diff --git a/source/blender/gpu/GPU_capabilities.hh b/source/blender/gpu/GPU_capabilities.hh
index 844f1b196af..fc84af9e4ef 100644
--- a/source/blender/gpu/GPU_capabilities.hh
+++ b/source/blender/gpu/GPU_capabilities.hh
@@ -65,3 +65,6 @@ bool GPU_stereo_quadbuffer_support();
 
 int GPU_minimum_per_vertex_stride();
 bool GPU_transform_feedback_support();
+
+/** WARNING: Should only be called at startup from creator_args. Never call it at runtime. */
+void GPU_compilation_subprocess_override_set(int count);
diff --git a/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities.cc b/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities.cc
index a4d743c1453..13e6aeefe31 100644
--- a/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities.cc
+++ b/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities.cc
@@ -239,3 +239,15 @@ bool GPU_stereo_quadbuffer_support()
 }
 
 /** \} */
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+/** \name Creator arguments overrides
+ * \{ */
+
+void GPU_compilation_subprocess_override_set(int count)
+{
+  BLI_assert(GCaps.max_parallel_compilations == -1);
+  GCaps.max_parallel_compilations = count;
+}
+
+/** \} */
diff --git a/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities_private.hh b/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities_private.hh
index 293dc7f3131..1faca3d1964 100644
--- a/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities_private.hh
+++ b/source/blender/gpu/intern/gpu_capabilities_private.hh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct GPUCapabilities {
   bool texture_view_support = true;
   bool stencil_export_support = false;
 
-  int max_parallel_compilations = 0;
+  int max_parallel_compilations = -1;
 
   /* OpenGL related workarounds. */
   bool mip_render_workaround = false;
diff --git a/source/blender/gpu/opengl/gl_backend.cc b/source/blender/gpu/opengl/gl_backend.cc
index 841f997477f..951aec1661a 100644
--- a/source/blender/gpu/opengl/gl_backend.cc
+++ b/source/blender/gpu/opengl/gl_backend.cc
@@ -599,8 +599,14 @@ void GLBackend::capabilities_init()
   detect_workarounds();
 
 #if BLI_SUBPROCESS_SUPPORT
-  GCaps.max_parallel_compilations = std::min(int(U.max_shader_compilation_subprocesses),
-                                             BLI_system_thread_count());
+  if (GCaps.max_parallel_compilations == -1) {
+    GCaps.max_parallel_compilations = std::min(int(U.max_shader_compilation_subprocesses),
+                                               BLI_system_thread_count());
+  }
+  if (G.debug & G_DEBUG_GPU_RENDERDOC) {
+    /* Avoid crashes on RenderDoc sessions. */
+    GCaps.max_parallel_compilations = 0;
+  }
 #else
   GCaps.max_parallel_compilations = 0;
 #endif
diff --git a/source/creator/creator_args.cc b/source/creator/creator_args.cc
index fd1719e76de..38530c35dcb 100644
--- a/source/creator/creator_args.cc
+++ b/source/creator/creator_args.cc
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 #  include "BKE_scene.hh"
 #  include "BKE_sound.h"
 
+#  include "GPU_capabilities.hh"
 #  include "GPU_context.hh"
 
 #  ifdef WITH_PYTHON
@@ -777,6 +778,9 @@ static void print_help(bArgs *ba, bool all)
   PRINT("\n");
   PRINT("GPU Options:\n");
   BLI_args_print_arg_doc(ba, "--gpu-backend");
+#  ifdef WITH_OPENGL_BACKEND
+  BLI_args_print_arg_doc(ba, "--gpu-compilation-subprocesses");
+#  endif
 
   PRINT("\n");
   PRINT("Misc Options:\n");
@@ -1484,6 +1488,42 @@ static int arg_handle_gpu_backend_set(int argc, const char **argv, void * /*data
   return 1;
 }
 
+#  ifdef WITH_OPENGL_BACKEND
+static const char arg_handle_gpu_compilation_subprocesses_set_doc[] =
+    "\n"
+    "\tOverride the Max Compilation Subprocesses setting (OpenGL only).";
+static int arg_handle_gpu_compilation_subprocesses_set(int argc,
+                                                       const char **argv,
+                                                       void * /*data*/)
+{
+  const char *arg_id = "--gpu-compilation-subprocesses";
+  const int min = 0, max = BLI_system_thread_count();
+  if (argc > 1) {
+    const char *err_msg = nullptr;
+    int subprocesses;
+    if (!parse_int_strict_range(argv[1], nullptr, min, max, &subprocesses, &err_msg)) {
+      fprintf(stderr,
+              "\nError: %s '%s %s', expected number in [%d..%d].\n",
+              err_msg,
+              arg_id,
+              argv[1],
+              min,
+              max);
+      return 0;
+    }
+
+    GPU_compilation_subprocess_override_set(subprocesses);
+    return 1;
+  }
+  fprintf(stderr,
+          "\nError: you must specify a number of subprocesses in [%d..%d] '%s'.\n",
+          min,
+          max,
+          arg_id);
+  return 0;
+}
+#  endif
+
 static const char arg_handle_debug_fpe_set_doc[] =
     "\n\t"
     "Enable floating-point exceptions.";
@@ -2565,6 +2605,13 @@ void main_args_setup(bContext *C, bArgs *ba, bool all)
   /* GPU backend selection should be part of #ARG_PASS_ENVIRONMENT for correct GPU context
    * selection for animation player. */
   BLI_args_add(ba, nullptr, "--gpu-backend", CB_ALL(arg_handle_gpu_backend_set), nullptr);
+#  ifdef WITH_OPENGL_BACKEND
+  BLI_args_add(ba,
+               nullptr,
+               "--gpu-compilation-subprocesses",
+               CB(arg_handle_gpu_compilation_subprocesses_set),
+               nullptr);
+#  endif
 
   /* Pass: Background Mode & Settings
    *