diff --git a/doc/040_cvarlist.md b/doc/040_cvarlist.md
index 19295354..9f137ccd 100644
--- a/doc/040_cvarlist.md
+++ b/doc/040_cvarlist.md
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ it's `+set busywait 0` (setting the `busywait` cvar) and `-portable`
 
 * **g_itemsbobeffect**: Bob effect of items like in ReRelease. Defaults to `0`.
 
+* **g_start_items**: List of start items on level.
+
 * **g_swap_speed**: Sets the speed of the "changing weapon" animation.
   Default is `1`. If set to `2`, it will be double the speed, `3` is
   the triple... up until the max of `8`, since there are at least 2
diff --git a/src/common/netchan.c b/src/common/netchan.c
index 773f8c0e..e20a8857 100644
--- a/src/common/netchan.c
+++ b/src/common/netchan.c
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ Netchan_Transmit(netchan_t *chan, int length, byte *data)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		Com_Printf("Netchan_Transmit: dumped unreliable\n");
+		Com_Printf("%s: dumped unreliable\n", __func__);
 	}
 
 	/* send the datagram */
diff --git a/src/game/g_ctf.c b/src/game/g_ctf.c
index 3d2b44ba..d6640844 100644
--- a/src/game/g_ctf.c
+++ b/src/game/g_ctf.c
@@ -4279,7 +4279,7 @@ CTFObserver(edict_t *ent)
 	ent->client->ps.gunindex = 0;
 	ent->client->resp.score = 0;
 	memcpy(userinfo, ent->client->pers.userinfo, sizeof(userinfo));
-	InitClientPersistant(ent->client);
+	InitClientPersistant(ent);
 	ClientUserinfoChanged(ent, userinfo);
 	gi.linkentity(ent);
 	CTFOpenJoinMenu(ent);
diff --git a/src/game/g_items.c b/src/game/g_items.c
index 6a932376..e89d2a61 100644
--- a/src/game/g_items.c
+++ b/src/game/g_items.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ GetItemByIndex(int index)
 }
 
 gitem_t *
-FindItemByClassname(char *classname)
+FindItemByClassname(const char *classname)
 {
 	int i;
 	gitem_t *it;
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ FindItemByClassname(char *classname)
 }
 
 gitem_t *
-FindItem(char *pickup_name)
+FindItem(const char *pickup_name)
 {
 	int i;
 	gitem_t *it;
diff --git a/src/game/g_main.c b/src/game/g_main.c
index bf220750..756d0490 100644
--- a/src/game/g_main.c
+++ b/src/game/g_main.c
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ cvar_t *g_quick_weap;
 cvar_t *g_swap_speed;
 cvar_t *g_language;
 cvar_t *g_itemsbobeffect;
+cvar_t *g_start_items;
 cvar_t *g_game;
 
 static void G_RunFrame(void);
diff --git a/src/game/g_spawn.c b/src/game/g_spawn.c
index 8a1a7899..8a77338b 100644
--- a/src/game/g_spawn.c
+++ b/src/game/g_spawn.c
@@ -1319,6 +1319,15 @@ SP_worldspawn(edict_t *ent)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (st.start_items && *st.start_items)
+	{
+		level.start_items = st.start_items;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		level.start_items = NULL;
+	}
+
 	/* --------------- */
 
 	/* help icon for statusbar */
diff --git a/src/game/header/local.h b/src/game/header/local.h
index 1a1b8399..0b53f105 100644
--- a/src/game/header/local.h
+++ b/src/game/header/local.h
@@ -384,6 +384,8 @@ typedef struct
 
 	edict_t *disguise_violator;
 	int disguise_violation_framenum;
+
+	char *start_items;
 } level_locals_t;
 
 /* spawn_temp_t is only used to hold entity field values that
@@ -406,6 +408,7 @@ typedef struct
 	float pausetime;
 	char *item;
 	char *gravity;
+	char *start_items;
 
 	float minyaw;
 	float maxyaw;
@@ -688,6 +691,7 @@ extern cvar_t *g_quick_weap;
 extern cvar_t *g_swap_speed;
 extern cvar_t *g_language;
 extern cvar_t *g_itemsbobeffect;
+extern cvar_t *g_start_items;
 extern cvar_t *g_game;
 
 /* this is for the count of monsters */
@@ -761,8 +765,8 @@ void Cmd_Score_f(edict_t *ent);
 void PrecacheItem(gitem_t *it);
 void InitItems(void);
 void SetItemNames(void);
-gitem_t *FindItem(char *pickup_name);
-gitem_t *FindItemByClassname(char *classname);
+gitem_t *FindItem(const char *pickup_name);
+gitem_t *FindItemByClassname(const char *classname);
 
 #define ITEM_INDEX(x) ((x) - itemlist)
 
@@ -958,7 +962,7 @@ edict_t *PlayerTrail_LastSpot(void);
 void respawn(edict_t *ent);
 void BeginIntermission(edict_t *targ);
 void PutClientInServer(edict_t *ent);
-void InitClientPersistant(gclient_t *client);
+void InitClientPersistant(edict_t *ent);
 void InitClientResp(gclient_t *client);
 void InitBodyQue(void);
 void ClientBeginServerFrame(edict_t *ent);
diff --git a/src/game/player/client.c b/src/game/player/client.c
index 463a7ad4..b2e5fa54 100644
--- a/src/game/player/client.c
+++ b/src/game/player/client.c
@@ -1244,16 +1244,85 @@ player_die(edict_t *self, edict_t *inflictor, edict_t *attacker,
 
 /* ======================================================================= */
 
+static void
+Player_GiveStartItems(edict_t *ent, const char *ptr)
+{
+	if (!ptr || !*ptr)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	while (*ptr)
+	{
+		char buffer[MAX_QPATH + 1] = {0};
+		const char *buffer_end = NULL, *item_name = NULL;
+		char *curr_buf;
+
+		buffer_end = strchr(ptr, ';');
+		if (!buffer_end)
+		{
+			buffer_end = ptr + strlen(ptr);
+		}
+		strncpy(buffer, ptr, Q_min(MAX_QPATH, buffer_end - ptr));
+
+		curr_buf = buffer;
+		item_name = COM_Parse(&curr_buf);
+		if (item_name)
+		{
+			gitem_t *item;
+
+			item = FindItemByClassname(item_name);
+			if (!item || !item->pickup)
+			{
+				gi.dprintf("%s: Invalid g_start_item entry: %s\n", __func__, item_name);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				edict_t *dummy;
+				int count = 1;
+
+				if (*curr_buf)
+				{
+					count = atoi(COM_Parse(&curr_buf));
+				}
+
+				if (count == 0)
+				{
+					ent->client->pers.inventory[ITEM_INDEX(item)] = 0;
+					continue;
+				}
+
+				dummy = G_Spawn();
+				dummy->item = item;
+				dummy->count = count;
+				dummy->spawnflags |= DROPPED_PLAYER_ITEM;
+				item->pickup(dummy, ent);
+				G_FreeEdict(dummy);
+			}
+		}
+
+		/* skip end of section */
+		ptr = buffer_end;
+		if (*ptr == ';')
+		{
+			ptr ++;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * This is only called when the game first
  * initializes in single player, but is called
  * after each death and level change in deathmatch
  */
 void
-InitClientPersistant(gclient_t *client)
+InitClientPersistant(edict_t *ent)
 {
+	gclient_t *client;
 	gitem_t *item;
 
+	client = ent->client;
+
 	if (!client)
 	{
 		return;
@@ -1292,6 +1361,26 @@ InitClientPersistant(gclient_t *client)
 
 	/* Default chasecam to off */
 	client->pers.chasetoggle = 0;
+
+	/* start items */
+	if (*g_start_items->string)
+	{
+		if ((deathmatch->value || coop->value) && !sv_cheats->value)
+		{
+			gi.cprintf(ent, PRINT_HIGH,
+				"You must run the server with '+set cheats 1' to enable 'g_start_items'.\n");
+			return;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			Player_GiveStartItems(ent, g_start_items->string);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (level.start_items && *level.start_items)
+	{
+		Player_GiveStartItems(ent, level.start_items);
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -2142,7 +2231,7 @@ PutClientInServer(edict_t *ent)
 
 		resp = client->resp;
 		memcpy(userinfo, client->pers.userinfo, sizeof(userinfo));
-		InitClientPersistant(client);
+		InitClientPersistant(ent);
 		ClientUserinfoChanged(ent, userinfo);
 	}
 	else if (coop->value)
@@ -2188,7 +2277,7 @@ PutClientInServer(edict_t *ent)
 
 	if (client->pers.health <= 0)
 	{
-		InitClientPersistant(client);
+		InitClientPersistant(ent);
 	}
 
 	client->resp = resp;
@@ -2638,7 +2727,7 @@ ClientConnect(edict_t *ent, char *userinfo)
 
 		if (!game.autosaved || !ent->client->pers.weapon)
 		{
-			InitClientPersistant(ent->client);
+			InitClientPersistant(ent);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/game/savegame/savegame.c b/src/game/savegame/savegame.c
index 669bdfa9..38ca0ea4 100644
--- a/src/game/savegame/savegame.c
+++ b/src/game/savegame/savegame.c
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ InitGame(void)
 	g_language = gi.cvar("g_language", "english", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	g_itemsbobeffect = gi.cvar("g_itemsbobeffect", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	g_game = gi.cvar("game", "", 0);
+	g_start_items = gi.cvar("g_start_items", "", 0);
 
 	/* initilize localization */
 	LocalizationInit();
diff --git a/src/game/savegame/tables/fields.h b/src/game/savegame/tables/fields.h
index 13b7686d..40256010 100644
--- a/src/game/savegame/tables/fields.h
+++ b/src/game/savegame/tables/fields.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
 {"item", STOFS(item), F_LRAWSTRING, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},
 {"item", FOFS(item), F_ITEM},
 {"gravity", STOFS(gravity), F_LRAWSTRING, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},
+{"start_items", STOFS(start_items), F_LRAWSTRING, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},
 {"sky", STOFS(sky), F_LRAWSTRING, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},
 {"skyrotate", STOFS(skyrotate), F_FLOAT, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},
 {"skyautorotate", STOFS(skyautorotate), F_INT, FFL_SPAWNTEMP},