diff --git a/code/client/cl_main.c b/code/client/cl_main.c
index 506940b1..62dcf528 100644
--- a/code/client/cl_main.c
+++ b/code/client/cl_main.c
@@ -3207,7 +3207,7 @@ void CL_InitRef( void ) {
 	Com_Printf( "----- Initializing Renderer ----\n" );
 
 #ifdef USE_RENDERER_DLOPEN
-	cl_renderer = Cvar_Get("cl_renderer", "opengl2", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_PROTECTED);
+	cl_renderer = Cvar_Get("cl_renderer", "opengl2", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH);
 
 	Com_sprintf(dllName, sizeof(dllName), "renderer_%s_" ARCH_STRING DLL_EXT, cl_renderer->string);