diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 41f88ab9..775f2225 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ static CV_PossibleValue_t autobalance_cons_t[] = {{0, "MIN"}, {4, "MAX"}, {0, NU
 static CV_PossibleValue_t teamscramble_cons_t[] = {{0, "Off"}, {1, "Random"}, {2, "Points"}, {0, NULL}};
 
 static CV_PossibleValue_t startingliveslimit_cons_t[] = {{1, "MIN"}, {99, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
-static CV_PossibleValue_t sleeping_cons_t[] = {{-1, "MIN"}, {1000/TICRATE, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
+static CV_PossibleValue_t sleeping_cons_t[] = {{0, "MIN"}, {1000/TICRATE, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
 static CV_PossibleValue_t competitionboxes_cons_t[] = {{0, "Normal"}, {1, "Random"}, {2, "Teleports"},
 	{3, "None"}, {0, NULL}};
 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ consvar_t cv_runscripts = {"runscripts", "Yes", 0, CV_YesNo, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL
 consvar_t cv_pause = {"pausepermission", "Server", CV_NETVAR, pause_cons_t, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 consvar_t cv_mute = {"mute", "Off", CV_NETVAR|CV_CALL, CV_OnOff, Mute_OnChange, 0, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 
-consvar_t cv_sleep = {"cpusleep", "-1", CV_SAVE, sleeping_cons_t, NULL, -1, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
+consvar_t cv_sleep = {"cpusleep", "1", CV_SAVE, sleeping_cons_t, NULL, -1, NULL, NULL, 0, 0, NULL};
 
 INT16 gametype = GT_RACE; // SRB2kart
 boolean forceresetplayers = false;
diff --git a/src/sdl/i_system.c b/src/sdl/i_system.c
index 2154a070..f360072a 100644
--- a/src/sdl/i_system.c
+++ b/src/sdl/i_system.c
@@ -3018,7 +3018,7 @@ void I_StartupTimer(void)
 
 void I_Sleep(void)
 {
-	if (cv_sleep.value != -1)
+	if (cv_sleep.value > 0)
 		SDL_Delay(cv_sleep.value);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sdl12/i_system.c b/src/sdl12/i_system.c
index 0e5adbb4..d055a4ca 100644
--- a/src/sdl12/i_system.c
+++ b/src/sdl12/i_system.c
@@ -2914,7 +2914,7 @@ void I_StartupTimer(void)
 void I_Sleep(void)
 {
 #if !(defined (_arch_dreamcast) || defined (_XBOX))
-	if (cv_sleep.value != -1)
+	if (cv_sleep.value > 0)
 		SDL_Delay(cv_sleep.value);
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/src/win32/win_sys.c b/src/win32/win_sys.c
index 75aca68d..fa9d6d64 100644
--- a/src/win32/win_sys.c
+++ b/src/win32/win_sys.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ tic_t I_GetTime(void)
 
 void I_Sleep(void)
 {
-	if (cv_sleep.value != -1)
+	if (cv_sleep.value > 0)
 		Sleep(cv_sleep.value);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/win32ce/win_sys.c b/src/win32ce/win_sys.c
index 3b6a4725..091171b5 100644
--- a/src/win32ce/win_sys.c
+++ b/src/win32ce/win_sys.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ tic_t I_GetTime(void)
 
 void I_Sleep(void)
 {
-	if (cv_sleep.value != -1)
+	if (cv_sleep.value > 0)
 		Sleep(cv_sleep.value);
 }