diff --git a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
index 2a5b0e1dd..08d2610c9 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 #version GLSL_VERSION
 #define WHICH_PROGRAM
 #define NOT_TRANSPARENT
-#define SHIFTS
+#define DECORATION_SHIFT {DECORATION_SHIFT}
+#define REVERSE_SHIFT {REVERSE_SHIFT}
+#define STRIKE_SHIFT {STRIKE_SHIFT}
+#define DIM_SHIFT {DIM_SHIFT}
 
 // Inputs {{{
 layout(std140) uniform CellRenderData {
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index 185f8e380..043bfe720 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -65,10 +65,8 @@ def load_shader_programs(semi_transparent=0):
             'FOREGROUND': CELL_FG_PROGRAM,
     }.items():
         vv, ff = v.replace('WHICH_PROGRAM', which), f.replace('WHICH_PROGRAM', which)
-        shifts = '\n'.join('#define {} {}'.format(name, val) for name, val in (
-            ('DECORATION_SHIFT', DECORATION), ('REVERSE_SHIFT', REVERSE), ('STRIKE_SHIFT', STRIKETHROUGH), ('DIM_SHIFT', DIM),
-        ))
-        vv = vv.replace('#define SHIFTS', shifts)
+        for gln, pyn in {'REVERSE_SHIFT': REVERSE, 'STRIKE_SHIFT': STRIKETHROUGH, 'DIM_SHIFT': DIM, 'DECORATION_SHIFT': DECORATION}.items():
+            vv = vv.replace('{{{}}}'.format(gln), str(pyn), 1)
         if semi_transparent:
             vv = vv.replace('#define NOT_TRANSPARENT', '#define TRANSPARENT')
             ff = ff.replace('#define NOT_TRANSPARENT', '#define TRANSPARENT')