diff --git a/ion/src/simulator/shared/main_sdl.cpp b/ion/src/simulator/shared/main_sdl.cpp
index 6a468da21..e09e6abb5 100644
--- a/ion/src/simulator/shared/main_sdl.cpp
+++ b/ion/src/simulator/shared/main_sdl.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,13 @@ void init() {
 
   SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_SCALE_QUALITY, "1");
 
+  // Try creating a hardware-accelerated renderer.
   sRenderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(sWindow, -1, SDL_RENDERER_ACCELERATED | SDL_RENDERER_PRESENTVSYNC);
+  if (!sRenderer) {
+    // Try creating a software renderer.
+    sRenderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(sWindow, -1, 0);
+  }
+  assert(sRenderer);
 
   Display::init(sRenderer);