diff --git a/src/ui/effects/scroll_fade_shader.h b/src/ui/effects/scroll_fade_shader.h
index fdc8ea3..f6c162c 100644
--- a/src/ui/effects/scroll_fade_shader.h
+++ b/src/ui/effects/scroll_fade_shader.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ struct ScrollFadeShader {
 
     // ---- Internal state ----
     bool ready = false;
+    bool failed = false;   // a failed init is final until destroy(): no per-frame recompiles on a rejecting driver
 
 #ifdef DRAGONX_HAS_GLAD
     GLuint program_       = 0;
@@ -72,11 +73,16 @@ struct ScrollFadeShader {
 
     bool init() {
         if (ready) return true;
+        if (failed) return false;
 #ifdef DRAGONX_HAS_GLAD
         ready = initGL();
 #elif defined(DRAGONX_USE_DX11)
         ready = initDX11();
 #endif
+        if (!ready) {
+            failed = true;
+            LOGF("ScrollFadeShader: init failed, scroll-edge fades disabled\n");   // once; release builds record it
+        }
         return ready;
     }
 
@@ -87,6 +93,7 @@ struct ScrollFadeShader {
         destroyDX11();
 #endif
         ready = false;
+        failed = false;
     }
 
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------