--- a/widget/nsBaseWidget.cpp
+++ b/widget/nsBaseWidget.cpp
@@ -1268,16 +1268,20 @@ void nsBaseWidget::CreateCompositor(int 
   // create a new compositor.
   if (!mShutdownObserver) {
     return;
   }
 
   CreateCompositorVsyncDispatcher();
 
   bool enableWR = gfx::gfxVars::UseWebRender();
+  if (enableWR && !WidgetTypeSupportsAcceleration()) {
+    // fall back to basic
+    return;
+  }
   bool enableAPZ = UseAPZ();
   CompositorOptions options(enableAPZ, enableWR);
 
   bool enableAL = gfx::gfxConfig::IsEnabled(gfx::Feature::ADVANCED_LAYERS);
   options.SetUseAdvancedLayers(enableAL);
 
   RefPtr<LayerManager> lm;
   if (options.UseWebRender()) {