diff --git a/doc/changelog.dox b/doc/changelog.dox
index 5399fb045..10ad28b2c 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.dox
+++ b/doc/changelog.dox
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ See also:
     @ref Math::Color3 and @ref Math::Color4 literals with the new experimental
     @ref Corrade::Utility::Tweakable utility. See also @ref tweakableliterals.
 
+@subsection changelog-latest-changes Changes and improvements
+
+@subsubsection changelog-latest-changes-gl GL library
+
+-   New @ref GL::Context::State::BindScratchVao state to make external OpenGL
+    code that's not VAO-aware working on core GL profiles (which don't allow
+    default VAOs being used for drawing)
+
 @subsection changelog-latest-bugfixes Bug fixes
 
 -   Fixed @ref Platform::Sdl2Application and @ref Platform::GlfwApplication to
diff --git a/src/Magnum/GL/Context.cpp b/src/Magnum/GL/Context.cpp
index 9000ff215..dfcc826af 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/GL/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/GL/Context.cpp
@@ -860,6 +860,20 @@ void Context::resetState(const States states) {
         _state->framebuffer->reset();
     if(states & State::Meshes)
         _state->mesh->reset();
+
+    #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
+    /* Bind a scratch VAO for external GL code that is not VAO-aware and just
+       enables vertex attributes on the default VAO. Generate it on-demand as
+       we don't expect this case to be used very often. */
+    if(states & State::BindScratchVao) {
+        if(!_state->mesh->scratchVAO)
+            glGenVertexArrays(1, &_state->mesh->scratchVAO);
+
+        _state->mesh->bindVAOImplementation(_state->mesh->scratchVAO);
+
+    /* Otherwise just unbind the current VAO and leave the the default */
+    } else
+    #endif
     if(states & State::MeshVao)
         _state->mesh->bindVAOImplementation(0);
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/GL/Context.h b/src/Magnum/GL/Context.h
index 72bcf5e7e..4b176ab17 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/GL/Context.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/GL/Context.h
@@ -237,21 +237,34 @@ class MAGNUM_GL_EXPORT Context {
              */
             MeshVao = 1 << 3,
 
+            /**
+             * Bind a "scratch" VAO on core profile.
+             *
+             * Use if external code is not VAO-aware and would otherwise try to
+             * enable vertex attributes on the default (zero) VAO, causing GL
+             * errors. Meant to be used together with @ref State::MeshVao (or
+             * @ref State::EnterExternal).
+             *
+             * Does nothing on compatibility profile and ES / WebGL platforms,
+             * as using the default VAO is allowed there.
+             */
+            BindScratchVao = 1 << 4,
+
             /** Reset tracked pixel storage-related state */
-            PixelStorage = 1 << 4,
+            PixelStorage = 1 << 5,
 
             /** Reset tracked renderer-related state */
-            Renderer = 1 << 5,
+            Renderer = 1 << 6,
 
             /** Reset tracked shader-related bindings */
-            Shaders = 1 << 6,
+            Shaders = 1 << 7,
 
             /** Reset tracked texture-related bindings and state */
-            Textures = 1 << 7,
+            Textures = 1 << 8,
 
             #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
             /** Reset tracked transform feedback-related bindings */
-            TransformFeedback = 1 << 8,
+            TransformFeedback = 1 << 9,
             #endif
 
             /**
@@ -259,6 +272,8 @@ class MAGNUM_GL_EXPORT Context {
              *
              * Resets all state that could cause external code to accidentally
              * modify Magnum objects. This includes only @ref State::MeshVao.
+             * In some pathological cases you may want to enable
+             * @ref State::BindScratchVao as well.
              */
             EnterExternal = MeshVao,
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.cpp b/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.cpp
index f93090ade..dc4f8419d 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.cpp
@@ -170,7 +170,11 @@ MeshState::MeshState(Context& context, ContextState& contextState, std::vector<s
 
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
     /* If we are on core profile and ARB_VAO was explicitly disabled by the
-       user, we need to bind a default VAO so we are still able to draw things */
+       user, we need to bind a default VAO so we are still able to draw things.
+       There's another "scratch" VAO that's used by Context::resetState() for
+       crappy external code if ARB_VAO *isn't* disabled, but that one is
+       generated on-demand as we optimistically hope crappy external code is
+       not a norm. */
     if(context.isExtensionDisabled<Extensions::ARB::vertex_array_object>() && context.isCoreProfileInternal(contextState)) {
         glGenVertexArrays(1, &defaultVAO);
         glBindVertexArray(defaultVAO);
@@ -182,8 +186,11 @@ MeshState::MeshState(Context& context, ContextState& contextState, std::vector<s
 
 MeshState::~MeshState() {
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
-    /* If the default VAO was created, we need to delete it to avoid leaks */
+    /* If the default VAO was created, we need to delete it to avoid leaks.
+       Delete also the scratch VAO if the engine was so unlucky to have to run
+       awful external GL code (it was created in Context::resetState()). */
     if(defaultVAO) glDeleteVertexArrays(1, &defaultVAO);
+    if(scratchVAO) glDeleteVertexArrays(1, &scratchVAO);
     #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.h b/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.h
index 9868483c6..754aae030 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.h
+++ b/src/Magnum/GL/Implementation/MeshState.h
@@ -65,7 +65,10 @@ struct MeshState {
     void(*bindVAOImplementation)(GLuint);
 
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
-    GLuint defaultVAO{}; /* Used on core profile in case ARB_VAO is disabled */
+    GLuint defaultVAO{}, /* Used on core profile in case ARB_VAO is disabled */
+        /* Used for non-VAO-aware external GL code on core profile in case
+           ARB_VAO is *not* disabled */
+        scratchVAO{};
     #endif
 
     GLuint currentVAO;
diff --git a/src/Magnum/GL/Test/MeshGLTest.cpp b/src/Magnum/GL/Test/MeshGLTest.cpp
index 170ef2fb6..e1a307f2b 100644
--- a/src/Magnum/GL/Test/MeshGLTest.cpp
+++ b/src/Magnum/GL/Test/MeshGLTest.cpp
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ struct MeshGLTest: OpenGLTester {
 
     void unbindVAOWhenSettingIndexBufferData();
     void unbindVAOBeforeEnteringExternalSection();
+    void bindScratchVaoWhenEnteringExternalSection();
 
     #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
     void setBaseVertex();
@@ -251,6 +252,7 @@ MeshGLTest::MeshGLTest() {
 
               &MeshGLTest::unbindVAOWhenSettingIndexBufferData,
               &MeshGLTest::unbindVAOBeforeEnteringExternalSection,
+              &MeshGLTest::bindScratchVaoWhenEnteringExternalSection,
 
               #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
               &MeshGLTest::setBaseVertex,
@@ -2128,6 +2130,48 @@ void MeshGLTest::unbindVAOBeforeEnteringExternalSection() {
     CORRADE_COMPARE(value, 92);
 }
 
+void MeshGLTest::bindScratchVaoWhenEnteringExternalSection() {
+    typedef Attribute<0, Float> Attribute;
+
+    const Float data[] = { -0.7f, Math::unpack<Float, UnsignedByte>(92), Math::unpack<Float, UnsignedByte>(32) };
+    Buffer buffer{Buffer::TargetHint::Array};
+    buffer.setData(data, BufferUsage::StaticDraw);
+
+    Buffer indices{Buffer::TargetHint::ElementArray};
+    indices.setData(std::vector<UnsignedByte>{5, 0}, BufferUsage::StaticDraw);
+
+    Mesh mesh;
+    mesh.addVertexBuffer(buffer, 4, Attribute{})
+        .setIndexBuffer(indices, 0, MeshIndexType::UnsignedByte);
+
+    {
+        /* Should bind a scratch VAO only on desktop with core profile and be
+           a no-op everywhere else */
+        Context::current().resetState(Context::State::EnterExternal
+            |Context::State::BindScratchVao /* Comment this out to watch the world burn */
+            );
+
+        /* Should throw no GL error if scratch VAO is bound */
+        glDrawArrays(GL_POINTS, 0, 0);
+
+        /* Be nice to the other tests */
+        Context::current().resetState(Context::State::ExitExternal);
+    }
+
+    MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
+
+    const auto value = Checker(FloatShader("float", "vec4(valueInterpolated, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0)"),
+        #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES2
+        RenderbufferFormat::RGBA8,
+        #else
+        RenderbufferFormat::RGBA4,
+        #endif
+        mesh).get<UnsignedByte>(PixelFormat::RGBA, PixelType::UnsignedByte);
+
+    MAGNUM_VERIFY_NO_GL_ERROR();
+    CORRADE_COMPARE(value, 92);
+}
+
 #ifndef MAGNUM_TARGET_GLES
 void MeshGLTest::setBaseVertex() {
     if(!Context::current().isExtensionSupported<Extensions::ARB::draw_elements_base_vertex>())