diff --git a/src/deh_tables.c b/src/deh_tables.c
index d7f3deeee..49278ee83 100644
--- a/src/deh_tables.c
+++ b/src/deh_tables.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ const char *const GAMETYPERULE_LIST[] = {
 	"\x01",
 	"LIVES",
 	"SPECIALBOTS",
-	"FREEROAM",
+	"NOCOUNTDOWN",
 	"ENCORE",
 	NULL
 };
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 5301c1b8b..fde731033 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ enum GameTypeRules
 	GTR_SPECIALBOTS			= 1<<21, // Bot difficulty gets stronger between rounds, and the rival system is enabled.
 	
 	// Misc
-	GTR_FREEROAM			= 1<<22, // Disables Countdown timer and control lock at the start of levels.
+	GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN			= 1<<22, // Disables Countdown timer and control lock at the start of levels.
 	GTR_ENCORE				= 1<<23, // Enable Encore mode.
 
 	// free: to and including 1<<31
diff --git a/src/k_hud.c b/src/k_hud.c
index b307a9842..47c12d40f 100644
--- a/src/k_hud.c
+++ b/src/k_hud.c
@@ -5026,7 +5026,7 @@ void K_drawKartHUD(void)
 	}
 
 	// Draw the countdowns after everything else.
-	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) && starttime != introtime
+	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN) && starttime != introtime
 	&& leveltime >= introtime
 	&& leveltime < starttime+TICRATE)
 	{
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 27dcb174d..d6430ca73 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -111,9 +111,8 @@ void K_TimerInit(void)
 		introtime = (108) + 5; // 108 for rotation, + 5 for white fade
 		starttime = 6*TICRATE + (3*TICRATE/4);
 
-		if (gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM)
+		if (gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN)
 		{
-			introtime = 0;
 			starttime = 0;
 		}
 	}
@@ -7802,7 +7801,7 @@ void K_KartPlayerThink(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 
 	K_HandleDelayedHitByEm(player);
 
-	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM))
+	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN))
 		K_RaceStart(player);
 
 	// Squishing
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 79c7978f8..0640a4dbe 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 		{
 			if (!(titlemapinaction == TITLEMAP_RUNNING))
 			{
-				if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM))
+				if (!(gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN))
 				{
 					if (leveltime == starttime-(3*TICRATE))
 					{
@@ -791,17 +791,20 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 					}
 				}
 
-				if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) && leveltime < starttime) // SRB2Kart
-					S_ChangeMusicInternal((encoremode ? "estart" : "kstart"), false); // yes this will be spammed otherwise encore and some stuff WILL overwrite it
-				else if (leveltime == starttime) // The GO! sound stops the level start ambience
-					S_StopMusic();
-				else if (leveltime == starttime + (TICRATE/2)) // Plays the music after the starting countdown.
+				// Change timing of start music based on gametyperules
 				{
-					S_ChangeMusicEx(mapmusname, mapmusflags, true, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
-					S_ShowMusicCredit();
+					tic_t startingtime = (gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN) ? introtime : starttime;
+					if (leveltime < startingtime) // SRB2Kart
+						S_ChangeMusicInternal((encoremode ? "estart" : "kstart"), false); // yes this will be spammed otherwise encore and some stuff WILL overwrite it
+					else if (leveltime == startingtime) // The GO! sound stops the level start ambience
+						S_StopMusic();
+					else if (leveltime == startingtime + (TICRATE/2)) // Plays the music after the starting countdown.
+					{
+						S_ChangeMusicEx(mapmusname, mapmusflags, true, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
+						S_ShowMusicCredit();
+					}
 				}
 			}
-
 		}
 
 		ps_lua_thinkframe_time = I_GetPreciseTime();
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index dc9b55e50..1af4784e7 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -1994,7 +1994,7 @@ boolean P_CanPlayerTurn(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	if (((gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) || (leveltime > starttime))
+	if (((gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN) || (leveltime > starttime))
 		&& (cmd->buttons & BT_ACCELERATE)
 		&& (cmd->buttons & BT_BRAKE))
 	{
@@ -2063,7 +2063,7 @@ static void P_UpdatePlayerAngle(player_t *player)
 		player->lturn_max[leveltime%MAXPREDICTTICS] = player->rturn_max[leveltime%MAXPREDICTTICS] = 0;
 	}
 	
-	if ((gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) || leveltime >= starttime)
+	if ((gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN) || leveltime >= starttime)
 	{
 		// KART: Don't directly apply angleturn! It may have been either A) forged by a malicious client, or B) not be a smooth turn due to a player dropping frames.
 		// Instead, turn the player only up to the amount they're supposed to turn accounting for latency. Allow exactly 1 extra turn unit to try to keep old replays synced.
@@ -3953,7 +3953,7 @@ void P_PlayerThink(player_t *player)
 	}
 
 	// SRB2kart 010217
-	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM))
+	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_NOCOUNTDOWN))
 	{
 		if (leveltime < starttime)
 		{
diff --git a/src/s_sound.c b/src/s_sound.c
index 9d0333be8..bf0fee921 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.c
+++ b/src/s_sound.c
@@ -2612,14 +2612,7 @@ void S_InitLevelMusic(boolean fromnetsave)
 
 	S_StopMusic(); // Starting ambience should always be restarted, if playing.
 
-	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) && leveltime < (starttime + (TICRATE/2))) // SRB2Kart
-	{
-		S_ChangeMusicEx((encoremode ? "estart" : "kstart"), 0, false, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
-	}
-	else if (!(gametyperules & GTR_FREEROAM) && leveltime < (starttime + (TICRATE/2)))
-	{
-		S_ChangeMusicEx(mapmusname, 0, false, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
-	}
+	S_ChangeMusicEx((encoremode ? "estart" : "kstart"), 0, false, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
 
 	S_ResetMusicStack();
 	music_stack_noposition = false;