diff --git a/include/mbgl/platform/default/headless_view.hpp b/include/mbgl/platform/default/headless_view.hpp
index c0ffd27fb..baa6a0382 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/platform/default/headless_view.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/platform/default/headless_view.hpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ typedef XID GLXPbuffer;
 
 #include <mbgl/mbgl.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gl/gl.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gl/types.hpp>
 
 #include <memory>
 #include <thread>
@@ -89,9 +90,9 @@ private:
 
     std::function<void(MapChange)> mapChangeCallback;
 
-    GLuint fbo = 0;
-    GLuint fboDepthStencil = 0;
-    GLuint fboColor = 0;
+    gl::FramebufferID fbo = 0;
+    gl::RenderbufferID fboDepthStencil = 0;
+    gl::RenderbufferID fboColor = 0;
 };
 
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/geometry/buffer.hpp b/src/mbgl/geometry/buffer.hpp
index 8e58af892..2faa9a9d8 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/geometry/buffer.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/geometry/buffer.hpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    GLuint getID() const {
+    gl::BufferID getID() const {
         return buffer ? *buffer : 0;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.cpp b/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.cpp
index 0f29d65cf..d7bddcac7 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ void VertexArrayObject::bindVertexArrayObject(gl::Context& context) {
     context.vertexArrayObject = *vertexArray;
 }
 
-void VertexArrayObject::verifyBinding(Shader& shader, GLuint vertexBuffer, GLuint elementsBuffer,
-                                      GLbyte *offset) {
+void VertexArrayObject::verifyBinding(Shader& shader,
+                                      gl::BufferID vertexBuffer,
+                                      gl::BufferID elementsBuffer,
+                                      GLbyte* offset) {
     if (bound_shader != shader.getID()) {
         throw std::runtime_error(std::string("trying to rebind VAO to another shader from " +
                                              util::toString(bound_shader) + "(" + bound_shader_name + ") to " +
@@ -43,8 +45,10 @@ void VertexArrayObject::verifyBinding(Shader& shader, GLuint vertexBuffer, GLuin
     }
 }
 
-void VertexArrayObject::storeBinding(Shader &shader, GLuint vertexBuffer, GLuint elementsBuffer,
-                                     GLbyte *offset) {
+void VertexArrayObject::storeBinding(Shader& shader,
+                                     gl::BufferID vertexBuffer,
+                                     gl::BufferID elementsBuffer,
+                                     GLbyte* offset) {
     bound_shader = shader.getID();
     bound_shader_name = shader.name;
     bound_offset = offset;
diff --git a/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.hpp b/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.hpp
index a9e69c938..42527a7ad 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/geometry/vao.hpp
@@ -51,23 +51,29 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    GLuint getID() const {
+    gl::VertexArrayID getID() const {
         return *vertexArray;
     }
 
 private:
     void bindVertexArrayObject(gl::Context&);
-    void storeBinding(Shader &shader, GLuint vertexBuffer, GLuint elementsBuffer, GLbyte *offset);
-    void verifyBinding(Shader &shader, GLuint vertexBuffer, GLuint elementsBuffer, GLbyte *offset);
+    void storeBinding(Shader& shader,
+                      gl::BufferID vertexBuffer,
+                      gl::BufferID elementsBuffer,
+                      GLbyte* offset);
+    void verifyBinding(Shader& shader,
+                       gl::BufferID vertexBuffer,
+                       gl::BufferID elementsBuffer,
+                       GLbyte* offset);
 
     mbgl::optional<gl::UniqueVertexArray> vertexArray;
 
     // For debug reasons, we're storing the bind information so that we can
     // detect errors and report
-    GLuint bound_shader = 0;
+    gl::ProgramID bound_shader = 0;
     const char* bound_shader_name = "";
-    GLuint bound_vertex_buffer = 0;
-    GLuint bound_elements_buffer = 0;
+    gl::BufferID bound_vertex_buffer = 0;
+    gl::BufferID bound_elements_buffer = 0;
     GLbyte *bound_offset = nullptr;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp b/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
index e70affd0b..0d6716487 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/context.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
 namespace mbgl {
 namespace gl {
 
+static_assert(std::is_same<ProgramID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<ShaderID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<BufferID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<TextureID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<VertexArrayID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<FramebufferID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+static_assert(std::is_same<RenderbufferID, GLuint>::value, "OpenGL type mismatch");
+
 Context::~Context() {
     reset();
 }
@@ -60,7 +68,7 @@ void Context::setDirtyState() {
 }
 
 void Context::performCleanup() {
-    for (GLuint id : abandonedPrograms) {
+    for (auto id : abandonedPrograms) {
         if (program == id) {
             program.setDirty();
         }
@@ -68,7 +76,7 @@ void Context::performCleanup() {
     }
     abandonedPrograms.clear();
 
-    for (GLuint id : abandonedShaders) {
+    for (auto id : abandonedShaders) {
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glDeleteShader(id));
     }
     abandonedShaders.clear();
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
index cd42e02fc..133a56b6f 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/context.hpp
@@ -21,12 +21,16 @@ public:
         return UniqueProgram { MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glCreateProgram()), { this } };
     }
 
-    UniqueShader createShader(GLenum type) {
-        return UniqueShader { MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glCreateShader(type)), { this } };
+    UniqueShader createVertexShader() {
+        return UniqueShader { MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glCreateShader(GL_VERTEX_SHADER)), { this } };
+    }
+
+    UniqueShader createFragmentShader() {
+        return UniqueShader { MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glCreateShader(GL_FRAGMENT_SHADER)), { this } };
     }
 
     UniqueBuffer createBuffer() {
-        GLuint id = 0;
+        BufferID id = 0;
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGenBuffers(1, &id));
         return UniqueBuffer { std::move(id), { this } };
     }
@@ -37,19 +41,19 @@ public:
             MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGenTextures(TextureMax, pooledTextures.data()));
         }
 
-        GLuint id = pooledTextures.back();
+        TextureID id = pooledTextures.back();
         pooledTextures.pop_back();
         return UniqueTexture { std::move(id), { this } };
     }
 
     UniqueVertexArray createVertexArray() {
-        GLuint id = 0;
+        VertexArrayID id = 0;
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(gl::GenVertexArrays(1, &id));
         return UniqueVertexArray { std::move(id), { this } };
     }
 
     UniqueFramebuffer createFramebuffer() {
-        GLuint id = 0;
+        FramebufferID id = 0;
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGenFramebuffers(1, &id));
         return UniqueFramebuffer { std::move(id), { this } };
     }
@@ -113,14 +117,14 @@ private:
     friend detail::VertexArrayDeleter;
     friend detail::FramebufferDeleter;
 
-    std::vector<GLuint> pooledTextures;
+    std::vector<TextureID> pooledTextures;
 
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedPrograms;
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedShaders;
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedBuffers;
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedTextures;
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedVertexArrays;
-    std::vector<GLuint> abandonedFramebuffers;
+    std::vector<ProgramID> abandonedPrograms;
+    std::vector<ShaderID> abandonedShaders;
+    std::vector<BufferID> abandonedBuffers;
+    std::vector<TextureID> abandonedTextures;
+    std::vector<VertexArrayID> abandonedVertexArrays;
+    std::vector<FramebufferID> abandonedFramebuffers;
 };
 
 } // namespace gl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/object.cpp b/src/mbgl/gl/object.cpp
index 90451da71..aee87f883 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/object.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/object.cpp
@@ -7,22 +7,22 @@ namespace mbgl {
 namespace gl {
 namespace detail {
 
-void ProgramDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void ProgramDeleter::operator()(ProgramID id) const {
     assert(context);
     context->abandonedPrograms.push_back(id);
 }
 
-void ShaderDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void ShaderDeleter::operator()(ShaderID id) const {
     assert(context);
     context->abandonedShaders.push_back(id);
 }
 
-void BufferDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void BufferDeleter::operator()(BufferID id) const {
     assert(context);
     context->abandonedBuffers.push_back(id);
 }
 
-void TextureDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void TextureDeleter::operator()(TextureID id) const {
     assert(context);
     if (context->pooledTextures.size() >= TextureMax) {
         context->abandonedTextures.push_back(id);
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ void TextureDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
     }
 }
 
-void VertexArrayDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void VertexArrayDeleter::operator()(VertexArrayID id) const {
     assert(context);
     context->abandonedVertexArrays.push_back(id);
 }
 
-void FramebufferDeleter::operator()(GLuint id) const {
+void FramebufferDeleter::operator()(FramebufferID id) const {
     assert(context);
     context->abandonedFramebuffers.push_back(id);
 }
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/object.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/object.hpp
index 785e73e8a..1cc1f04a9 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/object.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/object.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <mbgl/gl/gl.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gl/types.hpp>
 
 #include <unique_resource.hpp>
 
@@ -13,42 +13,42 @@ namespace detail {
 
 struct ProgramDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(ProgramID) const;
 };
 
 struct ShaderDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(ShaderID) const;
 };
 
 struct BufferDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(BufferID) const;
 };
 
 struct TextureDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(TextureID) const;
 };
 
 struct VertexArrayDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(VertexArrayID) const;
 };
 
 struct FramebufferDeleter {
     Context* context;
-    void operator()(GLuint) const;
+    void operator()(FramebufferID) const;
 };
 
 } // namespace detail
 
-using UniqueProgram = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::ProgramDeleter>;
-using UniqueShader = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::ShaderDeleter>;
-using UniqueBuffer = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::BufferDeleter>;
-using UniqueTexture = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::TextureDeleter>;
-using UniqueVertexArray = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::VertexArrayDeleter>;
-using UniqueFramebuffer = std_experimental::unique_resource<GLuint, detail::FramebufferDeleter>;
+using UniqueProgram = std_experimental::unique_resource<ProgramID, detail::ProgramDeleter>;
+using UniqueShader = std_experimental::unique_resource<ShaderID, detail::ShaderDeleter>;
+using UniqueBuffer = std_experimental::unique_resource<BufferID, detail::BufferDeleter>;
+using UniqueTexture = std_experimental::unique_resource<TextureID, detail::TextureDeleter>;
+using UniqueVertexArray = std_experimental::unique_resource<VertexArrayID, detail::VertexArrayDeleter>;
+using UniqueFramebuffer = std_experimental::unique_resource<FramebufferID, detail::FramebufferDeleter>;
 
 } // namespace gl
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/types.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/types.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..94426f5e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/types.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstdint>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+namespace gl {
+
+using ProgramID = uint32_t;
+using ShaderID = uint32_t;
+using BufferID = uint32_t;
+using TextureID = uint32_t;
+using VertexArrayID = uint32_t;
+using FramebufferID = uint32_t;
+using RenderbufferID = uint32_t;
+
+} // namespace gl
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/value.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/value.hpp
index bfa4dce77..1250945ba 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/value.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/value.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <cassert>
 
 #include <mbgl/gl/gl.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/gl/types.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/color.hpp>
 
 namespace mbgl {
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ struct BlendColor {
 };
 
 struct Program {
-    using Type = GLuint;
+    using Type = gl::ProgramID;
     static const constexpr Type Default = 0;
     static void Set(const Type& value) {
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glUseProgram(value));
@@ -333,7 +334,7 @@ struct RasterPos {
 #endif // GL_ES_VERSION_2_0
 
 struct BindTexture {
-    using Type = GLuint;
+    using Type = gl::TextureID;
     static const constexpr Type Default = 0;
     static void Set(const Type& value) {
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, value));
@@ -341,7 +342,7 @@ struct BindTexture {
     static Type Get() {
         GLint texture;
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGetIntegerv(GL_TEXTURE_BINDING_2D, &texture));
-        return texture;
+        return static_cast<Type>(texture);
     }
 };
 
@@ -349,7 +350,7 @@ template <GLenum target>
 struct BindBuffer {
     static_assert(target == GL_ARRAY_BUFFER || target == GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER,
                   "target must be one of GL_ARRAY_BUFFER or GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER");
-    using Type = GLuint;
+    using Type = gl::BufferID;
     static const constexpr Type Default = 0;
     static void Set(const Type& value) {
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glBindBuffer(target, value));
@@ -359,7 +360,7 @@ struct BindBuffer {
         MBGL_CHECK_ERROR(glGetIntegerv(target == GL_ARRAY_BUFFER ? GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING
                                                                  : GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING,
                                        &binding));
-        return binding;
+        return static_cast<Type>(binding);
     }
 };
 
@@ -367,7 +368,7 @@ template <GLenum target>
 const typename BindBuffer<target>::Type BindBuffer<target>::Default;
 
 struct BindVertexArray {
-    using Type = GLuint;
+    using Type = gl::VertexArrayID;
     static const constexpr Type Default = 0;
     static void Set(const Type& value) {
         if (gl::BindVertexArray) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/shader/shader.cpp b/src/mbgl/shader/shader.cpp
index 46b9b0a63..b41114711 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/shader/shader.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/shader/shader.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ Shader::Shader(const char* name_,
                Defines defines)
     : name(name_),
       program(context.createProgram()),
-      vertexShader(context.createShader(GL_VERTEX_SHADER)),
-      fragmentShader(context.createShader(GL_FRAGMENT_SHADER)) {
+      vertexShader(context.createVertexShader()),
+      fragmentShader(context.createFragmentShader()) {
     util::stopwatch stopwatch("shader compilation", Event::Shader);
 
     if (!compileShader(vertexShader, vertexSource)) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/shader/shader.hpp b/src/mbgl/shader/shader.hpp
index b04c88548..b122bda28 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/shader/shader.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/shader/shader.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public:
     ~Shader();
     const char* name;
 
-    GLuint getID() const {
+    gl::ProgramID getID() const {
         return program.get();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mbgl/util/raster.cpp b/src/mbgl/util/raster.cpp
index 6ed8c62b6..c3d5e9df2 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/util/raster.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/util/raster.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ bool Raster::isLoaded() const {
     return loaded;
 }
 
-GLuint Raster::getID() const {
+gl::TextureID Raster::getID() const {
     return texture ? *texture : 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mbgl/util/raster.hpp b/src/mbgl/util/raster.hpp
index 9f496484e..c9b19914a 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/util/raster.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/util/raster.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public:
     bool isLoaded() const;
 
     // returns the OpenGL texture ID
-    GLuint getID() const;
+    gl::TextureID getID() const;
 
     // size of uploaded image.
     std::array<uint16_t, 2> getSize() const;
diff --git a/test/gl/object.test.cpp b/test/gl/object.test.cpp
index ba3580080..0502bbc84 100644
--- a/test/gl/object.test.cpp
+++ b/test/gl/object.test.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ TEST(GLObject, Store) {
     context.performCleanup();
     EXPECT_TRUE(context.empty());
 
-    mbgl::gl::UniqueShader shader = context.createShader(GL_VERTEX_SHADER);
+    mbgl::gl::UniqueShader shader = context.createVertexShader();
     EXPECT_NE(shader.get(), 0u);
     shader.reset();
     EXPECT_FALSE(context.empty());