diff --git a/source/frontends/common2/programoptions.h b/source/frontends/common2/programoptions.h
index ee20fe781..764c50fef 100644
--- a/source/frontends/common2/programoptions.h
+++ b/source/frontends/common2/programoptions.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace common2
     bool imgui = true; // use imgui renderer
     std::optional<Geometry> geometry; // must be initialised with defaults
     bool aspectRatio = false; // preserve aspect ratio
-    int glSwapInterval = 1; // SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval
+    int glSwapInterval = -1; // SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval
     std::optional<int> gameControllerIndex;
     std::string gameControllerMappingFile;
     std::string audioDeviceName;
diff --git a/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp b/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
index 704eb90bd..1fdd363db 100644
--- a/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void run_sdl(int argc, const char * argv [])
     frame = std::make_shared<sa2::SDLRendererFrame>(options);
   }
 
-  std::cerr << "Default GL swap interval: " << sa2::compat::getGLSwapInterval() << std::endl;
+  std::cerr << "GL swap interval: " << sa2::compat::getGLSwapInterval() << std::endl;
 
   const common2::CommonInitialisation init(frame, paddle, options);
 
diff --git a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlcompat.cpp b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlcompat.cpp
index 93795ccad..9eedf9e1d 100644
--- a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlcompat.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlcompat.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,17 @@ namespace sa2
       // I am not sure whether we should worry about SDL_PROP_RENDERER_CREATE_PRESENT_VSYNC_NUMBER
       const char * name = index >= 0 ? SDL_GetRenderDriver(index) : nullptr;
 
-      return SDL_CreateRenderer(window, name);
+      SDL_PropertiesID props = SDL_CreateProperties();
+      SDL_SetProperty(props, SDL_PROP_RENDERER_CREATE_WINDOW_POINTER, window);
+      SDL_SetBooleanProperty(props, SDL_PROP_RENDERER_CREATE_PRESENT_VSYNC_NUMBER, SDL_TRUE);
+      if (index >= 0)
+      {
+        SDL_SetStringProperty(props, SDL_PROP_RENDERER_CREATE_NAME_STRING, SDL_GetRenderDriver(index));
+      }
+
+      SDL_Renderer *renderer = SDL_CreateRendererWithProperties(props);
+      SDL_DestroyProperties(props);
+      return renderer;
     }
 
 #else
diff --git a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.cpp b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.cpp
index e7d10caec..21e030f06 100644
--- a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.cpp
@@ -145,23 +145,27 @@ namespace sa2
 
   void SDLFrame::SetGLSynchronisation(const common2::EmulatorOptions & options)
   {
-    const int defaultGLSwap = compat::getGLSwapInterval();
-    if (defaultGLSwap == 0)
-    {
-      // sane default
-      mySynchroniseWithTimer = true;
-      myTargetGLSwap = 0;
-    }
-    else if (options.syncWithTimer)
+    std::vector<int> intervalsToTry;
+
+    if (!options.syncWithTimer)
     {
-      mySynchroniseWithTimer = true;
-      myTargetGLSwap = 0;
+      intervalsToTry.push_back(options.glSwapInterval);
+      intervalsToTry.push_back(std::abs(options.glSwapInterval));
+      intervalsToTry.push_back(-1);
+      intervalsToTry.push_back(1);
     }
-    else
+    // fallback
+    intervalsToTry.push_back(0);
+
+    const auto it = std::find_if(intervalsToTry.begin(), intervalsToTry.end(), setGLSwapInterval);
+
+    if (it == intervalsToTry.end())
     {
-      mySynchroniseWithTimer = false;
-      myTargetGLSwap = options.glSwapInterval;
+      throw std::runtime_error(decorateSDLError("SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval"));
     }
+
+    myTargetGLSwap = *it;
+    mySynchroniseWithTimer = (myTargetGLSwap == 0) && options.syncWithTimer;
   }
 
   void SDLFrame::End()
@@ -176,12 +180,19 @@ namespace sa2
     }
   }
 
-  void SDLFrame::setGLSwapInterval(const int interval)
+  bool SDLFrame::setGLSwapInterval(const int interval)
+  {
+    const int res = SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval(interval);
+    return res == 0;
+  }
+
+
+  void SDLFrame::changeGLSwapInterval(const int interval)
   {
     const int current = compat::getGLSwapInterval();
     // in QEMU with GL_RENDERER: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0, 256 bits)
     // SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval() always fails
-    if (interval != current && SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval(interval))
+    if (interval != current && !setGLSwapInterval(interval))
     {
       throw std::runtime_error(decorateSDLError("SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval"));
     }
diff --git a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.h b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.h
index dc37e5004..c57b915ab 100644
--- a/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.h
+++ b/source/frontends/sdl/sdlframe.h
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ namespace sa2
 
     void SaveSnapshot();
 
-    static void setGLSwapInterval(const int interval);
+    static bool setGLSwapInterval(const int interval);
+    static void changeGLSwapInterval(const int interval);
 
   protected:
     void SetApplicationIcon();