diff --git a/video/out/vo_opengl.c b/video/out/vo_opengl.c
index 66ab7f11a7..ccd52cde69 100644
--- a/video/out/vo_opengl.c
+++ b/video/out/vo_opengl.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "common/common.h"
 #include "misc/bstr.h"
 #include "common/msg.h"
+#include "common/global.h"
 #include "options/m_config.h"
 #include "vo.h"
 #include "video/mp_image.h"
@@ -439,9 +440,11 @@ static int preinit(struct vo *vo)
     p->hwdec_info.load_api = call_request_hwdec_api;
     p->hwdec_info.load_api_ctx = vo;
 
-    if (vo->opts->hwdec_preload_api != HWDEC_NONE) {
-        p->hwdec =
-            gl_hwdec_load_api_id(p->vo->log, p->gl, vo->opts->hwdec_preload_api);
+    int hwdec = vo->opts->hwdec_preload_api;
+    if (hwdec == HWDEC_NONE)
+        hwdec = vo->global->opts->hwdec_api;
+    if (hwdec != HWDEC_NONE) {
+        p->hwdec = gl_hwdec_load_api_id(p->vo->log, p->gl, hwdec);
         gl_video_set_hwdec(p->renderer, p->hwdec);
         if (p->hwdec)
             p->hwdec_info.hwctx = p->hwdec->hwctx;