diff --git a/src/mbgl/gl/uniform.hpp b/src/mbgl/gl/uniform.hpp
index 34a32aeee..bb3453b2d 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/gl/uniform.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/gl/uniform.hpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public:
     class State {
     public:
         void operator=(const Value& value) {
-            if (!current || *current != value.t) {
+            if (location >= 0 && (!current || *current != value.t)) {
                 current = value.t;
                 bindUniform(location, value.t);
             }