diff --git a/ext/gl/gstglcolorbalance.c b/ext/gl/gstglcolorbalance.c
index c8c5525e72..88c145f540 100644
--- a/ext/gl/gstglcolorbalance.c
+++ b/ext/gl/gstglcolorbalance.c
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ gst_gl_color_balance_update_properties (GstGLColorBalance * glcolorbalance)
 }
 
 static gboolean
-gst_gl_color_balance_gl_start (GstGLBaseFilter * base_filter)
+_create_shader (GstGLColorBalance * balance)
 {
-  GstGLColorBalance *balance = GST_GL_COLOR_BALANCE (base_filter);
-  GstGLFilter *filter = GST_GL_FILTER (base_filter);
+  GstGLBaseFilter *base_filter = GST_GL_BASE_FILTER (balance);
+  GstGLFilter *filter = GST_GL_FILTER (balance);
   GError *error = NULL;
 
   if (balance->shader)
@@ -188,6 +188,17 @@ gst_gl_color_balance_gl_start (GstGLBaseFilter * base_filter)
   filter->draw_attr_texture_loc =
       gst_gl_shader_get_attribute_location (balance->shader, "a_texcoord");
 
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+gst_gl_color_balance_gl_start (GstGLBaseFilter * base_filter)
+{
+  GstGLColorBalance *balance = GST_GL_COLOR_BALANCE (base_filter);
+
+  if (!_create_shader (balance))
+    return FALSE;
+
   return GST_GL_BASE_FILTER_CLASS (parent_class)->gl_start (base_filter);
 }
 
@@ -228,6 +239,9 @@ gst_gl_color_balance_callback (gint width, gint height, guint tex_id,
   GstGLFilter *filter = GST_GL_FILTER (data);
   const GstGLFuncs *gl = GST_GL_BASE_FILTER (data)->context->gl_vtable;
 
+  if (!balance->shader)
+    _create_shader (balance);
+
   gst_gl_shader_use (balance->shader);
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (balance);
   gst_gl_shader_set_uniform_1f (balance->shader, "brightness",