diff --git a/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.cpp b/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.cpp
index a33a9386d..a404c5261 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 
 #include "Magnum/GL/Context.h"
 #include "Magnum/GL/Extensions.h"
-#include "Magnum/GL/Shader.h"
 #include "Magnum/GL/Texture.h"
 #include "Magnum/Math/Color.h"
 #include "Magnum/Math/Matrix3.h"
@@ -63,22 +62,16 @@ namespace {
     #endif
 }
 
-template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(const Flags flags
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> typename DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::CompileState DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::compile(const Flags flags
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
     , const UnsignedInt materialCount, const UnsignedInt drawCount
     #endif
-):
-    _flags{flags}
-    #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-    , _materialCount{materialCount},
-    _drawCount{drawCount}
-    #endif
-{
+) {
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
     CORRADE_ASSERT(!(flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) || materialCount,
-        "Shaders::DistanceFieldVectorGL: material count can't be zero", );
+        "Shaders::DistanceFieldVectorGL: material count can't be zero", CompileState{NoCreate});
     CORRADE_ASSERT(!(flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) || drawCount,
-        "Shaders::DistanceFieldVectorGL: draw count can't be zero", );
+        "Shaders::DistanceFieldVectorGL: draw count can't be zero", CompileState{NoCreate});
     #endif
 
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
@@ -142,9 +135,17 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFiel
     frag.addSource(rs.getString("generic.glsl"))
         .addSource(rs.getString("DistanceFieldVector.frag"));
 
-    CORRADE_INTERNAL_ASSERT_OUTPUT(GL::Shader::compile({vert, frag}));
+    vert.submitCompile();
+    frag.submitCompile();
+
+    DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions> out{NoInit};
+    out._flags = flags;
+    #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
+    out._materialCount = materialCount;
+    out._drawCount = drawCount;
+    #endif
 
-    attachShaders({vert, frag});
+    out.attachShaders({vert, frag});
 
     /* ES3 has this done in the shader directly */
     #if !defined(MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES) || defined(MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2)
@@ -152,25 +153,38 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFiel
     if(!context.isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::ARB::explicit_attrib_location>(version))
     #endif
     {
-        bindAttributeLocation(Position::Location, "position");
-        bindAttributeLocation(TextureCoordinates::Location, "textureCoordinates");
+        out.bindAttributeLocation(Position::Location, "position");
+        out.bindAttributeLocation(TextureCoordinates::Location, "textureCoordinates");
     }
     #endif
 
-    CORRADE_INTERNAL_ASSERT_OUTPUT(link());
+    out.submitLink();
+    return CompileState{std::move(out), std::move(vert), std::move(frag), version};
+}
+
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(CompileState&& cs)
+: DistanceFieldVectorGL{static_cast<DistanceFieldVectorGL&&>(std::move(cs))} {
+    if (id() == 0) return;
+
+    CORRADE_INTERNAL_ASSERT_OUTPUT(checkLink());
+    CORRADE_INTERNAL_ASSERT_OUTPUT(cs._vert.checkCompile());
+    CORRADE_INTERNAL_ASSERT_OUTPUT(cs._frag.checkCompile());
+
+    const GL::Context& context = GL::Context::current();
+    const GL::Version version = cs._version;
 
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
     if(!context.isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::ARB::explicit_uniform_location>(version))
     #endif
     {
         #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-        if(flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
+        if(_flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
             if(_drawCount > 1) _drawOffsetUniform = uniformLocation("drawOffset");
         } else
         #endif
         {
             _transformationProjectionMatrixUniform = uniformLocation("transformationProjectionMatrix");
-            if(flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
+            if(_flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
                 _textureMatrixUniform = uniformLocation("textureMatrix");
             _colorUniform = uniformLocation("color");
             _outlineColorUniform = uniformLocation("outlineColor");
@@ -185,11 +199,11 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFiel
     {
         setUniform(uniformLocation("vectorTexture"), TextureUnit);
         #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-        if(flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
+        if(_flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
             setUniformBlockBinding(uniformBlockIndex("TransformationProjection"), TransformationProjectionBufferBinding);
             setUniformBlockBinding(uniformBlockIndex("Draw"), DrawBufferBinding);
             setUniformBlockBinding(uniformBlockIndex("Material"), MaterialBufferBinding);
-            if(flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
+            if(_flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
                 setUniformBlockBinding(uniformBlockIndex("TextureTransformation"), TextureTransformationBufferBinding);
         }
         #endif
@@ -198,13 +212,13 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFiel
     /* Set defaults in OpenGL ES (for desktop they are set in shader code itself) */
     #ifdef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-    if(flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
+    if(_flags >= Flag::UniformBuffers) {
         /* Draw offset is zero by default */
     } else
     #endif
     {
         setTransformationProjectionMatrix(MatrixTypeFor<dimensions, Float>{Math::IdentityInit});
-        if(flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
+        if(_flags & Flag::TextureTransformation)
             setTextureMatrix(Matrix3{Math::IdentityInit});
         setColor(Color4{1.0f});
         /* Outline color is zero by default */
@@ -214,8 +228,16 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFiel
     #endif
 }
 
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(NoInitT) {}
+
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(const Flags flags): DistanceFieldVectorGL{compile(flags)} {}
+
 #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(const Flags flags): DistanceFieldVectorGL{flags, 1, 1} {}
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> typename DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::CompileState DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::compile(const Flags flags) {
+    return compile(flags, 1, 1);
+}
+
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::DistanceFieldVectorGL(const Flags flags, UnsignedInt materialCount, UnsignedInt drawCount): DistanceFieldVectorGL{compile(flags, materialCount, drawCount)} {}
 #endif
 
 template<UnsignedInt dimensions> DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>& DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::setTransformationProjectionMatrix(const MatrixTypeFor<dimensions, Float>& matrix) {
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.h b/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.h
index 1be8f0465..2d180249f 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/Shaders/DistanceFieldVectorGL.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 #include "Magnum/DimensionTraits.h"
 #include "Magnum/GL/AbstractShaderProgram.h"
+#include "Magnum/GL/Shader.h"
 #include "Magnum/Shaders/GenericGL.h"
 #include "Magnum/Shaders/visibility.h"
 
@@ -280,6 +281,20 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> class MAGNUM_SHADERS_EXPORT DistanceFieldVector
          */
         explicit DistanceFieldVectorGL(NoCreateT) noexcept: GL::AbstractShaderProgram{NoCreate} {}
 
+        class CompileState;
+
+        explicit DistanceFieldVectorGL(CompileState&& cs);
+
+        static CompileState compile(Flags flags
+        #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
+        , UnsignedInt materialCount, UnsignedInt drawCount
+        #endif
+        );
+
+        #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
+        static CompileState compile(Flags flags);
+        #endif
+
         /** @brief Copying is not allowed */
         DistanceFieldVectorGL(const DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>&) = delete;
 
@@ -602,6 +617,8 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> class MAGNUM_SHADERS_EXPORT DistanceFieldVector
         #endif
 
     private:
+        explicit DistanceFieldVectorGL(NoInitT);
+
         /* Prevent accidentally calling irrelevant functions */
         #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
         using GL::AbstractShaderProgram::drawTransformFeedback;
@@ -627,6 +644,20 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> class MAGNUM_SHADERS_EXPORT DistanceFieldVector
         #endif
 };
 
+
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> class DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::CompileState : public DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions> {
+private:
+    friend class DistanceFieldVectorGL;
+
+    explicit CompileState(NoCreateT) : DistanceFieldVectorGL{NoCreate}, _vert{NoCreate}, _frag{NoCreate} {}
+
+    CompileState(DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>&& shader, GL::Shader&& vert, GL::Shader&& frag, GL::Version version) :
+        DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>{std::move(shader)}, _vert{std::move(vert)}, _frag{std::move(frag)}, _version{version} {}
+
+    GL::Shader _vert, _frag;
+    GL::Version _version;
+};
+
 /**
 @brief Two-dimensional distance field vector OpenGL shader
 @m_since_latest
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Shaders/MeshVisualizerGL.cpp b/src/Magnum/Shaders/MeshVisualizerGL.cpp
index f428d8302..ce9d8b092 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Shaders/MeshVisualizerGL.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Shaders/MeshVisualizerGL.cpp
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ MeshVisualizerGL2D::CompileState MeshVisualizerGL2D::compile(Flags flags
 MeshVisualizerGL2D::MeshVisualizerGL2D(Flags flags) : MeshVisualizerGL2D{compile(flags)} {}
 
 #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
-MeshVisualizer2D::CompileState MeshVisualizer2D::compile(Flags flags) {
+MeshVisualizerGL2D::CompileState MeshVisualizerGL2D::compile(Flags flags) {
     return compile(flags, 1, 1);
 }
 
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ MeshVisualizerGL2D::MeshVisualizerGL2D(Flags flags, UnsignedInt materialCount, U
     : MeshVisualizerGL2D{compile(flags, materialCount, drawCount)} {}
 #endif
 
-MeshVisualizer2D::MeshVisualizerGL2D(CompileState&& cs)
+MeshVisualizerGL2D::MeshVisualizerGL2D(CompileState&& cs)
 : MeshVisualizerGL2D{static_cast<MeshVisualizerGL2D&&>(std::move(cs))} {
     if (id() == 0) return;
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/Shaders/Test/DistanceFieldVectorGLTest.cpp b/src/Magnum/Shaders/Test/DistanceFieldVectorGLTest.cpp
index d8bf027ac..167c2446d 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/Shaders/Test/DistanceFieldVectorGLTest.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/Shaders/Test/DistanceFieldVectorGLTest.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <Corrade/PluginManager/Manager.h>
 #include <Corrade/Utility/DebugStl.h>
 #include <Corrade/Utility/Format.h>
+#include <Corrade/Utility/System.h>
 #include <Corrade/Utility/Path.h>
 
 #ifdef CORRADE_TARGET_APPLE
@@ -84,8 +85,10 @@ struct DistanceFieldVectorGLTest: GL::OpenGLTester {
     explicit DistanceFieldVectorGLTest();
 
     template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void construct();
+    template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void constructAsync();
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
     template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void constructUniformBuffers();
+    template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void constructUniformBuffersAsync();
     #endif
 
     template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void constructMove();
@@ -251,11 +254,19 @@ DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::DistanceFieldVectorGLTest() {
         &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::construct<3>},
         Containers::arraySize(ConstructData));
 
+    addTests<DistanceFieldVectorGLTest>({
+        &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructAsync<2>,
+        &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructAsync<3>});
+
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
     addInstancedTests<DistanceFieldVectorGLTest>({
         &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffers<2>,
         &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffers<3>},
         Containers::arraySize(ConstructUniformBuffersData));
+
+    addTests<DistanceFieldVectorGLTest>({
+        &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffersAsync<2>,
+        &DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffersAsync<3>});
     #endif
 
     addTests<DistanceFieldVectorGLTest>({
@@ -374,6 +385,37 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::construct() {
     MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
 }
 
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructAsync() {
+    setTestCaseTemplateName(Utility::format("{}", dimensions));
+
+    constexpr struct {
+        const char* name;
+        DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flags flags;
+    } data{
+        "texture transformation", DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flag::TextureTransformation
+    };
+    setTestCaseDescription(data.name);
+
+    auto compileState = DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::compile(data.flags);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(compileState.flags(), data.flags);
+
+    while(!compileState.isLinkFinished())
+        Utility::System::sleep(100);
+
+    DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions> shader{std::move(compileState)};
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(shader.flags(), data.flags);
+    CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.isLinkFinished());
+    CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.id());
+    {
+        #if defined(CORRADE_TARGET_APPLE) && !defined(MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES)
+        CORRADE_EXPECT_FAIL("macOS drivers need insane amount of state to validate properly.");
+        #endif
+        CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.validate().first);
+    }
+
+    MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
+}
+
 #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
 template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffers() {
     setTestCaseTemplateName(Utility::format("{}", dimensions));
@@ -413,6 +455,59 @@ template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUnifor
 
     MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
 }
+
+template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructUniformBuffersAsync() {
+    setTestCaseTemplateName(Utility::format("{}", dimensions));
+
+    constexpr struct {
+        const char* name;
+        DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flags flags;
+        UnsignedInt materialCount, drawCount;
+    } data {
+        "multidraw with all the things", DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flag::MultiDraw|DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flag::TextureTransformation, 16, 48
+    };
+    setTestCaseDescription(data.name);
+
+    #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
+    if((data.flags & DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flag::UniformBuffers) && !GL::Context::current().isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::ARB::uniform_buffer_object>())
+        CORRADE_SKIP(GL::Extensions::ARB::uniform_buffer_object::string() << "is not supported.");
+    #endif
+
+    if(data.flags >= DistanceFieldVectorGL2D::Flag::MultiDraw) {
+        #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
+        if(!GL::Context::current().isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::ARB::shader_draw_parameters>())
+            CORRADE_SKIP(GL::Extensions::ARB::shader_draw_parameters::string() << "is not supported.");
+        #elif !defined(MAGNUM_TARGET_WEBGL)
+        if(!GL::Context::current().isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::ANGLE::multi_draw>())
+            CORRADE_SKIP(GL::Extensions::ANGLE::multi_draw::string() << "is not supported.");
+        #else
+        if(!GL::Context::current().isExtensionSupported<GL::Extensions::WEBGL::multi_draw>())
+            CORRADE_SKIP(GL::Extensions::WEBGL::multi_draw::string() << "is not supported.");
+        #endif
+    }
+    auto compileState = DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions>::compile(data.flags, data.materialCount, data.drawCount);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(compileState.flags(), data.flags);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(compileState.materialCount(), data.materialCount);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(compileState.drawCount(), data.drawCount);
+
+    while(!compileState.isLinkFinished())
+        Utility::System::sleep(100);
+
+    DistanceFieldVectorGL<dimensions> shader{std::move(compileState)};
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(shader.flags(), data.flags);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(shader.materialCount(), data.materialCount);
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(shader.drawCount(), data.drawCount);
+    CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.isLinkFinished());
+    CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.id());
+    {
+        #if defined(CORRADE_TARGET_APPLE) && !defined(MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES)
+        CORRADE_EXPECT_FAIL("macOS drivers need insane amount of state to validate properly.");
+        #endif
+        CORRADE_VERIFY(shader.validate().first);
+    }
+
+    MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
+}
 #endif
 
 template<UnsignedInt dimensions> void DistanceFieldVectorGLTest::constructMove() {