diff --git a/src/graphics.cpp b/src/graphics.cpp
index e4e6912..ff1c321 100644
--- a/src/graphics.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics.cpp
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ ShaderProgram::ShaderProgram(Base base, string vertexSource,
                              string fragSource) {
   int success;
   char infoLog[512];
-  const char* vertexSource_c = vertexSource.c_str();
-  const char* fragSource_c = fragSource.c_str();
+  const char *vertexSource_c = vertexSource.c_str();
+  const char *fragSource_c = fragSource.c_str();
   this->base = base;
   BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "With base program \"" << this->baseName() << "\"";
   // NOTE: char arrays and char pointers are not actually the same.
@@ -90,6 +90,25 @@ ShaderProgram::ShaderProgram(Base base, string vertexSource,
                              << infoLog << std::endl;
     exit(EXIT_SHADER);
   }
+
+  // combine it all in a actual program
+  this->program = glCreateProgram();
+  glAttachShader(this->program, this->vertex);
+  glAttachShader(this->program, this->frag);
+  glLinkProgram(this->program);
+
+  glGetProgramiv(this->program, GL_LINK_STATUS, &success);
+  if (!success) {
+    glGetProgramInfoLog(this->program, 512, NULL, infoLog);
+    BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(fatal) << "could not link shader program:\n\n"
+                             << infoLog << std::endl;
+    exit(EXIT_SHADER);
+  }
+
+  // finalizing our setup
+  glUseProgram(this->program);
+  glDeleteShader(this->vertex);
+  glDeleteShader(this->frag);
 }
 
 /** defines the base program behavior.
diff --git a/src/graphics.hpp b/src/graphics.hpp
index 6bf195d..9b93039 100644
--- a/src/graphics.hpp
+++ b/src/graphics.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ protected:
   unsigned int vertex;
   unsigned int frag;
   Base base;
+  unsigned int program;
 };
 int mainWindow(ShaderProgram* shaderProgramm, GLFWwindow* window);
 GLFWwindow* initGl();