diff --git a/src/mbgl/map/map.cpp b/src/mbgl/map/map.cpp
index 132efc01a..b452eddbb 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/map/map.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/map/map.cpp
@@ -1012,7 +1012,9 @@ void Map::setSourceTileCacheSize(size_t size) {
 
 void Map::onLowMemory() {
     if (impl->painter) {
+        impl->backend.activate();
         impl->painter->cleanup();
+        impl->backend.deactivate();
     }
     if (impl->style) {
         impl->style->onLowMemory();