diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index b3dc89029..4d90bc678 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -458,9 +458,13 @@ consvar_t cv_kartrings = CVAR_INIT ("kartrings", "No", CV_NETVAR|CV_CALL|CV_NOIN
 
 static CV_PossibleValue_t ringsmin_cons_t[] = {{INT8_MIN, "MIN"}, {0, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
 static CV_PossibleValue_t ringsmax_cons_t[] = {{0, "MIN"}, {INT8_MAX, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
+
 consvar_t cv_kartringsmin = CVAR_INIT ("kartringsmin", "-20", CV_NETVAR, ringsmin_cons_t, NULL);
 consvar_t cv_kartringsmax = CVAR_INIT ("kartringsmax", "20", CV_NETVAR, ringsmax_cons_t, NULL);
 
+static CV_PossibleValue_t ringsstart_cons_t[] = {{INT8_MIN, "MIN"}, {INT8_MAX, "MAX"}, {0, NULL}};
+consvar_t cv_kartringsstart = CVAR_INIT ("kartringsstart", "5", CV_NETVAR, ringsstart_cons_t, NULL);
+
 // Stacking related
 consvar_t cv_kartstacking = CVAR_INIT ("kartstacking", "No", CV_NETVAR|CV_CALL|CV_NOINIT, CV_YesNo, KartStacking_OnChange);
 consvar_t cv_kartstacking_diminishparam = CVAR_INIT ("kartstacking_diminishparam", "0.32", CV_NETVAR|CV_CHEAT|CV_FLOAT, CV_Unsigned, NULL);
diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.h b/src/d_netcmd.h
index 56976e232..385f7a3eb 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.h
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.h
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ extern consvar_t cv_kartusepwrlv;
 extern consvar_t cv_kartrings;
 extern consvar_t cv_kartringsmin;
 extern consvar_t cv_kartringsmax;
+extern consvar_t cv_kartringsstart;
 
 extern consvar_t cv_kartstacking;
 extern consvar_t cv_kartstacking_diminishparam;
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index b48b8b076..56a9c2f1c 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -2538,7 +2538,7 @@ void G_PlayerReborn(INT32 player, boolean betweenmaps)
 		bumper = ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) ? K_StartingBumperCount() : 0);
 		karmapoints = 0;
 		wanted = 0;
-		rings = 5;
+		rings = cv_kartringsstart.value;
 		minrings = cv_kartringsmin.value;
 		maxrings = cv_kartringsmax.value;
 		kickstartaccel = 0;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index bce64a793..4913d383d 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ void K_RegisterKartStuff(void)
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_kartrings);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_kartringsmin);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_kartringsmax);
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_kartringsstart);
 
 	// Stacking
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_kartstacking);