diff --git a/gpu/include/GrGLConfig.h b/gpu/include/GrGLConfig.h
index 2bc535d709..e21adb7578 100644
--- a/gpu/include/GrGLConfig.h
+++ b/gpu/include/GrGLConfig.h
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@
 // Windows where we match GDI's order).
 #ifndef GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT
     #if GR_WIN32_BUILD
-        #define GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT    GL_BGRA
-    #else 
+        #define GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT    GR_BGRA //use GR prefix because this
+    #else                                           //may be an extension.
         #define GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT    GL_RGBA
     #endif
 #endif
@@ -247,6 +247,10 @@ struct GrGLExts {
 };
 }
 
+// BGRA format
+
+#define GR_BGRA                     0x80E1
+
 // FBO
 #define GR_FRAMEBUFFER              0x8D40
 #define GR_FRAMEBUFFER_COMPLETE     0x8CD5
diff --git a/gpu/include/GrUserConfig.h b/gpu/include/GrUserConfig.h
index 860d2ccd40..3bb3d75ba6 100644
--- a/gpu/include/GrUserConfig.h
+++ b/gpu/include/GrUserConfig.h
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@
 /*
  *  The default 32bit pixel config for texture upload is GL_RGBA on all
  *  platforms except on Windows where it is GL_BGRA. If your bitmaps map to a
- *  different GL enum, specify that with this define.
+ *  different GL enum, specify that with this define. For portability use
+ *  GR_BGRA rather than GL_BGRA for platforms where this format is an
+ *  extension.
  */
 //#define GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT  GL_RGBA
 
diff --git a/gpu/src/GrGpuGL.cpp b/gpu/src/GrGpuGL.cpp
index 68fedf7f59..ff3519389f 100644
--- a/gpu/src/GrGpuGL.cpp
+++ b/gpu/src/GrGpuGL.cpp
@@ -299,6 +299,11 @@ GrGpuGL::GrGpuGL() {
         GrPrintf("RGBA Renderbuffer: %s\n", (fRGBA8Renderbuffer ? "YES" : "NO"));
     }
 
+#if GR_SUPPORT_GLES
+    if (GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT == GR_BGRA) {
+        GrAssert(has_gl_extension("GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888"));
+    }
+#endif
 
 #if GR_SUPPORT_GLDESKTOP
     fBufferLockSupport = true; // we require VBO support and the desktop VBO
@@ -1675,7 +1680,13 @@ bool GrGpuGL::canBeTexture(GrTexture::PixelConfig config,
         case GrTexture::kRGBA_8888_PixelConfig:
         case GrTexture::kRGBX_8888_PixelConfig: // todo: can we tell it our X?
             *format = GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT;
-            *internalFormat = GL_RGBA;
+#if GR_SUPPORT_GLES
+            // according to GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888 the *internal*
+            // format for a BGRA is BGRA not RGBA (as on desktop)
+            *internalFormat = GR_GL_32BPP_COLOR_FORMAT;
+#else
+            *internalFormat = GL_RGBA;
+#endif
             *type = GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE;
             break;
         case GrTexture::kRGB_565_PixelConfig: