diff --git a/src/i_video.c b/src/i_video.c
index 93f5ed8e..b6495a73 100644
--- a/src/i_video.c
+++ b/src/i_video.c
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ int video_display = 0;
 static int fullscreen_width, fullscreen_height; // [FG] exclusive fullscreen
 boolean reset_screen;
 boolean bilinear_sharpening;
-boolean cfg_hires;
 
 void *I_GetSDLWindow(void)
 {
@@ -855,7 +854,7 @@ void I_StartTic (void)
 }
 
 int use_vsync;     // killough 2/8/98: controls whether vsync is called
-int hires;
+int hires, default_hires;
 
 static int in_graphics_mode;
 
@@ -1505,7 +1504,7 @@ static void I_InitGraphicsMode(void)
 
    v_w = window_width;
    v_h = window_height;
-   hires = cfg_hires;
+   hires = default_hires;
 
    if (firsttime)
    {
diff --git a/src/i_video.h b/src/i_video.h
index 2b09d7b1..41a66ea9 100644
--- a/src/i_video.h
+++ b/src/i_video.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void I_ToggleVsync(void); // [JN] Calls native SDL vsync toggle
 
 extern int use_vsync;  // killough 2/8/98: controls whether vsync is called
 extern int disk_icon;  // killough 10/98
-extern int hires;      // killough 11/98
+extern int hires, default_hires;      // killough 11/98
 
 extern int useaspect;
 extern int uncapped; // [FG] uncapped rendering frame rate
diff --git a/src/m_misc.c b/src/m_misc.c
index 73263b91..d6810f05 100644
--- a/src/m_misc.c
+++ b/src/m_misc.c
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ extern int show_toggle_messages;
 extern int show_pickup_messages;
 
 extern int forceFlipPan;
-extern boolean cfg_hires;
 extern int window_width, window_height;
 extern int window_position_x, window_position_y;
 extern int grabmouse;
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ default_t defaults[] = {
   //
 
   { // killough 11/98: hires
-    "hires", (config_t *) &cfg_hires, NULL,
+    "hires", (config_t *) &default_hires, NULL,
     {1}, {0,1}, number, ss_none, wad_no,
     "1 to enable 640x400 resolution for rendering scenes"
   },