diff --git a/gfx/context/xegl_ctx.c b/gfx/context/xegl_ctx.c
index 61f93be874..0393c2bcab 100644
--- a/gfx/context/xegl_ctx.c
+++ b/gfx/context/xegl_ctx.c
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ static bool gfx_ctx_init(void)
    if (g_inited)
       return false;
 
+   XInitThreads();
+
 #define EGL_ATTRIBS_BASE \
    EGL_SURFACE_TYPE,    EGL_WINDOW_BIT, \
    EGL_RED_SIZE,        0, \