diff --git a/engine/client/cl_main.c b/engine/client/cl_main.c
index 7a951592..1ddec9ec 100644
--- a/engine/client/cl_main.c
+++ b/engine/client/cl_main.c
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ convar_t	*cl_lw;
 convar_t	*cl_charset;
 convar_t	*cl_trace_messages;
 convar_t	*hud_utf8;
+convar_t	*ui_renderworld;
 
 //
 // userinfo
@@ -2856,6 +2857,7 @@ void CL_InitLocal( void )
 	Cvar_Get( "cl_background", "0", FCVAR_READ_ONLY, "indicate what background map is running" );
 	cl_showevents = Cvar_Get( "cl_showevents", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "show events playback" );
 	Cvar_Get( "lastdemo", "", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "last played demo" );
+	ui_renderworld = Cvar_Get( "ui_renderworld", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "render world when UI is visible" );
 
 	// these two added to shut up CS 1.5 about 'unknown' commands
 	Cvar_Get( "lightgamma", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "ambient lighting level (legacy, unused)" );
diff --git a/engine/client/cl_view.c b/engine/client/cl_view.c
index 20d61941..8146c469 100644
--- a/engine/client/cl_view.c
+++ b/engine/client/cl_view.c
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ void V_RenderView( void )
 	ref_viewpass_t	rvp;
 	int		viewnum = 0;
 
-	if( !cl.video_prepped || ( UI_IsVisible() && !cl.background ))
+	if( !cl.video_prepped || ( !ui_renderworld->value && UI_IsVisible() && !cl.background ))
 		return; // still loading
 
 	V_CalcViewRect ();	// compute viewport rectangle
diff --git a/engine/client/client.h b/engine/client/client.h
index 32915802..a0971ed3 100644
--- a/engine/client/client.h
+++ b/engine/client/client.h
@@ -689,8 +689,9 @@ extern convar_t	*scr_loading;
 extern convar_t	*v_dark;	// start from dark
 extern convar_t	*net_graph;
 extern convar_t	*rate;
-extern convar_t *m_ignore;
-extern convar_t *r_showtree;
+extern convar_t	*m_ignore;
+extern convar_t	*r_showtree;
+extern convar_t	*ui_renderworld;
 
 //=============================================================================