diff --git a/glsm/src/main/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/RenderSystem.java b/glsm/src/main/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/RenderSystem.java
index 6f269372a..df139ea84 100644
--- a/glsm/src/main/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/RenderSystem.java
+++ b/glsm/src/main/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/RenderSystem.java
@@ -688,4 +688,12 @@ public class RenderSystem {
         if (actualVersion < 0) return true;
         return actualVersion >= requestedMajor * 10 + requestedMinor;
     }
+
+    public static final int MIN_CORE_VERSION = 33;
+
+    public static int probeCapAfterRejection(int requested, int actual) {
+        if (actual >= MIN_CORE_VERSION && actual < requested) return actual;
+        if (actual >= 0 && actual < MIN_CORE_VERSION && requested > MIN_CORE_VERSION) return MIN_CORE_VERSION;
+        return requested - 1;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/glsm/src/test/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/GLVersionParseTest.java b/glsm/src/test/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/GLVersionParseTest.java
index c7cf8e636..63a4dd888 100644
--- a/glsm/src/test/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/GLVersionParseTest.java
+++ b/glsm/src/test/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/glsm/GLVersionParseTest.java
@@ -43,4 +43,15 @@ class GLVersionParseTest {
         assertFalse(RenderSystem.isContextValid(4, 4, -1, false));
         assertTrue(RenderSystem.isContextValid(3, 3, 33, true));
     }
+
+    @Test
+    void probeCapAfterRejection() {
+        assertEquals(41, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, 41));
+        assertEquals(33, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, 11));
+        assertEquals(33, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, 21));
+        assertEquals(32, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(33, 11));
+        assertEquals(45, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, 46));
+        assertEquals(45, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, -1));
+        assertEquals(33, RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(46, 33));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/mixin/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/mixins/early/angelica/MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile.java b/src/mixin/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/mixins/early/angelica/MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile.java
index 607d33707..c48ce6b09 100644
--- a/src/mixin/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/mixins/early/angelica/MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile.java
+++ b/src/mixin/java/com/gtnewhorizons/angelica/mixins/early/angelica/MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile.java
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
 
     @Shadow static int stencilBits;
 
+    @Unique private static String angelica$lastRejection;
+
     /**
      * @author Angelica
      * @reason Request highest GL version with core profile context, or GL ES 3.2 when requested
@@ -56,9 +58,9 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
                 LOGGER.info("Created GL ES 3.2 context");
                 return;
             }
-            angelica$reportContextFailure(e);
-            if (e instanceof LWJGLException lwjgl) throw lwjgl;
-            throw new LWJGLException("Failed to create OpenGL ES 3.2 context", e);
+            final String msg = "Failed to create OpenGL ES 3.2 context: " + e.getMessage();
+            angelica$reportContextFailure(msg);
+            throw new RuntimeException(msg, e);
         }
 
         final ContextAttribs attribs = new ContextAttribs(3, 3).withProfileCore(true).withForwardCompatible(true).withDebug(AngelicaMod.lwjglDebug);
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
 
         // Try pinned version first if configured
         final int pinned = angelica$clampPinned(AngelicaConfig.pinnedGLVersion, platformMax);
-        if (pinned >= 33 && pinned != requested) {
+        if (pinned >= 33 && pinned != requested && pinned <= maxProbe) {
             final Exception e = angelica$tryCreate(attribs, format, setMajor, setMinor, pinned / 10, pinned % 10);
             if (e == null) {
                 final int cap = angelica$validateContext(pinned / 10, pinned % 10);
@@ -138,11 +140,12 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
             }
         }
 
-        angelica$reportContextFailure(lastException);
-        if (lastException instanceof LWJGLException lwjgl) {
-            throw lwjgl;
-        }
-        throw new LWJGLException("Failed to create OpenGL core profile context", lastException);
+        final StringBuilder msg = new StringBuilder("Angelica requires an OpenGL 3.3 core profile context and could not create one.");
+        if (angelica$lastRejection != null) msg.append(" Last driver answer: ").append(angelica$lastRejection).append('.');
+        if (lastException != null) msg.append(" Last error: ").append(lastException.getMessage()).append('.');
+        msg.append(" Update or install the GPU driver.");
+        angelica$reportContextFailure(msg.toString());
+        throw new RuntimeException(msg.toString(), lastException);
     }
 
     @Unique
@@ -192,10 +195,11 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
         if (RenderSystem.isContextValid(major, minor, actual, core)) {
             return 0;
         }
-        LOGGER.warn("Requested GL {}.{} core context but driver returned \"{}\" (core profile: {}, GPU: {}); falling back to a lower version", major, minor, glVersion, core, GLStateManager.glGetString(GL11.GL_RENDERER));
+        final String renderer = GLStateManager.glGetString(GL11.GL_RENDERER);
+        LOGGER.warn("Requested GL {}.{} core context but driver returned \"{}\" (core profile: {}, GPU: {}); falling back to a lower version", major, minor, glVersion, core, renderer);
+        angelica$lastRejection = "requested GL " + major + "." + minor + " core, driver returned \"" + glVersion + "\" (core profile: " + core + ", GPU: " + renderer + ")";
         try { Display.destroy(); } catch (Exception ignored) {}
-        final int requested = major * 10 + minor;
-        return (actual >= 0 && actual < requested) ? actual : requested - 1;
+        return RenderSystem.probeCapAfterRejection(major * 10 + minor, actual);
     }
 
     @Unique
@@ -210,9 +214,8 @@ public abstract class MixinForgeHooksClient_CoreProfile {
     }
 
     @Unique
-    private static void angelica$reportContextFailure(Exception e) {
-        LOGGER.error("FATAL: Failed to create OpenGL core profile context.");
-        LOGGER.error("Error: {}", e != null ? e.getMessage() : "unknown");
+    private static void angelica$reportContextFailure(String message) {
+        LOGGER.error("FATAL: {}", message);
         if (Display.isCreated()) {
             try {
                 LOGGER.error("GPU: {}, Driver: {}", GLStateManager.glGetString(GL11.GL_RENDERER), GLStateManager.glGetString(GL11.GL_VERSION));