diff --git a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
index 242431814..cbf6213a6 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
@@ -12,9 +12,12 @@ layout(std140) uniform CellRenderData {
     uint color_table[256]; 
 };
 
-layout(location=0) in uvec3 colors;
-layout(location=1) in uvec4 sprite_coords;
-layout(location=2) in float is_selected;
+// Have to use fixed locations here as all variants of the cell program share the same VAO
+// locations 0 and 1 are used in the graphics program which also shares the same VAO
+layout(location=2) in uvec3 colors;
+layout(location=3) in uvec4 sprite_coords;
+layout(location=4) in float is_selected;
+
 #if defined(FOREGROUND) || defined(ALL)
 
 out vec3 sprite_pos;
diff --git a/kitty/graphics_vertex.glsl b/kitty/graphics_vertex.glsl
index aebe20810..d6ed0a6ab 100644
--- a/kitty/graphics_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/graphics_vertex.glsl
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #version 330
 
-layout(location=8) in vec4 src;
-layout(location=9) in vec4 position;
+layout(location=0) in vec4 src;
+layout(location=1) in vec4 position;
 out vec2 texcoord;
 
 const uvec2 pos_map[] = uvec2[4](