diff --git a/direct/src/directbase/DirectStart.py b/direct/src/directbase/DirectStart.py
index 6e2f27c7e7..61b9c20651 100644
--- a/direct/src/directbase/DirectStart.py
+++ b/direct/src/directbase/DirectStart.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 print 'DirectStart: Starting the game.'
 
 from direct.showbase import ShowBase
-ShowBase.ShowBase()
+base = ShowBase.ShowBase()