diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index fcb86c6..b7d8ea3 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -306,23 +306,23 @@ render_initialize.argtypes = (
 render_terminate = _engine.rk_render_terminate
 render_terminate.restype = None
 
-_load_shader = _engine.rk_load_shader
-_load_shader.restype = _handle
-_load_shader.errcheck = _check_handle
-_load_shader.argtypes = (
+_create_shader = _engine.rk_create_shader
+_create_shader.restype = _handle
+_create_shader.errcheck = _check_handle
+_create_shader.argtypes = (
     ctypes.c_uint, # vert_nlines
     ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_char_p), # vert_lines
     ctypes.c_uint, # frag_nlines
     ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_char_p)) # frag_lines
 
-def load_shader(vert_lines, frag_lines):
+def create_shader(vert_lines, frag_lines):
     vert_nlines = len(vert_lines)
     vert_type = ctypes.c_char_p * vert_nlines
     vert_lines = vert_type(*map(ctypes.c_char_p, vert_lines))
     frag_nlines = len(frag_lines)
     frag_type = ctypes.c_char_p * frag_nlines
     frag_lines = frag_type(*map(ctypes.c_char_p, frag_lines))
-    return _load_shader(vert_nlines, vert_lines, frag_nlines, frag_lines)
+    return _create_shader(vert_nlines, vert_lines, frag_nlines, frag_lines)
 
 resolve_input = _engine.rk_resolve_input
 resolve_input.restype = _handle
diff --git a/cpp/render.hpp b/cpp/render.hpp
index 5bd2abd..34845ef 100644
--- a/cpp/render.hpp
+++ b/cpp/render.hpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ RK_EXPORT void rk_render_initialize(
 
 RK_EXPORT void rk_render_terminate();
 
-RK_EXPORT rk_shader_t rk_load_shader(
+RK_EXPORT rk_shader_t rk_create_shader(
     rk_uint const vert_nlines,
     char const ** const vert_lines,
     rk_uint const frag_nlines,
diff --git a/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp b/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
index acd1320..107d6da 100644
--- a/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
+++ b/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static void rk_print_program_infolog(GLuint program) {
     }
 }
 
-rk_shader_t rk_load_shader(
+rk_shader_t rk_create_shader(
     rk_uint const vert_nlines,
     char const ** const vert_lines,
     rk_uint const frag_nlines,