diff --git a/wgpu/backends/wgpu_native/_helpers.py b/wgpu/backends/wgpu_native/_helpers.py
index 2492e2d9..6b92ebba 100644
--- a/wgpu/backends/wgpu_native/_helpers.py
+++ b/wgpu/backends/wgpu_native/_helpers.py
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ def get_wgpu_instance():
     if _the_instance is None:
         # H: nextInChain: WGPUChainedStruct *
         struct = ffi.new("WGPUInstanceDescriptor *")
+        extras = ffi.new("WGPUInstanceExtras *")
+        extras.flags = lib.WGPUInstanceFlag_Validation  # | lib.WGPUInstanceFlag_Debug
+        extras.chain.sType = lib.WGPUSType_InstanceExtras
+        struct.nextInChain = ffi.cast("WGPUChainedStruct * ", extras)
         _the_instance = lib.wgpuCreateInstance(struct)
     return _the_instance