diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 6b9c0e043..f639d4a81 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -4032,7 +4032,7 @@ void Schedule_Run(void)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		// Don't engage in automation while in a restricted context.
 		return;
@@ -4168,7 +4168,7 @@ void Automate_Run(automateEvents_t type)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		// Don't engage in automation while in a restricted context.
 		return;
@@ -4963,7 +4963,7 @@ UINT32 secretextratime = 0;
   */
 static void TimeLimit_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -6570,7 +6570,7 @@ static void Command_ShowTime_f(void)
 // SRB2Kart: On change messages
 static void NumLaps_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -6588,7 +6588,7 @@ static void NumLaps_OnChange(void)
 
 static void KartFrantic_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -6606,7 +6606,7 @@ static void KartFrantic_OnChange(void)
 
 static void KartSpeed_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -6624,7 +6624,7 @@ static void KartSpeed_OnChange(void)
 
 static void KartEncore_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -6634,7 +6634,7 @@ static void KartEncore_OnChange(void)
 
 static void KartEliminateLast_OnChange(void)
 {
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false) == false)
 	{
 		CV_StealthSet(&cv_karteliminatelast, cv_karteliminatelast.defaultvalue);
 	}
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 9a2cfa59b..07e6a756d 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -3920,7 +3920,7 @@ static void G_GetNextMap(void)
 			nextmap = cm;
 		}
 
-		if (K_CanChangeRules())
+		if (K_CanChangeRules(true))
 		{
 			switch (cv_advancemap.value)
 			{
@@ -4013,8 +4013,9 @@ static void G_DoCompleted(void)
 		}
 	}
 
+	// See Y_StartIntermission timer handling
+	if ((gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT) && ((multiplayer && demo.playback) || j == r_splitscreen+1) && (!K_CanChangeRules(false) || cv_inttime.value > 0))
 	// play some generic music if there's no win/cool/lose music going on (for exitlevel commands)
-	if ((gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT) && ((multiplayer && demo.playback) || j == r_splitscreen+1) && (!K_CanChangeRules() || cv_inttime.value > 0))
 		S_ChangeMusicInternal("racent", true);
 
 	if (automapactive)
diff --git a/src/k_battle.c b/src/k_battle.c
index 09395ceff..18ce0b473 100644
--- a/src/k_battle.c
+++ b/src/k_battle.c
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ void K_CheckBumpers(void)
 		winnerscoreadd -= players[i].roundscore;
 	}
 
-	if (K_CanChangeRules() == false)
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(true) == false)
 	{
 		if (nobumpers)
 		{
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.c b/src/k_grandprix.c
index af4e33e68..35a9d4acc 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.c
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.c
@@ -697,18 +697,12 @@ void K_PlayerLoseLife(player_t *player)
 }
 
 /*--------------------------------------------------
-	boolean K_CanChangeRules(void)
+	boolean K_CanChangeRules(boolean allowdemos)
 
 		See header file for description.
 --------------------------------------------------*/
-boolean K_CanChangeRules(void)
+boolean K_CanChangeRules(boolean allowdemos)
 {
-	if (demo.playback)
-	{
-		// We've already got our important settings!
-		return false;
-	}
-
 	if (grandprixinfo.gp == true && grandprixinfo.roundnum > 0)
 	{
 		// Don't cheat the rules of the GP!
@@ -739,5 +733,11 @@ boolean K_CanChangeRules(void)
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	if (!allowdemos && demo.playback)
+	{
+		// We've already got our important settings!
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.h b/src/k_grandprix.h
index cc8527508..3d966d4d3 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.h
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.h
@@ -152,18 +152,18 @@ void K_PlayerLoseLife(player_t *player);
 
 
 /*--------------------------------------------------
-	boolean K_CanChangeRules(void);
+	boolean K_CanChangeRules(boolean allowdemos);
 
 		Returns whenver or not the server is allowed
 		to change the game rules.
 
 	Input Arguments:-
-		None
+		allowdemos - permits this behavior during demo playback
 
 	Return:-
 		true if can change important gameplay rules, otherwise false.
 --------------------------------------------------*/
 
-boolean K_CanChangeRules(void);
+boolean K_CanChangeRules(boolean allowdemos);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/k_menufunc.c b/src/k_menufunc.c
index 9bb546992..532b20df0 100644
--- a/src/k_menufunc.c
+++ b/src/k_menufunc.c
@@ -4400,7 +4400,7 @@ void M_InitOptions(INT32 choice)
 
 	// enable gameplay & server options under the right circumstances.
 	if (gamestate == GS_MENU
-		|| ((server || IsPlayerAdmin(consoleplayer)) && K_CanChangeRules()))
+		|| ((server || IsPlayerAdmin(consoleplayer)) && K_CanChangeRules(false)))
 	{
 		OPTIONS_MainDef.menuitems[mopt_gameplay].status = IT_STRING | IT_SUBMENU;
 		OPTIONS_MainDef.menuitems[mopt_server].status = IT_STRING | IT_SUBMENU;
@@ -5736,7 +5736,7 @@ void M_OpenPauseMenu(void)
 
 	Dummymenuplayer_OnChange();	// Make sure the consvar is within bounds of the amount of splitscreen players we have.
 
-	if (K_CanChangeRules())
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(false))
 	{
 		PAUSE_Main[mpause_psetup].status = IT_STRING | IT_CALL;
 
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index 9d0c5de68..971f6d066 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ void P_CheckPointLimit(void)
 	if (exitcountdown)
 		return;
 
-	if (!K_CanChangeRules())
+	if (!K_CanChangeRules(true))
 		return;
 
 	if (!cv_pointlimit.value)
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ boolean P_CheckRacers(void)
 		{
 			tic_t countdown = 30*TICRATE; // 30 seconds left to finish, get going!
 
-			if (K_CanChangeRules() == true)
+			if (K_CanChangeRules(true) == true)
 			{
 				// Custom timer
 				countdown = cv_countdowntime.value * TICRATE;
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index bb36f0902..72c3a0300 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -3853,7 +3853,7 @@ static void P_InitGametype(void)
 
 	if (gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT)
 	{
-		if (K_CanChangeRules() && cv_numlaps.value
+		if (K_CanChangeRules(true) && cv_numlaps.value
 		&& (!(mapheaderinfo[gamemap - 1]->levelflags & LF_SECTIONRACE)
 		|| (mapheaderinfo[gamemap - 1]->numlaps > cv_numlaps.value)))
 		{
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index af117a685..6a77ae964 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -1288,7 +1288,8 @@ void P_DoPlayerExit(player_t *player)
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (!K_CanChangeRules() || cv_inttime.value > 0)
+			// See Y_StartIntermission timer handling
+			if (!K_CanChangeRules(false) || cv_inttime.value > 0)
 				P_EndingMusic(player);
 
 			if (P_CheckRacers() && !exitcountdown)
diff --git a/src/y_inter.c b/src/y_inter.c
index f943d09d4..992149f0a 100644
--- a/src/y_inter.c
+++ b/src/y_inter.c
@@ -801,7 +801,8 @@ void Y_StartIntermission(void)
 	powertype = K_UsingPowerLevels();
 
 	// determine the tic the intermission ends
-	if (!K_CanChangeRules())
+	// Technically cv_inttime is saved to demos... but this permits having extremely long timers for post-netgame chatting without stranding you on the intermission in netreplays.
+	if (!K_CanChangeRules(false))
 	{
 		timer = 10*TICRATE;
 	}