diff --git a/kitty/glfw.c b/kitty/glfw.c
index bee0b8c02..78fd2f90a 100644
--- a/kitty/glfw.c
+++ b/kitty/glfw.c
@@ -1408,15 +1408,16 @@ create_os_window(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kw) {
     // creation, which causes a resize event and all the associated processing.
     // The temp window is used to get the DPI. On Wayland no temp window can be
     // used, so start with window visible unless hidden window requested.
-    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_VISIBLE, window_state != WINDOW_HIDDEN && global_state.is_wayland);
     GLFWwindow *common_context = global_state.num_os_windows ? global_state.os_windows[0].handle : NULL;
     GLFWwindow *temp_window = NULL;
 #ifdef __APPLE__
     if (!apple_preserve_common_context) {
-        apple_preserve_common_context = glfwCreateWindow(640, 480, "kitty", NULL, common_context, NULL);
+        glfwWindowHint(GLFW_VISIBLE, false);
+        apple_preserve_common_context = glfwCreateWindow(1, 1, "kitty", NULL, common_context, NULL);
     }
     if (!common_context) common_context = apple_preserve_common_context;
 #endif
+    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_VISIBLE, window_state != WINDOW_HIDDEN && global_state.is_wayland);
     float xscale, yscale;
     double xdpi, ydpi;
     if (global_state.is_wayland) {