diff --git a/core/src/processing/opengl/PGL.java b/core/src/processing/opengl/PGL.java
index 9a57832c6..a87d248fe 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/opengl/PGL.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/opengl/PGL.java
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import java.nio.FloatBuffer;
 import java.nio.IntBuffer;
 import java.nio.ShortBuffer;
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
 import processing.core.PApplet;
@@ -3115,17 +3114,7 @@ public abstract class PGL {
   public abstract void getIntegerv(int value, IntBuffer data);
   public abstract void getFloatv(int value, FloatBuffer data);
   public abstract boolean isEnabled(int value);
-
-  /**
-   * Get a configuration or status string from the underlying renderer.
-   *
-   * @param name The name or ID of the attribute to request.
-   * @return The requested value as a string.
-   * @throws GraphicsNotInitializedException Thrown if an attribute is requested that is not
-   *    available until graphics initialization before that initialization compeltes. For example,
-   *    if requesting a GL string before GL context is available.
-   */
-  public abstract String getString(int name) throws GraphicsNotInitializedException;
+  public abstract String getString(int name);
 
   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -3416,25 +3405,4 @@ public abstract class PGL {
   public abstract void renderbufferStorageMultisample(int target, int samples, int format, int width, int height);
   public abstract void readBuffer(int buf);
   public abstract void drawBuffer(int buf);
-
-  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-  // Exceptions
-
-  /**
-   * Exception for when attempting an operation requiring the graphics renderer, context, etc
-   * to have been initialized before that initialization.
-   */
-  public class GraphicsNotInitializedException extends RuntimeException {
-
-    /**
-     * Create a new exception indicating that an action could not be fulfilled because the rendering
-     * context or equivalent is not ready.
-     *
-     * @param msg Further details about the issue.
-     */
-    public GraphicsNotInitializedException(String msg) {
-      super(msg);
-    }
-  }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/processing/opengl/PJOGL.java b/core/src/processing/opengl/PJOGL.java
index ec465542a..debe59665 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/opengl/PJOGL.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/opengl/PJOGL.java
@@ -1120,9 +1120,6 @@ public class PJOGL extends PGL {
 
   @Override
   public String getString(int name) {
-    if (gl == null) {
-      throw new PGL.GraphicsNotInitializedException("Context not initalized.");
-    }
     return gl.glGetString(name);
   }