diff --git a/code/unix/sdl_glimp.c b/code/unix/sdl_glimp.c
index 20cf0930..9634e9ff 100644
--- a/code/unix/sdl_glimp.c
+++ b/code/unix/sdl_glimp.c
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ static qboolean GLW_StartDriverAndSetMode( const char *drivername,
 static int GLW_SetMode( const char *drivername, int mode, qboolean fullscreen )
 {
   const char*   glstring; // bk001130 - from cvs1.17 (mkv)
-  int sdlcolorbits = 4;
+  int sdlcolorbits;
   int colorbits, depthbits, stencilbits;
   int tcolorbits, tdepthbits, tstencilbits;
   int i = 0;
@@ -650,6 +650,7 @@ static int GLW_SetMode( const char *drivername, int mode, qboolean fullscreen )
         tstencilbits = 0;
     }
 
+    sdlcolorbits = 4;
     if (tcolorbits == 24)
         sdlcolorbits = 8;