diff --git a/include/wx/glcanvas.h b/include/wx/glcanvas.h
index 4722a99a94..8b82b78c3a 100644
--- a/include/wx/glcanvas.h
+++ b/include/wx/glcanvas.h
@@ -118,10 +118,11 @@ public:
     // miscellaneous helper functions
     // ------------------------------
 
+#ifndef wxHAS_OPENGL_ES 
     // call glcolor() for the colour with the given name, return false if
     // colour not found
     bool SetColour(const wxString& colour);
-
+#endif
 
     // return true if the extension with given name is supported
     //
diff --git a/src/common/glcmn.cpp b/src/common/glcmn.cpp
index 4f5f9c6025..ff3aa28601 100644
--- a/src/common/glcmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/glcmn.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ bool wxGLCanvasBase::SetCurrent(const wxGLContext& context) const
     return context.SetCurrent(*static_cast<const wxGLCanvas *>(this));
 }
 
+#ifndef wxHAS_OPENGL_ES 
 bool wxGLCanvasBase::SetColour(const wxString& colour)
 {
     wxColour col = wxTheColourDatabase->Find(colour);
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ bool wxGLCanvasBase::SetColour(const wxString& colour)
 
     return true;
 }
+#endif
 
 wxGLCanvasBase::~wxGLCanvasBase()
 {