diff --git a/backend/drm/backend.c b/backend/drm/backend.c
index f758eb6ed..5fe77777d 100644
--- a/backend/drm/backend.c
+++ b/backend/drm/backend.c
@@ -271,7 +271,6 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_drm_backend_create(struct wlr_session *session,
 		}
 	}
 
-	drm->backend.features.timeline = drm->iface != &legacy_iface;
 	if (drm->parent) {
 		drm->backend.features.timeline = drm->backend.features.timeline &&
 			drm->mgpu_renderer.wlr_rend->features.timeline;
diff --git a/backend/drm/drm.c b/backend/drm/drm.c
index f34c9a085..caa126371 100644
--- a/backend/drm/drm.c
+++ b/backend/drm/drm.c
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ bool check_drm_features(struct wlr_drm_backend *drm) {
 		drm->supports_tearing_page_flips = drmGetCap(drm->fd, DRM_CAP_ASYNC_PAGE_FLIP, &cap) == 0 && cap == 1;
 	} else {
 		drm->supports_tearing_page_flips = drmGetCap(drm->fd, DRM_CAP_ATOMIC_ASYNC_PAGE_FLIP, &cap) == 0 && cap == 1;
+		drm->backend.features.timeline = drmGetCap(drm->fd, DRM_CAP_SYNCOBJ_TIMELINE, &cap) == 0 && cap == 1;
 	}
 
 	if (env_parse_bool("WLR_DRM_NO_MODIFIERS")) {