diff --git a/src/gl/gl3immed.cpp b/src/gl/gl3immed.cpp
index 1abaa0a8..cebb75f1 100644
--- a/src/gl/gl3immed.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/gl3immed.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ namespace rw {
 namespace gl3 {
 
 uint32 im2DVbo, im2DIbo;
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+uint32 im2DVao;
+#endif
 static int32 u_xform;
 
 #define STARTINDICES 10000
@@ -65,12 +68,16 @@ openIm2D(void)
 	glGenBuffers(1, &im2DIbo);
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, im2DIbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTINDICES*2, nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
 
 	glGenBuffers(1, &im2DVbo);
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, im2DVbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTVERTICES*sizeof(Im2DVertex), nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
+
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glGenVertexArrays(1, &im2DVao);
+	glBindVertexArray(im2DVao);
+	setAttribPointers(im2dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
@@ -110,6 +117,10 @@ im2DRenderPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType, void *vertices, int32 numVertices)
 	Camera *cam;
 	cam = (Camera*)engine->currentCamera;
 
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(im2DVao);
+#endif
+
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, im2DVbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTVERTICES*sizeof(Im2DVertex), nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
 	glBufferSubData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0, numVertices*sizeof(Im2DVertex), vertices);
@@ -120,13 +131,17 @@ im2DRenderPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType, void *vertices, int32 numVertices)
 	xform[3] = 1.0f;
 
 	im2dShader->use();
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	setAttribPointers(im2dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 
 	glUniform4fv(currentShader->uniformLocations[u_xform], 1, xform);
 
 	flushCache();
 	glDrawArrays(primTypeMap[primType], 0, numVertices);
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	disableAttribPointers(im2dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
@@ -138,7 +153,10 @@ im2DRenderIndexedPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType,
 	Camera *cam;
 	cam = (Camera*)engine->currentCamera;
 
-	// TODO: fixed size
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(im2DVao);
+#endif
+
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, im2DIbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTINDICES*2, nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
 	glBufferSubData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0, numIndices*2, indices);
@@ -153,14 +171,18 @@ im2DRenderIndexedPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType,
 	xform[3] = 1.0f;
 
 	im2dShader->use();
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	setAttribPointers(im2dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 
 	glUniform4fv(currentShader->uniformLocations[u_xform], 1, xform);
 
 	flushCache();
 	glDrawElements(primTypeMap[primType], numIndices,
 	               GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, nil);
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	disableAttribPointers(im2dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -177,6 +199,9 @@ static AttribDesc im3dattribDesc[3] = {
 		sizeof(Im3DVertex), offsetof(Im3DVertex, u) },
 };
 static uint32 im3DVbo, im3DIbo;
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+static uint32 im3DVao;
+#endif
 static int32 num3DVertices;	// not actually needed here
 
 void
@@ -197,12 +222,16 @@ openIm3D(void)
 	glGenBuffers(1, &im3DIbo);
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, im3DIbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTINDICES*2, nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
 
 	glGenBuffers(1, &im3DVbo);
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, im3DVbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTVERTICES*sizeof(Im3DVertex), nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
+
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glGenVertexArrays(1, &im3DVao);
+	glBindVertexArray(im3DVao);
+	setAttribPointers(im3dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
@@ -228,11 +257,16 @@ im3DTransform(void *vertices, int32 numVertices, Matrix *world, uint32 flags)
 	if((flags & im3d::VERTEXUV) == 0)
 		SetRenderStatePtr(TEXTURERASTER, nil);
 
-	// TODO: fixed size
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(im2DVao);
+#endif
+
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, im3DVbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, STARTVERTICES*sizeof(Im3DVertex), nil, GL_STREAM_DRAW);
 	glBufferSubData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0, numVertices*sizeof(Im3DVertex), vertices);
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	setAttribPointers(im3dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 	num3DVertices = numVertices;
 }
 
@@ -243,7 +277,6 @@ im3DRenderPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType)
 
 	flushCache();
 	glDrawArrays(primTypeMap[primType], 0, num3DVertices);
-	disableAttribPointers(im3dattribDesc, 3);
 }
 
 void
@@ -256,12 +289,14 @@ im3DRenderIndexedPrimitive(PrimitiveType primType, void *indices, int32 numIndic
 	flushCache();
 	glDrawElements(primTypeMap[primType], numIndices,
 	               GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, nil);
-	disableAttribPointers(im3dattribDesc, 3);
 }
 
 void
 im3DEnd(void)
 {
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	disableAttribPointers(im3dattribDesc, 3);
+#endif
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/gl/gl3matfx.cpp b/src/gl/gl3matfx.cpp
index 0d44a5da..3734f3aa 100644
--- a/src/gl/gl3matfx.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/gl3matfx.cpp
@@ -174,9 +174,13 @@ matfxRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 	setWorldMatrix(atomic->getFrame()->getLTM());
 	lightingCB(atomic);
 
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+#else
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
+	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
 	setAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 
 	lastEnvFrame = nil;
 
@@ -198,7 +202,9 @@ matfxRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 		}
 		inst++;
 	}
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	disableAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 }
 
 ObjPipeline*
diff --git a/src/gl/gl3pipe.cpp b/src/gl/gl3pipe.cpp
index 2bda84dd..89c40047 100644
--- a/src/gl/gl3pipe.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/gl3pipe.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ freeInstanceData(Geometry *geometry)
 	geometry->instData = nil;
 	glDeleteBuffers(1, &header->ibo);
 	glDeleteBuffers(1, &header->vbo);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glDeleteBuffers(1, &header->vao);
+#endif
 	rwFree(header->indexBuffer);
 	rwFree(header->vertexBuffer);
 	rwFree(header->attribDesc);
@@ -86,11 +89,14 @@ instanceMesh(rw::ObjPipeline *rwpipe, Geometry *geo)
 	header->ibo = 0;
 	header->vbo = 0;
 
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glGenVertexArrays(1, &header->vao);
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+#endif
 	glGenBuffers(1, &header->ibo);
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->totalNumIndex*2,
 			header->indexBuffer, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
 
 	return header;
 }
@@ -282,10 +288,17 @@ defaultInstanceCB(Geometry *geo, InstanceDataHeader *header, bool32 reinstance)
 		}
 	}
 
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
+#endif
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->totalNumVertex*attribs[0].stride,
 	             header->vertexBuffer, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	setAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+	glBindVertexArray(0);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/gl/gl3render.cpp b/src/gl/gl3render.cpp
index 8c35f186..e0d5156c 100644
--- a/src/gl/gl3render.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/gl3render.cpp
@@ -128,9 +128,13 @@ defaultRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 	setWorldMatrix(atomic->getFrame()->getLTM());
 	lightingCB(atomic);
 
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+#else
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
+	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
 	setAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 
 	InstanceData *inst = header->inst;
 	int32 n = header->numMeshes;
@@ -156,7 +160,9 @@ defaultRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 		drawInst(header, inst);
 		inst++;
 	}
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	disableAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/gl/gl3skin.cpp b/src/gl/gl3skin.cpp
index 9601a202..52ed51ba 100644
--- a/src/gl/gl3skin.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/gl3skin.cpp
@@ -226,10 +226,17 @@ skinInstanceCB(Geometry *geo, InstanceDataHeader *header, bool32 reinstance)
 			  header->totalNumVertex, a->stride);
 	}
 
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
+#endif
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
 	glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->totalNumVertex*attribs[0].stride,
 	             header->vertexBuffer, GL_STATIC_DRAW);
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, 0);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	setAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+	glBindVertexArray(0);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
@@ -281,9 +288,13 @@ skinRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 	setWorldMatrix(atomic->getFrame()->getLTM());
 	lightingCB(atomic);
 
-	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	glBindVertexArray(header->vao);
+#else
 	glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->ibo);
+	glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, header->vbo);
 	setAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 
 	InstanceData *inst = header->inst;
 	int32 n = header->numMeshes;
@@ -311,7 +322,9 @@ skinRenderCB(Atomic *atomic, InstanceDataHeader *header)
 		drawInst(header, inst);
 		inst++;
 	}
+#ifndef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 	disableAttribPointers(header->attribDesc, header->numAttribs);
+#endif
 }
 
 ObjPipeline*
diff --git a/src/gl/rwgl3.h b/src/gl/rwgl3.h
index c0eeb456..863da2ed 100644
--- a/src/gl/rwgl3.h
+++ b/src/gl/rwgl3.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct InstanceData
 
 struct InstanceDataHeader : rw::InstanceDataHeader
 {
-	uint32      serialNumber;	// not really needed right now
+	uint32      serialNumber;
 	uint32      numMeshes;
 	uint16     *indexBuffer;
 	uint32      primType;
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ struct InstanceDataHeader : rw::InstanceDataHeader
 
 	uint32      ibo;
 	uint32      vbo;		// or 2?
+#ifdef RW_GL_USE_VAOS
+	uint32      vao;
+#endif
 
 	InstanceData *inst;
 };
diff --git a/src/rwbase.h b/src/rwbase.h
index 63183d00..f930c18e 100644
--- a/src/rwbase.h
+++ b/src/rwbase.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #ifdef RW_GL3
 #define RW_OPENGL
 #define RWDEVICE gl3
+// doesn't help
+//#define RW_GL_USE_VAOS
 #endif
 
 #ifdef RW_GLES2