diff --git a/crates/re_viewer/src/native.rs b/crates/re_viewer/src/native.rs
index 5748a5290a51..50d39886030b 100644
--- a/crates/re_viewer/src/native.rs
+++ b/crates/re_viewer/src/native.rs
@@ -15,12 +15,67 @@ pub fn run_native_app(app_creator: AppCreator) -> eframe::Result<()> {
         window_title,
         native_options,
         Box::new(move |cc| {
+            check_graphics_driver(cc.wgpu_render_state.as_ref());
             let re_ui = crate::customize_eframe(cc);
             app_creator(cc, re_ui)
         }),
     )
 }
 
+fn check_graphics_driver(wgpu_render_state: Option<&egui_wgpu::RenderState>) {
+    let wgpu_render_state = wgpu_render_state.expect("Expected wgpu to be enabled");
+    let info = wgpu_render_state.adapter.get_info();
+
+    let human_readable_summary = {
+        let wgpu::AdapterInfo {
+            name,
+            vendor: _, // skip integer id
+            device: _, // skip integer id
+            device_type,
+            driver,
+            driver_info,
+            backend,
+        } = &info;
+
+        // Example outputs:
+        // > wgpu adapter name: "llvmpipe (LLVM 16.0.6, 256 bits)", device_type: Cpu, backend: Vulkan, driver: "llvmpipe", driver_info: "Mesa 23.1.6-arch1.4 (LLVM 16.0.6)"
+        // > wgpu adapter name: "Apple M1 Pro", device_type: IntegratedGpu, backend: Metal, driver: "", driver_info: ""
+
+        format!(
+            "wgpu adapter name: {name:?}, \
+             device_type: {device_type:?}, \
+             backend: {backend:?}, \
+             driver: {driver:?}, \
+             driver_info: {driver_info:?}"
+        )
+    };
+
+    let is_software_rasterizer_with_known_crashes = {
+        // See https://github.com/rerun-io/rerun/issues/3089
+        const KNOWN_SOFTWARE_RASTERIZERS: &[&str] = &[
+            "lavapipe", // Vulkan software rasterizer
+            "llvmpipe", // OpenGL software rasterizer
+        ];
+
+        // I'm not sure where the incriminating string will appear, so check all fields at once:
+        let info_string = format!("{info:?}").to_lowercase();
+
+        KNOWN_SOFTWARE_RASTERIZERS
+            .iter()
+            .any(|&software_rasterizer| info_string.contains(software_rasterizer))
+    };
+
+    if is_software_rasterizer_with_known_crashes {
+        re_log::warn!("Software rasterizer detected - expect poor performance and crashes. See: https://www.rerun.io/docs/getting-started/troubleshooting#graphics-issues");
+        re_log::info!("{human_readable_summary}");
+    } else if info.device_type == wgpu::DeviceType::Cpu {
+        re_log::warn!("Software rasterizer detected - expect poor performance. See: https://www.rerun.io/docs/getting-started/troubleshooting#graphics-issues");
+        re_log::info!("{human_readable_summary}");
+    } else {
+        re_log::debug!("{human_readable_summary}");
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn eframe_options() -> eframe::NativeOptions {
     eframe::NativeOptions {
         // Controls where on disk the app state is persisted.
diff --git a/docs/content/getting-started/troubleshooting.md b/docs/content/getting-started/troubleshooting.md
index 3db7c188a046..017e34729e46 100644
--- a/docs/content/getting-started/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/content/getting-started/troubleshooting.md
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ rerun reset
 ```
 
 ## Graphics issues
+<--! This section is linked to from `crates/re_viewer/src/native.rs` -->
 
 [Wgpu](https://github.com/gfx-rs/wgpu) (the graphics API we use) maintains a list of
 [known driver issues](https://github.com/gfx-rs/wgpu/wiki/Known-Driver-Issues) and workarounds for them.
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ The following environment variables overwrite the config we choose for wgpu:
     Naturally, support depends on your OS. Default is `vulkan` everywhere except on Mac where we use `metal`.
 * `WGPU_POWER_PREF`: Overwrites the power setting used for choosing a graphics adapter, must be `high` or `low`. (Default is `high`)
 
+For instance, you can try `WGPU_BACKEND=gl rerun`.
+
 We recommend setting these only if you're asked to try them or know what you're doing,
 since we don't support all of these settings equally well.