diff --git a/src/client/cl_main.c b/src/client/cl_main.c
index 9cdd3eb3..d3a5dafd 100644
--- a/src/client/cl_main.c
+++ b/src/client/cl_main.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ cvar_t *r_swapInterval;
 cvar_t *r_glDriver;
 #else
 cvar_t *r_sdlDriver;
+cvar_t *r_sdlAllowScreenSaver;
 #endif
 cvar_t *r_displayRefresh;
 cvar_t *r_fullscreen;
@@ -4309,6 +4310,8 @@ static void CL_InitGLimp_Cvars( void )
 #else
 	r_sdlDriver = Cvar_Get( "r_sdlDriver", "", CVAR_ARCHIVE_ND | CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_UNSAFE );
 	Cvar_SetDescription( r_sdlDriver, "Override hint to SDL which video driver to use, example \"x11\" or \"wayland\"" );
+    r_sdlAllowScreenSaver = Cvar_Get( "r_sdlAllowScreenSaver", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE_ND | CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_UNSAFE );
+    Cvar_SetDescription( r_sdlAllowScreenSaver, "Allow screen to sleep while the game is running, requires full restart");
 #endif
 
 	r_displayRefresh = Cvar_Get( "r_displayRefresh", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_UNSAFE );
diff --git a/src/client/client.h b/src/client/client.h
index 8478b2e1..805ffc33 100644
--- a/src/client/client.h
+++ b/src/client/client.h
@@ -522,6 +522,7 @@ extern	cvar_t	*r_swapInterval;
 extern	cvar_t	*r_glDriver;
 #else
 extern	cvar_t	*r_sdlDriver;
+extern	cvar_t	*r_sdlAllowScreenSaver;
 #endif
 extern	cvar_t	*r_displayRefresh;
 extern	cvar_t	*r_fullscreen;
diff --git a/src/sdl/sdl_glimp.c b/src/sdl/sdl_glimp.c
index a213208b..e7268598 100644
--- a/src/sdl/sdl_glimp.c
+++ b/src/sdl/sdl_glimp.c
@@ -551,6 +551,11 @@ static rserr_t GLimp_StartDriverAndSetMode( int mode, const char *modeFS, qboole
 		fullscreen = qfalse;
 	}
 
+    if ( r_sdlAllowScreenSaver->integer )
+    {
+        SDL_SetHint( SDL_HINT_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER, "1" );
+    }
+
 	if ( !SDL_WasInit( SDL_INIT_VIDEO ) )
 	{
 		const char *driverName;