diff --git a/src/egl/drivers/dri2/platform_surfaceless.c b/src/egl/drivers/dri2/platform_surfaceless.c
index 2cd909c75a2..a420eb09ff6 100644
--- a/src/egl/drivers/dri2/platform_surfaceless.c
+++ b/src/egl/drivers/dri2/platform_surfaceless.c
@@ -327,14 +327,18 @@ dri2_initialize_surfaceless(_EGLDisplay *disp)
    dri2_dpy->fd = -1;
    disp->DriverData = (void *) dri2_dpy;
 
+   /* When ForceSoftware is false, we try the HW driver.  When ForceSoftware
+    * is true, we try kms_swrast and swrast in order.
+    */
    driver_loaded = surfaceless_probe_device(disp, disp->Options.ForceSoftware);
+   if (!driver_loaded && disp->Options.ForceSoftware) {
+      _eglLog(_EGL_DEBUG, "Falling back to surfaceless swrast without DRM.");
+      driver_loaded = surfaceless_probe_device_sw(disp);
+   }
 
    if (!driver_loaded) {
-      _eglLog(_EGL_DEBUG, "Falling back to surfaceless swrast without DRM.");
-      if (!surfaceless_probe_device_sw(disp)) {
-         err = "DRI2: failed to load driver";
-         goto cleanup;
-      }
+      err = "DRI2: failed to load driver";
+      goto cleanup;
    }
 
    if (!dri2_create_screen(disp)) {