diff --git a/examples/renderer/01-clear/renderer-clear.c b/examples/renderer/01-clear/renderer-clear.c
index 948884d754..acbbcd0add 100644
--- a/examples/renderer/01-clear/renderer-clear.c
+++ b/examples/renderer/01-clear/renderer-clear.c
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ static int fade_direction = 1;
 /* This function runs once at startup. */
 int SDL_AppInit(void **appstate, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+    if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1) {
+        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't initialize SDL!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
+        return SDL_APP_FAILURE;
+    }
+
     if (SDL_CreateWindowAndRenderer("examples/renderer/clear", 640, 480, 0, &window, &renderer) == -1) {
         SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't create window/renderer!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
         return SDL_APP_FAILURE;
diff --git a/examples/renderer/02-primitives/renderer-primitives.c b/examples/renderer/02-primitives/renderer-primitives.c
index b330a6cc88..0786b0aaf5 100644
--- a/examples/renderer/02-primitives/renderer-primitives.c
+++ b/examples/renderer/02-primitives/renderer-primitives.c
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ int SDL_AppInit(void **appstate, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     int i;
 
+    if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1) {
+        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't initialize SDL!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
+        return SDL_APP_FAILURE;
+    }
+
     if (SDL_CreateWindowAndRenderer("examples/renderer/clear", 640, 480, 0, &window, &renderer) == -1) {
         SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't create window/renderer!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
         return SDL_APP_FAILURE;
diff --git a/examples/template.c b/examples/template.c
index caff36210c..d13d859783 100644
--- a/examples/template.c
+++ b/examples/template.c
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ static SDL_Renderer *renderer = NULL;
 /* This function runs once at startup. */
 int SDL_AppInit(void **appstate, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+    if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1) {
+        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't initialize SDL!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
+        return SDL_APP_FAILURE;
+    }
+
     if (SDL_CreateWindowAndRenderer("examples/renderer/clear", 640, 480, 0, &window, &renderer) == -1) {
         SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, "Couldn't create window/renderer!", SDL_GetError(), NULL);
         return SDL_APP_FAILURE;