diff --git a/src/command.c b/src/command.c
index b42b73a5c..2808e1f8c 100644
--- a/src/command.c
+++ b/src/command.c
@@ -855,8 +855,19 @@ static void COM_Exec_f(void)
 	if (!COM_CheckParm("-silent"))
 		CONS_Printf(M_GetText("executing %s\n"), COM_Argv(1));
 
-	// insert text file into the command buffer
-	COM_ImmedExecute((char *)buf);
+	if (COM_CheckParm("-immediate"))
+	{
+		// immediately parses and executes all lines
+		// sidesteps wait from all sources, even self
+		COM_ImmedExecute((char *)buf);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// insert text file into the command buffer
+		// delays execution if interpreting wait cmd
+		COM_BufAddTextEx((char *)buf, com_flags);
+		COM_BufAddTextEx("\n", com_flags);
+	}
 
 	// free buffer
 	Z_Free(buf);
diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index 32475d0a6..800e5b201 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -3533,7 +3533,7 @@ void readmaincfg(MYFILE *f, boolean mainfile)
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "EXECCFG"))
 			{
 				if (strchr(word2, '.'))
-					COM_BufAddText(va("exec %s\n", word2));
+					COM_BufAddText(va("exec \"%s\" -immediate\n", word2));
 				else
 				{
 					lumpnum_t lumpnum;
diff --git a/src/m_misc.cpp b/src/m_misc.cpp
index d6788a729..6f5b3474a 100644
--- a/src/m_misc.cpp
+++ b/src/m_misc.cpp
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ void Command_LoadConfig_f(void)
 	CV_InitFilterVar();
 
 	// exec the config
-	COM_BufInsertText(va("exec \"%s\"\n", configfile));
+	COM_BufInsertText(va("exec \"%s\" -immediate\n", configfile));
 
 	// don't filter anymore vars and don't let this convsvar be changed
 	COM_BufInsertText(va("%s \"%d\"\n", cv_execversion.name, EXECVERSION));
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ void M_FirstLoadConfig(void)
 	CV_InitFilterVar();
 
 	// load config, make sure those commands doesnt require the screen...
-	COM_BufInsertText(va("exec \"%s\"\n", configfile));
+	COM_BufInsertText(va("exec \"%s\" -immediate\n", configfile));
 	// no COM_BufExecute() needed; that does it right away
 
 	// don't filter anymore vars and don't let this convsvar be changed