diff --git a/src/cvars.cpp b/src/cvars.cpp
index 633250a73..3ce1dc505 100644
--- a/src/cvars.cpp
+++ b/src/cvars.cpp
@@ -727,6 +727,7 @@ void KartSpeed_OnChange(void);
 consvar_t cv_kartspeed = UnsavedNetVar("gamespeed", "Auto Gear").values(kartspeed_cons_t).onchange_noinit(KartSpeed_OnChange);
 
 consvar_t cv_teamplay = UnsavedNetVar("teamplay", "Off").on_off();
+consvar_t cv_duel = UnsavedNetVar("duel", "On").on_off();
 
 consvar_t cv_kartusepwrlv = UnsavedNetVar("mobiums", "Yes").yes_no();
 
diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.h b/src/d_netcmd.h
index 7391d0921..3aa2af849 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.h
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ extern consvar_t cv_kartbot;
 extern consvar_t cv_karteliminatelast;
 extern consvar_t cv_thunderdome;
 extern consvar_t cv_teamplay;
+extern consvar_t cv_duel;
 extern consvar_t cv_kartusepwrlv;
 #ifdef DEVELOP
 	extern consvar_t cv_kartencoremap;
@@ -182,7 +183,6 @@ typedef enum
 	XD_SCHEDULETASK, // 34
 	XD_SCHEDULECLEAR, // 35
 	XD_AUTOMATE,    // 36
-	// 37 is free
 	XD_MAPQUEUE = XD_AUTOMATE+2, // 38
 	XD_CALLZVOTE,   // 39
 	XD_SETZVOTE,    // 40
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index c239fa5f2..97c58c441 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -872,6 +872,7 @@ extern UINT8 gamespeed;
 extern boolean franticitems;
 extern boolean encoremode, prevencoremode;
 extern boolean g_teamplay;
+extern boolean g_duelpermitted;
 
 extern tic_t wantedcalcdelay;
 extern tic_t itemCooldowns[NUMKARTITEMS - 1];
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 850bdace5..7138f8957 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ boolean franticitems; // Frantic items currently enabled?
 // (Certain gametypes can override this -- prefer using G_GametypeHasTeams().)
 boolean g_teamplay;
 
+// Server wants to allow Duel mode?
+boolean g_duelpermitted;
+
 // Voting system
 UINT16 g_voteLevels[VOTE_NUM_LEVELS][2]; // Levels that were rolled by the host
 SINT8 g_votes[VOTE_TOTAL]; // Each player's vote
diff --git a/src/k_hud.cpp b/src/k_hud.cpp
index 4e32c8150..ce5549703 100644
--- a/src/k_hud.cpp
+++ b/src/k_hud.cpp
@@ -3308,7 +3308,7 @@ static void K_drawKartDuelScores(void)
 	player_t *foe = K_DuelOpponent(stplyr);
 
 	INT32 basex = 0;
-	INT32 basey = 40;
+	INT32 basey = 48;
 	INT32 flags = V_SNAPTOLEFT|V_HUDTRANS|V_SLIDEIN;
 
 	// score bars, here barheight is the size of bars at tied score
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 8a1a6869a..17492746d 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -121,7 +121,13 @@ boolean K_DuelItemAlwaysSpawns(mapthing_t *mt)
 
 boolean K_InRaceDuel(void)
 {
-	return (inDuel && (gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT) && !(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->levelflags & LF_SECTIONRACE)) && !specialstageinfo.valid;
+	return (
+		inDuel && 
+		(gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT) &&
+		!(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->levelflags & LF_SECTIONRACE) &&
+		!specialstageinfo.valid &&
+		g_duelpermitted
+	);
 }
 
 player_t *K_DuelOpponent(player_t *player)
@@ -15149,10 +15155,6 @@ void K_CheckSpectateStatus(boolean considermapreset)
 	if (!cv_allowteamchange.value)
 		return;
 
-	// DON'T allow if you've hit the in-game player cap
-	if (cv_maxplayers.value && numhumans >= cv_maxplayers.value)
-		return;
-
 	// Get the number of players in game, and the players to be de-spectated.
 	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 	{
diff --git a/src/menus/options-gameplay-1.c b/src/menus/options-gameplay-1.c
index 7cf67ee3f..574fd391d 100644
--- a/src/menus/options-gameplay-1.c
+++ b/src/menus/options-gameplay-1.c
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ menuitem_t OPTIONS_Gameplay[] =
 	{IT_HEADER, "Duel...", NULL,
 		NULL, {NULL}, 0, 0},
 
+	{IT_STRING | IT_CVAR, "Duel", "A one-versus-one tug of war! Disable for standard racing.",
+		NULL, {.cvar = &cv_duel}, 0, 0},
+
 	{IT_STRING | IT_CVAR, "Duel Time Limit", "How long it takes for Margin Boost to kick in (seconds).",
 		NULL, {.cvar = &cv_dueltimelimit}, 0, 0},
 
diff --git a/src/p_setup.cpp b/src/p_setup.cpp
index 6eced0c66..9a781ac12 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.cpp
+++ b/src/p_setup.cpp
@@ -7674,6 +7674,7 @@ static void P_InitLevelSettings(void)
 	gamespeed = multi_speed ? KARTSPEED_EASY : gametypes[gametype]->speed;
 	franticitems = false;
 	g_teamplay = false;
+	g_duelpermitted = false;
 
 	if (K_PodiumSequence() == true)
 	{
@@ -7721,6 +7722,8 @@ static void P_InitLevelSettings(void)
 		}
 		franticitems = (boolean)cv_kartfrantic.value;
 		g_teamplay = (boolean)cv_teamplay.value; // we will overwrite this later if there is not enough players
+		g_duelpermitted = (boolean)cv_duel.value; // Ignored if too many players, see K_InRaceDuel
+
 	}
 
 	memset(&battleovertime, 0, sizeof(struct battleovertime));