        if (m->scanout_id == 0 && m->width == 0) {
-            s->ds = qemu_create_message_surface(640, 480,
-                                                "Guest disabled display.");
-            dpy_gfx_replace_surface(con, s->ds);
+        if (m->width == 0) {
+            dpy_gfx_replace_surface(con, NULL);
         } else {
             s->ds = qemu_create_displaysurface(m->width, m->height);
             /* replace surface on next update */
diff --git a/hw/display/virtio-gpu-3d.c b/hw/display/virtio-gpu-3d.c
index 0b0c11474d..9eb489077b 100644
--- a/hw/display/virtio-gpu-3d.c
+++ b/hw/display/virtio-gpu-3d.c
@@ -179,10 +179,8 @@ static void virgl_cmd_set_scanout(VirtIOGPU *g,
             info.width, info.height,
             ss.r.x, ss.r.y, ss.r.width, ss.r.height);
     } else {
-        if (ss.scanout_id != 0) {
-            dpy_gfx_replace_surface(
-                g->parent_obj.scanout[ss.scanout_id].con, NULL);
-        }
+        dpy_gfx_replace_surface(
+            g->parent_obj.scanout[ss.scanout_id].con, NULL);
         dpy_gl_scanout_disable(g->parent_obj.scanout[ss.scanout_id].con);
     }
     g->parent_obj.scanout[ss.scanout_id].resource_id = ss.resource_id;
@@ -595,9 +593,7 @@ void virtio_gpu_virgl_reset(VirtIOGPU *g)
 
     virgl_renderer_reset();
     for (i = 0; i < g->parent_obj.conf.max_outputs; i++) {
-        if (i != 0) {
-            dpy_gfx_replace_surface(g->parent_obj.scanout[i].con, NULL);
-        }
+        dpy_gfx_replace_surface(g->parent_obj.scanout[i].con, NULL);
         dpy_gl_scanout_disable(g->parent_obj.scanout[i].con);
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/display/virtio-gpu-base.c b/hw/display/virtio-gpu-base.c
index 4a57350917..25f8920fdb 100644
--- a/hw/display/virtio-gpu-base.c
+++ b/hw/display/virtio-gpu-base.c
@@ -193,9 +193,6 @@ virtio_gpu_base_device_realize(DeviceState *qdev,
     for (i = 0; i < g->conf.max_outputs; i++) {
         g->scanout[i].con =
             graphic_console_init(DEVICE(g), i, &virtio_gpu_ops, g);
-        if (i > 0) {
-            dpy_gfx_replace_surface(g->scanout[i].con, NULL);
-        }
     }
 
     return true;
diff --git a/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c b/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
index 2e4a9822b6..c9f5e36fd0 100644
--- a/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
+++ b/hw/display/virtio-gpu.c
@@ -325,7 +325,6 @@ static void virtio_gpu_disable_scanout(VirtIOGPU *g, int scanout_id)
 {
     struct virtio_gpu_scanout *scanout = &g->parent_obj.scanout[scanout_id];
     struct virtio_gpu_simple_resource *res;
-    DisplaySurface *ds = NULL;
 
     if (scanout->resource_id == 0) {
         return;
@@ -336,13 +335,7 @@ static void virtio_gpu_disable_scanout(VirtIOGPU *g, int scanout_id)
         res->scanout_bitmask &= ~(1 << scanout_id);
     }
 
-    if (scanout_id == 0) {
-        /* primary head */
-        ds = qemu_create_message_surface(scanout->width  ?: 640,
-                                         scanout->height ?: 480,
-                                         "Guest disabled display.");
-    }
-    dpy_gfx_replace_surface(scanout->con, ds);
+    dpy_gfx_replace_surface(scanout->con, NULL);
     scanout->resource_id = 0;
     scanout->ds = NULL;
     scanout->width = 0;
diff --git a/include/ui/console.h b/include/ui/console.h
index d30e972d0b..c960b7066c 100644
--- a/include/ui/console.h
+++ b/include/ui/console.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ struct QemuConsoleClass {
 };
 
 #define QEMU_ALLOCATED_FLAG     0x01
+#define QEMU_PLACEHOLDER_FLAG   0x02
 
 typedef struct DisplaySurface {
     pixman_format_code_t format;
@@ -259,8 +260,8 @@ DisplaySurface *qemu_create_displaysurface_from(int width, int height,
                                                 pixman_format_code_t format,
                                                 int linesize, uint8_t *data);
 DisplaySurface *qemu_create_displaysurface_pixman(pixman_image_t *image);
-DisplaySurface *qemu_create_message_surface(int w, int h,
-                                            const char *msg);
+DisplaySurface *qemu_create_placeholder_surface(int w, int h,
+                                                const char *msg);
 PixelFormat qemu_default_pixelformat(int bpp);
 
 DisplaySurface *qemu_create_displaysurface(int width, int height);
@@ -281,6 +282,11 @@ static inline int is_buffer_shared(DisplaySurface *surface)
     return !(surface->flags & QEMU_ALLOCATED_FLAG);
 }
 
+static inline int is_placeholder(DisplaySurface *surface)
+{
+    return surface->flags & QEMU_PLACEHOLDER_FLAG;
+}
+
 void register_displaychangelistener(DisplayChangeListener *dcl);
 void update_displaychangelistener(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                                   uint64_t interval);
diff --git a/include/ui/egl-helpers.h b/include/ui/egl-helpers.h
index 5b1f7fafe0..f1bf8f97fc 100644
--- a/include/ui/egl-helpers.h
+++ b/include/ui/egl-helpers.h
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 
 #include <epoxy/gl.h>
 #include <epoxy/egl.h>
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
 #include <gbm.h>
+#endif
 #include "ui/console.h"
 #include "ui/shader.h"
 
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ void egl_texture_blit(QemuGLShader *gls, egl_fb *dst, egl_fb *src, bool flip);
 void egl_texture_blend(QemuGLShader *gls, egl_fb *dst, egl_fb *src, bool flip,
                        int x, int y, double scale_x, double scale_y);
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
 
 extern int qemu_egl_rn_fd;
 extern struct gbm_device *qemu_egl_rn_gbm_dev;
@@ -48,8 +50,13 @@ void egl_dmabuf_release_texture(QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf);
 
 EGLSurface qemu_egl_init_surface_x11(EGLContext ectx, EGLNativeWindowType win);
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_X11) || defined(CONFIG_GBM)
+
 int qemu_egl_init_dpy_x11(EGLNativeDisplayType dpy, DisplayGLMode mode);
 int qemu_egl_init_dpy_mesa(EGLNativeDisplayType dpy, DisplayGLMode mode);
+
+#endif
+
 EGLContext qemu_egl_init_ctx(void);
 bool qemu_egl_has_dmabuf(void);
 
diff --git a/include/ui/spice-display.h b/include/ui/spice-display.h
index 4a47ffdd4c..ed298d58f0 100644
--- a/include/ui/spice-display.h
+++ b/include/ui/spice-display.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include "ui/qemu-pixman.h"
 #include "ui/console.h"
 
-#if defined(CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF)
+#if defined(CONFIG_OPENGL) && defined(CONFIG_GBM)
 # if SPICE_SERVER_VERSION >= 0x000d01 /* release 0.13.1 */
 #  define HAVE_SPICE_GL 1
 #  include "ui/egl-helpers.h"
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 07bc23129a..81d760d6e8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2657,7 +2657,7 @@ summary_info += {'U2F support':       u2f.found()}
 summary_info += {'libusb':            config_host.has_key('CONFIG_USB_LIBUSB')}
 summary_info += {'usb net redir':     config_host.has_key('CONFIG_USB_REDIR')}
 summary_info += {'OpenGL support':    config_host.has_key('CONFIG_OPENGL')}
-summary_info += {'OpenGL dmabufs':    config_host.has_key('CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF')}
+summary_info += {'GBM':               config_host.has_key('CONFIG_GBM')}
 summary_info += {'libiscsi support':  libiscsi.found()}
 summary_info += {'libnfs support':    libnfs.found()}
 if targetos == 'windows'
diff --git a/ui/cocoa.m b/ui/cocoa.m
index 0ef5fdf3b7..f27beb30e6 100644
--- a/ui/cocoa.m
+++ b/ui/cocoa.m
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ const int mac_to_qkeycode_map[] = {
 static int cocoa_keycode_to_qemu(int keycode)
 {
     if (ARRAY_SIZE(mac_to_qkeycode_map) <= keycode) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "(cocoa) warning unknown keycode 0x%x\n", keycode);
+        error_report("(cocoa) warning unknown keycode 0x%x", keycode);
         return 0;
     }
     return mac_to_qkeycode_map[keycode];
@@ -450,19 +450,19 @@ QemuCocoaView *cocoaView;
         int w = pixman_image_get_width(pixman_image);
         int h = pixman_image_get_height(pixman_image);
         int bitsPerPixel = PIXMAN_FORMAT_BPP(pixman_image_get_format(pixman_image));
-        int bitsPerComponent = DIV_ROUND_UP(bitsPerPixel, 8) * 2;
+        int stride = pixman_image_get_stride(pixman_image);
         CGDataProviderRef dataProviderRef = CGDataProviderCreateWithData(
             NULL,
             pixman_image_get_data(pixman_image),
-            w * 4 * h,
+            stride * h,
             NULL
         );
         CGImageRef imageRef = CGImageCreate(
             w, //width
             h, //height
-            bitsPerComponent, //bitsPerComponent
+            DIV_ROUND_UP(bitsPerPixel, 8) * 2, //bitsPerComponent
             bitsPerPixel, //bitsPerPixel
-            (w * (bitsPerComponent/2)), //bytesPerRow
+            stride, //bytesPerRow
 #ifdef __LITTLE_ENDIAN__
             CGColorSpaceCreateWithName(kCGColorSpaceGenericRGB), //colorspace for OS X >= 10.4
             kCGBitmapByteOrder32Little | kCGImageAlphaNoneSkipFirst,
@@ -585,37 +585,26 @@ QemuCocoaView *cocoaView;
         isFullscreen = FALSE;
         [self ungrabMouse];
         [self setContentDimensions];
-        if ([NSView respondsToSelector:@selector(exitFullScreenModeWithOptions:)]) { // test if "exitFullScreenModeWithOptions" is supported on host at runtime
-            [self exitFullScreenModeWithOptions:nil];
-        } else {
-            [fullScreenWindow close];
-            [normalWindow setContentView: self];
-            [normalWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront: self];
-            [NSMenu setMenuBarVisible:YES];
-        }
+        [fullScreenWindow close];
+        [normalWindow setContentView: self];
+        [normalWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront: self];
+        [NSMenu setMenuBarVisible:YES];
     } else { // switch from desktop to fullscreen
         isFullscreen = TRUE;
         [normalWindow orderOut: nil]; /* Hide the window */
         [self grabMouse];
         [self setContentDimensions];
-        if ([NSView respondsToSelector:@selector(enterFullScreenMode:withOptions:)]) { // test if "enterFullScreenMode:withOptions" is supported on host at runtime
-            [self enterFullScreenMode:[NSScreen mainScreen] withOptions:[NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:
-                [NSNumber numberWithBool:NO], NSFullScreenModeAllScreens,
-                [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:[NSNumber numberWithBool:NO], kCGDisplayModeIsStretched, nil], NSFullScreenModeSetting,
-                 nil]];
-        } else {
-            [NSMenu setMenuBarVisible:NO];
-            fullScreenWindow = [[NSWindow alloc] initWithContentRect:[[NSScreen mainScreen] frame]
-                styleMask:NSWindowStyleMaskBorderless
-                backing:NSBackingStoreBuffered
-                defer:NO];
-            [fullScreenWindow setAcceptsMouseMovedEvents: YES];
-            [fullScreenWindow setHasShadow:NO];
-            [fullScreenWindow setBackgroundColor: [NSColor blackColor]];
-            [self setFrame:NSMakeRect(cx, cy, cw, ch)];
-            [[fullScreenWindow contentView] addSubview: self];
-            [fullScreenWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:self];
-        }
+        [NSMenu setMenuBarVisible:NO];
+        fullScreenWindow = [[NSWindow alloc] initWithContentRect:[[NSScreen mainScreen] frame]
+            styleMask:NSWindowStyleMaskBorderless
+            backing:NSBackingStoreBuffered
+            defer:NO];
+        [fullScreenWindow setAcceptsMouseMovedEvents: YES];
+        [fullScreenWindow setHasShadow:NO];
+        [fullScreenWindow setBackgroundColor: [NSColor blackColor]];
+        [self setFrame:NSMakeRect(cx, cy, cw, ch)];
+        [[fullScreenWindow contentView] addSubview: self];
+        [fullScreenWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:self];
     }
 }
 
@@ -1071,7 +1060,7 @@ QemuCocoaView *cocoaView;
         // create a view and add it to the window
         cocoaView = [[QemuCocoaView alloc] initWithFrame:NSMakeRect(0.0, 0.0, 640.0, 480.0)];
         if(!cocoaView) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "(cocoa) can't create a view\n");
+            error_report("(cocoa) can't create a view");
             exit(1);
         }
 
@@ -1080,7 +1069,7 @@ QemuCocoaView *cocoaView;
             styleMask:NSWindowStyleMaskTitled|NSWindowStyleMaskMiniaturizable|NSWindowStyleMaskClosable
             backing:NSBackingStoreBuffered defer:NO];
         if(!normalWindow) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "(cocoa) can't create window\n");
+            error_report("(cocoa) can't create window");
             exit(1);
         }
         [normalWindow setAcceptsMouseMovedEvents:YES];
diff --git a/ui/console.c b/ui/console.c
index c5d11bc701..171a7bf14b 100644
--- a/ui/console.c
+++ b/ui/console.c
@@ -1436,8 +1436,8 @@ DisplaySurface *qemu_create_displaysurface_pixman(pixman_image_t *image)
     return surface;
 }
 
-DisplaySurface *qemu_create_message_surface(int w, int h,
-                                            const char *msg)
+DisplaySurface *qemu_create_placeholder_surface(int w, int h,
+                                                const char *msg)
 {
     DisplaySurface *surface = qemu_create_displaysurface(w, h);
     pixman_color_t bg = color_table_rgb[0][QEMU_COLOR_BLACK];
@@ -1454,6 +1454,7 @@ DisplaySurface *qemu_create_message_surface(int w, int h,
                                  x+i, y, FONT_WIDTH, FONT_HEIGHT);
         qemu_pixman_image_unref(glyph);
     }
+    surface->flags |= QEMU_PLACEHOLDER_FLAG;
     return surface;
 }
 
@@ -1550,7 +1551,7 @@ void register_displaychangelistener(DisplayChangeListener *dcl)
             dcl->ops->dpy_gfx_switch(dcl, con->surface);
         } else {
             if (!dummy) {
-                dummy = qemu_create_message_surface(640, 480, nodev);
+                dummy = qemu_create_placeholder_surface(640, 480, nodev);
             }
             dcl->ops->dpy_gfx_switch(dcl, dummy);
         }
@@ -1674,11 +1675,26 @@ void dpy_gfx_update_full(QemuConsole *con)
 void dpy_gfx_replace_surface(QemuConsole *con,
                              DisplaySurface *surface)
 {
+    static const char placeholder_msg[] = "Display output is not active.";
     DisplayState *s = con->ds;
     DisplaySurface *old_surface = con->surface;
     DisplayChangeListener *dcl;
+    int width;
+    int height;
 
-    assert(old_surface != surface || surface == NULL);
+    if (!surface) {
+        if (old_surface) {
+            width = surface_width(old_surface);
+            height = surface_height(old_surface);
+        } else {
+            width = 640;
+            height = 480;
+        }
+
+        surface = qemu_create_placeholder_surface(width, height, placeholder_msg);
+    }
+
+    assert(old_surface != surface);
 
     con->surface = surface;
     QLIST_FOREACH(dcl, &s->listeners, next) {
@@ -1998,7 +2014,7 @@ QemuConsole *graphic_console_init(DeviceState *dev, uint32_t head,
                                  &error_abort);
     }
 
-    surface = qemu_create_message_surface(width, height, noinit);
+    surface = qemu_create_placeholder_surface(width, height, noinit);
     dpy_gfx_replace_surface(s, surface);
     return s;
 }
@@ -2027,7 +2043,7 @@ void graphic_console_close(QemuConsole *con)
     if (con->gl) {
         dpy_gl_scanout_disable(con);
     }
-    surface = qemu_create_message_surface(width, height, unplugged);
+    surface = qemu_create_placeholder_surface(width, height, unplugged);
     dpy_gfx_replace_surface(con, surface);
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/egl-helpers.c b/ui/egl-helpers.c
index 73fe61f878..6d0cb2b5cb 100644
--- a/ui/egl-helpers.c
+++ b/ui/egl-helpers.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void egl_texture_blend(QemuGLShader *gls, egl_fb *dst, egl_fb *src, bool flip,
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
 
 int qemu_egl_rn_fd;
 struct gbm_device *qemu_egl_rn_gbm_dev;
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ void egl_dmabuf_release_texture(QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf)
     dmabuf->texture = 0;
 }
 
-#endif /* CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF */
+#endif /* CONFIG_GBM */
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -315,6 +315,8 @@ EGLSurface qemu_egl_init_surface_x11(EGLContext ectx, EGLNativeWindowType win)
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_X11) || defined(CONFIG_GBM)
+
 /*
  * Taken from glamor_egl.h from the Xorg xserver, which is MIT licensed
  *
@@ -441,6 +443,8 @@ int qemu_egl_init_dpy_mesa(EGLNativeDisplayType dpy, DisplayGLMode mode)
 #endif
 }
 
+#endif
+
 bool qemu_egl_has_dmabuf(void)
 {
     if (qemu_egl_display == EGL_NO_DISPLAY) {
diff --git a/ui/gtk-egl.c b/ui/gtk-egl.c
index 588e7b1bb1..2a2e6d3a17 100644
--- a/ui/gtk-egl.c
+++ b/ui/gtk-egl.c
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ void gd_egl_scanout_texture(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 void gd_egl_scanout_dmabuf(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                            QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf)
 {
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
     egl_dmabuf_import_texture(dmabuf);
     if (!dmabuf->texture) {
         return;
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ void gd_egl_cursor_dmabuf(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                           QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf, bool have_hot,
                           uint32_t hot_x, uint32_t hot_y)
 {
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
     VirtualConsole *vc = container_of(dcl, VirtualConsole, gfx.dcl);
 
     if (dmabuf) {
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ void gd_egl_cursor_position(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 void gd_egl_release_dmabuf(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                            QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf)
 {
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
     egl_dmabuf_release_texture(dmabuf);
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/ui/gtk-gl-area.c b/ui/gtk-gl-area.c
index 4e8ee88b9b..dd5783fec7 100644
--- a/ui/gtk-gl-area.c
+++ b/ui/gtk-gl-area.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ void gd_gl_area_scanout_flush(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 void gd_gl_area_scanout_dmabuf(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                                QemuDmaBuf *dmabuf)
 {
-#ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF
+#ifdef CONFIG_GBM
     VirtualConsole *vc = container_of(dcl, VirtualConsole, gfx.dcl);
 
     gtk_gl_area_make_current(GTK_GL_AREA(vc->gfx.drawing_area));
diff --git a/ui/gtk.c b/ui/gtk.c
index 79dc240120..3edaf041de 100644
--- a/ui/gtk.c
+++ b/ui/gtk.c
@@ -567,10 +567,6 @@ static void gd_switch(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
     }
     vc->gfx.ds = surface;
 
-    if (!surface) {
-        return;
-    }
-
     if (surface->format == PIXMAN_x8r8g8b8) {
         /*
          * PIXMAN_x8r8g8b8 == CAIRO_FORMAT_RGB24
@@ -657,6 +653,8 @@ static const DisplayChangeListenerOps dcl_gl_area_ops = {
     .dpy_has_dmabuf          = gd_has_dmabuf,
 };
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_X11
+
 static const DisplayChangeListenerOps dcl_egl_ops = {
     .dpy_name             = "gtk-egl",
     .dpy_gfx_update       = gd_egl_update,
@@ -679,6 +677,8 @@ static const DisplayChangeListenerOps dcl_egl_ops = {
     .dpy_has_dmabuf          = gd_has_dmabuf,
 };
 
+#endif
+
 #endif /* CONFIG_OPENGL */
 
 /** QEMU Events **/
@@ -797,8 +797,12 @@ static gboolean gd_draw_event(GtkWidget *widget, cairo_t *cr, void *opaque)
             /* invoke render callback please */
             return FALSE;
         } else {
+#ifdef CONFIG_X11
             gd_egl_draw(vc);
             return TRUE;
+#else
+            abort();
+#endif
         }
     }
 #endif
@@ -1786,7 +1790,16 @@ static gboolean gd_vc_in(VteTerminal *terminal, gchar *text, guint size,
         }
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_be_write(vc->vte.chr, (uint8_t  *)text, (unsigned int)size);
+    int remaining = size;
+    uint8_t* p = (uint8_t *)text;
+    while (remaining > 0) {
+        int can_write = qemu_chr_be_can_write(vc->vte.chr);
+        int written = MIN(remaining, can_write);
+        qemu_chr_be_write(vc->vte.chr, p, written);
+
+        remaining -= written;
+        p += written;
+    }
     return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -2022,6 +2035,7 @@ static GSList *gd_vc_gfx_init(GtkDisplayState *s, VirtualConsole *vc,
                              G_CALLBACK(gl_area_realize), vc);
             vc->gfx.dcl.ops = &dcl_gl_area_ops;
         } else {
+#ifdef CONFIG_X11
             vc->gfx.drawing_area = gtk_drawing_area_new();
             /*
              * gtk_widget_set_double_buffered() was deprecated in 3.14.
@@ -2035,6 +2049,9 @@ static GSList *gd_vc_gfx_init(GtkDisplayState *s, VirtualConsole *vc,
 #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
             vc->gfx.dcl.ops = &dcl_egl_ops;
             vc->gfx.has_dmabuf = qemu_egl_has_dmabuf();
+#else
+            abort();
+#endif
         }
     } else
 #endif
@@ -2345,8 +2362,10 @@ static void early_gtk_display_init(DisplayOptions *opts)
         } else
 #endif
         {
+#ifdef CONFIG_X11
             DisplayGLMode mode = opts->has_gl ? opts->gl : DISPLAYGL_MODE_ON;
             gtk_egl_init(mode);
+#endif
         }
 #endif
     }
diff --git a/ui/meson.build b/ui/meson.build
index 156b600a99..e8d3ff41b9 100644
--- a/ui/meson.build
+++ b/ui/meson.build
@@ -45,14 +45,15 @@ endif
 
 if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_OPENGL')
   opengl_ss = ss.source_set()
+  opengl_ss.add(gbm)
   opengl_ss.add(when: [opengl, pixman, 'CONFIG_OPENGL'],
                if_true: files('shader.c', 'console-gl.c', 'egl-helpers.c', 'egl-context.c'))
   ui_modules += {'opengl' : opengl_ss}
 endif
 
-if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF')
+if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_OPENGL') and gbm.found()
   egl_headless_ss = ss.source_set()
-  egl_headless_ss.add(when: [opengl, pixman, 'CONFIG_OPENGL_DMABUF'],
+  egl_headless_ss.add(when: [opengl, gbm, pixman, 'CONFIG_OPENGL'],
                       if_true: files('egl-headless.c'))
   ui_modules += {'egl-headless' : egl_headless_ss}
 endif
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ if gtk.found()
   gtk_ss = ss.source_set()
   gtk_ss.add(gtk, vte, pixman, files('gtk.c'))
   gtk_ss.add(when: x11, if_true: files('x_keymap.c'))
-  gtk_ss.add(when: [opengl, 'CONFIG_OPENGL'], if_true: files('gtk-egl.c', 'gtk-gl-area.c'))
+  gtk_ss.add(when: [opengl, 'CONFIG_OPENGL'], if_true: files('gtk-gl-area.c'))
+  gtk_ss.add(when: [x11, opengl, 'CONFIG_OPENGL'], if_true: files('gtk-egl.c'))
   ui_modules += {'gtk' : gtk_ss}
 endif
 
diff --git a/ui/sdl2-2d.c b/ui/sdl2-2d.c
index a2ea85127d..bfebbdeaea 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2-2d.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2-2d.c
@@ -32,14 +32,11 @@ void sdl2_2d_update(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                     int x, int y, int w, int h)
 {
     struct sdl2_console *scon = container_of(dcl, struct sdl2_console, dcl);
-    DisplaySurface *surf = qemu_console_surface(dcl->con);
+    DisplaySurface *surf = scon->surface;
     SDL_Rect rect;
     size_t surface_data_offset;
     assert(!scon->opengl);
 
-    if (!surf) {
-        return;
-    }
     if (!scon->texture) {
         return;
     }
@@ -75,7 +72,7 @@ void sdl2_2d_switch(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
         scon->texture = NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!new_surface) {
+    if (is_placeholder(new_surface) && qemu_console_get_index(dcl->con)) {
         sdl2_window_destroy(scon);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/ui/sdl2-gl.c b/ui/sdl2-gl.c
index fd594d7461..a21d2deed9 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2-gl.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2-gl.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void sdl2_gl_switch(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 
     scon->surface = new_surface;
 
-    if (!new_surface) {
+    if (is_placeholder(new_surface) && qemu_console_get_index(dcl->con)) {
         qemu_gl_fini_shader(scon->gls);
         scon->gls = NULL;
         sdl2_window_destroy(scon);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void sdl2_gl_refresh(DisplayChangeListener *dcl)
     assert(scon->opengl);
 
     graphic_hw_update(dcl->con);
-    if (scon->updates && scon->surface) {
+    if (scon->updates && scon->real_window) {
         scon->updates = 0;
         sdl2_gl_render_surface(scon);
     }
diff --git a/ui/spice-display.c b/ui/spice-display.c
index ad93b953a9..d22781a23d 100644
--- a/ui/spice-display.c
+++ b/ui/spice-display.c
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ void qemu_spice_display_switch(SimpleSpiceDisplay *ssd,
     SimpleSpiceUpdate *update;
     bool need_destroy;
 
-    if (surface && ssd->surface &&
+    if (ssd->surface &&
         surface_width(surface) == pixman_image_get_width(ssd->surface) &&
         surface_height(surface) == pixman_image_get_height(ssd->surface) &&
         surface_format(surface) == pixman_image_get_format(ssd->surface)) {
@@ -410,8 +410,8 @@ void qemu_spice_display_switch(SimpleSpiceDisplay *ssd,
 
     /* full mode switch */
     trace_qemu_spice_display_surface(ssd->qxl.id,
-                                     surface ? surface_width(surface)  : 0,
-                                     surface ? surface_height(surface) : 0,
+                                     surface_width(surface),
+                                     surface_height(surface),
                                      false);
 
     memset(&ssd->dirty, 0, sizeof(ssd->dirty));
diff --git a/ui/vnc.c b/ui/vnc.c
index 16bb3be770..310abc9378 100644
--- a/ui/vnc.c
+++ b/ui/vnc.c
@@ -790,20 +790,10 @@ static bool vnc_check_pageflip(DisplaySurface *s1,
 static void vnc_dpy_switch(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
                            DisplaySurface *surface)
 {
-    static const char placeholder_msg[] =
-        "Display output is not active.";
-    static DisplaySurface *placeholder;
     VncDisplay *vd = container_of(dcl, VncDisplay, dcl);
     bool pageflip = vnc_check_pageflip(vd->ds, surface);
     VncState *vs;
 
-    if (surface == NULL) {
-        if (placeholder == NULL) {
-            placeholder = qemu_create_message_surface(640, 480, placeholder_msg);
-        }
-        surface = placeholder;
-    }
-
     vnc_abort_display_jobs(vd);
     vd->ds = surface;