diff --git a/kitty/borders.py b/kitty/borders.py
index bb15de8f0..0448dfbae 100644
--- a/kitty/borders.py
+++ b/kitty/borders.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class BordersProgram(ShaderProgram):
     def __init__(self):
         ShaderProgram.__init__(
             self, '''\
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 uniform vec3 colors[3];
 in vec3 rect;
 out vec3 color;
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ void main() {
     color = colors[uint(rect[2])];
 }
 ''', '''\
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 in vec3 color;
 out vec4 final_color;
 
diff --git a/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl b/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
index 9decc0451..ba59bc07e 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 uniform sampler2DArray sprites;
 in vec3 sprite_pos;
 in vec3 underline_pos;
diff --git a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
index ef92a25fa..f9a307c91 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 uniform uvec2 dimensions;  // xnum, ynum
 uniform vec4 steps;  // xstart, ystart, dx, dy
 uniform vec2 sprite_layout;  // dx, dy
diff --git a/kitty/cursor_fragment.glsl b/kitty/cursor_fragment.glsl
index 007e3cf62..45e832a81 100644
--- a/kitty/cursor_fragment.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cursor_fragment.glsl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 uniform vec4 color;
 out vec4 final_color;
 
diff --git a/kitty/cursor_vertex.glsl b/kitty/cursor_vertex.glsl
index a71a404b5..bc33d1b60 100644
--- a/kitty/cursor_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cursor_vertex.glsl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#version GLSL_VERSION
 uniform vec2 xpos;
 uniform vec2 ypos;
 
diff --git a/kitty/shaders.py b/kitty/shaders.py
index 283c66fe9..037722dce 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.py
+++ b/kitty/shaders.py
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ class ShaderProgram:  # {{{
     def add_shader(self, source: str, shader_type: int) -> int:
         ' Compile a shader and return its id, or raise an exception if compilation fails '
         shader_id = glCreateShader(shader_type)
-        source = '#version {}\n{}'.format(VERSION, source)
+        source = source.replace('GLSL_VERSION', str(VERSION), 1)
         try:
             glShaderSource(shader_id, source)
             glCompileShader(shader_id)