diff --git a/engine/client/renderer.c b/engine/client/renderer.c
index 5aa3c37af..f066c4a13 100644
--- a/engine/client/renderer.c
+++ b/engine/client/renderer.c
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ cvar_t			gl_shadeq1 = {"gl_shadeq1", "0", NULL, CVAR_CHEAT};	//FIXME: :(
 cvar_t			gl_shadeq1_name = {"gl_shadeq1_name", "*"};
 
 cvar_t			gl_blend2d = {"gl_blend2d", "0"};
+cvar_t			gl_blendsprites = {"gl_blendsprites", "0"};
 #endif
 
 cvar_t r_bloodstains = {"r_bloodstains", "1"};
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@ void GLRenderer_Init(void)
 	Cvar_Register (&gl_shadeq3, GLRENDEREROPTIONS);
 
 	Cvar_Register (&gl_blend2d, GLRENDEREROPTIONS);
+	Cvar_Register (&gl_blendsprites, GLRENDEREROPTIONS);
 #endif
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/engine/gl/gl_rmain.c b/engine/gl/gl_rmain.c
index 5eab890bb..1fc71edd3 100644
--- a/engine/gl/gl_rmain.c
+++ b/engine/gl/gl_rmain.c
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ extern cvar_t gl_ati_truform;
 extern cvar_t gl_ati_truform_type;
 extern cvar_t gl_ati_truform_tesselation;
 
+extern cvar_t gl_blendsprites;
 
 #ifdef R_XFLIP
 cvar_t	r_xflip = {"leftisright", "0"};
@@ -530,7 +531,7 @@ void R_DrawSpriteModel (entity_t *e)
 		qglTexEnvi(GL_TEXTURE_ENV, GL_TEXTURE_ENV_MODE, GL_MODULATE);
 		qglBlendFunc(GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE);
 	}
-	else if (e->alpha<1)
+	else if (e->alpha<1 || gl_blendsprites.value)
 	{
 		qglEnable(GL_BLEND);
 		qglTexEnvi(GL_TEXTURE_ENV, GL_TEXTURE_ENV_MODE, GL_MODULATE);