diff --git a/common/host.c b/common/host.c
index d5ea580..0dc4e0f 100644
--- a/common/host.c
+++ b/common/host.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #include <sbar.h>
 #include <mathlib.h>
 #include <menu.h>
+#include <cvars.h>
 #ifdef QUAKEWORLD
 #include <cl_slist.h>
 #endif
@@ -577,6 +578,12 @@ Host_Init (quakeparms_t *parms)
 	Cmd_StuffCmds_f ();
 	Cbuf_Execute ();
 
+	// make these read-only
+	fs_basepath = Cvar_Get ("fs_basepath", fs_basepath->string, CVAR_ROM,
+			"the location of your game directories");
+	fs_sharepath = Cvar_Get ("fs_sharepath", fs_sharepath->string,
+			CVAR_ROM, "read-only game directories");
+
 	V_Init ();
 	Chase_Init ();
 
diff --git a/common/quakefs.c b/common/quakefs.c
index a31a26c..7060fd6 100644
--- a/common/quakefs.c
+++ b/common/quakefs.c
@@ -983,10 +983,10 @@ COM_InitFilesystem ( void )
 	int		i;
 #endif
 
-	fs_basepath = Cvar_Get ("fs_basepath", FS_BASEPATH, CVAR_ROM,
+	fs_basepath = Cvar_Get ("fs_basepath", FS_BASEPATH, CVAR_NONE,
 			"the location of your game directories");
 	fs_sharepath = Cvar_Get ("fs_sharepath", fs_basepath->string,
-			CVAR_ROM, "read-only game directories");
+			CVAR_NONE, "read-only game directories");
 	Cmd_AddCommand ("gamedir", COM_Gamedir_f);
 
 /*