diff --git a/ref/gl/gl_studio.c b/ref/gl/gl_studio.c
index f78ee774..dac5fdc1 100644
--- a/ref/gl/gl_studio.c
+++ b/ref/gl/gl_studio.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ typedef struct
 } player_model_t;
 
 // never gonna change, just shut up const warning
-cvar_t r_shadows = { (char *)"r_shadows", (char *)"0", 0 };
+CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( r_shadows, "0", 0, "draw ugly shadows" );
 
 static const vec3_t hullcolor[8] =
 {
diff --git a/ref/soft/r_studio.c b/ref/soft/r_studio.c
index 74bbfe5e..9d799f71 100644
--- a/ref/soft/r_studio.c
+++ b/ref/soft/r_studio.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ typedef struct
 	model_t		*model;
 } player_model_t;
 
-cvar_t r_shadows = { (char *)"r_shadows", (char *)"0", 0 };
+CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( r_shadows, "0", 0, "draw ugly shadows" );
 
 static const vec3_t hullcolor[8] =
 {