diff --git a/src/sdl/i_video.c b/src/sdl/i_video.c
index 5e97694ad..5cea8c65a 100644
--- a/src/sdl/i_video.c
+++ b/src/sdl/i_video.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ boolean highcolor = false;
 
 
 // synchronize page flipping with screen refresh
-consvar_t cv_vidwait = CVAR_INIT ("vid_wait", "On", CV_SAVE, CV_OnOff, NULL);
+consvar_t cv_vidwait = CVAR_INIT ("vid_wait", "Off", CV_SAVE, CV_OnOff, NULL);
 static consvar_t cv_stretch = CVAR_INIT ("stretch", "Off", CV_SAVE|CV_NOSHOWHELP, CV_OnOff, NULL);
 static consvar_t cv_alwaysgrabmouse = CVAR_INIT ("alwaysgrabmouse", "Off", CV_SAVE, CV_OnOff, NULL);