diff --git a/src/client/refresh/files/stb.c b/src/client/refresh/files/stb.c
index f898238f..8467bd99 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/files/stb.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/files/stb.c
@@ -560,3 +560,41 @@ LoadImage(const char *name, const char* namewe, const char *ext, imagetype_t typ
 
 	return image;
 }
+
+struct image_s*
+GetSkyImage(const char *skyname, const char* surfname, qboolean palettedtexture,
+	findimage_t find_image)
+{
+	struct image_s	*image = NULL;
+	char	pathname[MAX_QPATH];
+
+	if (palettedtexture)
+	{
+		Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.pcx",
+				skyname, surfname);
+		image = find_image(pathname, it_sky);
+	}
+
+	if (!image)
+	{
+		Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.tga",
+				skyname, surfname);
+		image = find_image(pathname, it_sky);
+	}
+
+	if (!image)
+	{
+		Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "pics/Skies/%s%s.m32",
+			skyname, surfname);
+		image = find_image(pathname, it_sky);
+	}
+
+	if (!image)
+	{
+		Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "pics/Skies/%s%s.m8",
+			skyname, surfname);
+		image = find_image(pathname, it_sky);
+	}
+
+	return image;
+}
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_image.c b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_image.c
index 04b05157..838d1741 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_image.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_image.c
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ R_Upload8(byte *data, int width, int height, qboolean mipmap, qboolean is_sky)
  * This is also used as an entry point for the generated r_notexture
  */
 image_t *
-R_LoadPic(char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
+R_LoadPic(const char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
 		int height, int realheight, size_t data_size, imagetype_t type, int bits)
 {
 	image_t *image;
@@ -1028,10 +1028,10 @@ R_LoadPic(char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
 }
 
 /*
- * Finds or loads the given image
+ * Finds or loads the given image or null
  */
 image_t *
-R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
+R_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
 {
 	image_t *image;
 	int i, len;
@@ -1084,6 +1084,19 @@ R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
 	image = (image_t *)LoadImage(name, namewe, ext, type,
 		r_retexturing->value, (loadimage_t)R_LoadPic);
 
+	return image;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Finds or loads the given image or notexture
+ */
+image_t *
+R_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
+{
+	image_t *image;
+
+	image = R_FindImageUnsafe(name, type);
+
 	if (!image)
 	{
 		R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s\n", __func__, name);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_main.c b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_main.c
index 164dd8f1..3c013958 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_main.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_main.c
@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ R_Register(void)
 	gl_anisotropic = ri.Cvar_Get("r_anisotropic", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	r_lockpvs = ri.Cvar_Get("r_lockpvs", "0", 0);
 
-	gl1_palettedtexture = ri.Cvar_Get("gl1_palettedtexture", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
+	gl1_palettedtexture = ri.Cvar_Get("r_palettedtextures", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	gl1_pointparameters = ri.Cvar_Get("gl1_pointparameters", "1", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 
 	gl_drawbuffer = ri.Cvar_Get("gl_drawbuffer", "GL_BACK", 0);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_warp.c b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_warp.c
index 498aba8d..7e1d77d5 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_warp.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl1/gl1_warp.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #define ON_EPSILON 0.1 /* point on plane side epsilon */
 #define MAX_CLIP_VERTS 64
 
-char skyname[MAX_QPATH];
 float skyrotate;
 vec3_t skyaxis;
 image_t *sky_images[6];
@@ -740,8 +739,8 @@ R_DrawSkyBox(void)
 void
 RI_SetSky(char *name, float rotate, vec3_t axis)
 {
-	int i;
-	char pathname[MAX_QPATH];
+	char	skyname[MAX_QPATH];
+	int		i;
 
 	Q_strlcpy(skyname, name, sizeof(skyname));
 	skyrotate = rotate;
@@ -749,33 +748,22 @@ RI_SetSky(char *name, float rotate, vec3_t axis)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
 	{
-		if (gl_config.palettedtexture)
+		image_t	*image;
+
+		image = (image_t *)GetSkyImage(skyname, suf[i],
+			gl_config.palettedtexture, (findimage_t)R_FindImageUnsafe);
+
+		if (!image)
 		{
-			Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.pcx",
-					skyname, suf[i]);
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.tga",
-					skyname, suf[i]);
+			R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s:%s sky\n",
+				__func__, skyname, suf[i]);
+			image = r_notexture;
 		}
 
-		sky_images[i] = R_FindImage(pathname, it_sky);
-
-		if (!sky_images[i] || sky_images[i] == r_notexture)
-		{
-			Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "pics/Skies/%s%s.m8",
-					skyname, suf[i]);
-			sky_images[i] = R_FindImage(pathname, it_sky);
-		}
-
-		if (!sky_images[i])
-		{
-			sky_images[i] = r_notexture;
-		}
-
-		sky_min = 1.0 / 512;
-		sky_max = 511.0 / 512;
+		sky_images[i] = image;
 	}
+
+	sky_min = 1.0 / 512;
+	sky_max = 511.0 / 512;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl1/header/local.h b/src/client/refresh/gl1/header/local.h
index d3934c2b..055ad23d 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl1/header/local.h
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl1/header/local.h
@@ -281,9 +281,10 @@ void COM_StripExtension(char *in, char *out);
 
 void R_SwapBuffers(int);
 
-image_t *R_LoadPic(char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
+image_t *R_LoadPic(const char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
 		int height, int realheight, size_t data_size, imagetype_t type, int bits);
-image_t *R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type);
+image_t *R_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
+image_t *R_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
 void R_TextureMode(char *string);
 void R_ImageList_f(void);
 
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_image.c b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_image.c
index 3f6409b5..b4c4ec0b 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_image.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_image.c
@@ -598,10 +598,10 @@ GL3_LoadPic(char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
 }
 
 /*
- * Finds or loads the given image
+ * Finds or loads the given image or NULL
  */
 gl3image_t *
-GL3_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
+GL3_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
 {
 	gl3image_t *image;
 	int i, len;
@@ -654,6 +654,18 @@ GL3_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
 	image = (gl3image_t *)LoadImage(name, namewe, ext, type,
 		r_retexturing->value, (loadimage_t)GL3_LoadPic);
 
+	return image;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Finds or loads the given image or notexture
+ */
+gl3image_t *
+GL3_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
+{
+	gl3image_t *image;
+
+	image = GL3_FindImageUnsafe(name, type);
 	if (!image)
 	{
 		R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s\n", __func__, name);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_main.c b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_main.c
index 5753a5b4..eb819871 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_main.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_main.c
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ cvar_t *gl_shadows;
 cvar_t *gl3_debugcontext;
 cvar_t *gl3_usebigvbo;
 cvar_t *r_fixsurfsky;
+cvar_t *r_palettedtexture;
 cvar_t *gl3_usefbo;
 
 // Yaw-Pitch-Roll
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ GL3_Register(void)
 	r_drawworld = ri.Cvar_Get("r_drawworld", "1", 0);
 	r_fullbright = ri.Cvar_Get("r_fullbright", "0", 0);
 	r_fixsurfsky = ri.Cvar_Get("r_fixsurfsky", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
+	r_palettedtexture = ri.Cvar_Get("r_palettedtexture", "0", 0);
 
 	/* don't bilerp characters and crosshairs */
 	gl_nolerp_list = ri.Cvar_Get("r_nolerp_list", "pics/conchars.pcx pics/ch1.pcx pics/ch2.pcx pics/ch3.pcx", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_warp.c b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_warp.c
index 59673155..ee5bd720 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_warp.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl3/gl3_warp.c
@@ -313,9 +313,8 @@ int vec_to_st[6][3] = {
 void
 GL3_SetSky(char *name, float rotate, vec3_t axis)
 {
-	int i;
-	char pathname[MAX_QPATH];
-	char skyname[MAX_QPATH];
+	char	skyname[MAX_QPATH];
+	int		i;
 
 	Q_strlcpy(skyname, name, sizeof(skyname));
 	skyrotate = rotate;
@@ -323,27 +322,23 @@ GL3_SetSky(char *name, float rotate, vec3_t axis)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
 	{
-		// NOTE: there might be a paletted .pcx version, which was only used
-		//       if gl_config.palettedtexture so it *shouldn't* be relevant for he GL3 renderer
-		Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.tga", skyname, suf[i]);
+		gl3image_t	*image;
 
-		sky_images[i] = GL3_FindImage(pathname, it_sky);
+		image = (gl3image_t *)GetSkyImage(skyname, suf[i],
+			r_palettedtexture->value, (findimage_t)GL3_FindImageUnsafe);
 
-		if (sky_images[i] == NULL || sky_images[i] == gl3_notexture)
+		if (!image)
 		{
-			Com_sprintf(pathname, sizeof(pathname), "pics/Skies/%s%s.m8", skyname, suf[i]);
-
-			sky_images[i] = GL3_FindImage(pathname, it_sky);
+			R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s:%s sky\n",
+				__func__, skyname, suf[i]);
+			image = gl3_notexture;
 		}
 
-		if (sky_images[i] == NULL)
-		{
-			sky_images[i] = gl3_notexture;
-		}
-
-		sky_min = 1.0 / 512;
-		sky_max = 511.0 / 512;
+		sky_images[i] = image;
 	}
+
+	sky_min = 1.0 / 512;
+	sky_max = 511.0 / 512;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/gl3/header/local.h b/src/client/refresh/gl3/header/local.h
index d3fbf0db..d09e2d0c 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/gl3/header/local.h
+++ b/src/client/refresh/gl3/header/local.h
@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@ extern void GL3_BindLightmap(int lightmapnum);
 extern gl3image_t *GL3_LoadPic(char *name, byte *pic, int width, int realwidth,
                                int height, int realheight, size_t data_size,
                                imagetype_t type, int bits);
-extern gl3image_t *GL3_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type);
+extern gl3image_t *GL3_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
+extern gl3image_t *GL3_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
 extern gl3image_t *GL3_RegisterSkin(char *name);
 extern void GL3_ShutdownImages(void);
 extern void GL3_FreeUnusedImages(void);
@@ -548,6 +549,7 @@ extern cvar_t *r_modulate;
 extern cvar_t *gl_lightmap;
 extern cvar_t *gl_shadows;
 extern cvar_t *r_fixsurfsky;
+extern cvar_t *r_palettedtexture;
 
 extern cvar_t *gl3_debugcontext;
 
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/ref_shared.h b/src/client/refresh/ref_shared.h
index a88f481e..4ddfa4f2 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/ref_shared.h
+++ b/src/client/refresh/ref_shared.h
@@ -105,12 +105,14 @@ extern const byte* Mod_DecompressVis(const byte *in, int row);
 
 /* Shared models load */
 typedef struct image_s* (*findimage_t)(char *name, imagetype_t type);
-void *Mod_LoadMD2 (const char *mod_name, const void *buffer, int modfilelen,
+extern void *Mod_LoadMD2 (const char *mod_name, const void *buffer, int modfilelen,
 	vec3_t mins, vec3_t maxs, struct image_s **skins,
 	findimage_t find_image, modtype_t *type);
 extern void *Mod_LoadSP2 (const char *mod_name, const void *buffer, int modfilelen,
 	struct image_s **skins, findimage_t find_image, modtype_t *type);
 extern int Mod_ReLoadSkins(struct image_s **skins, findimage_t find_image,
 	void *extradata, modtype_t type);
+extern struct image_s *GetSkyImage(const char *skyname, const char* surfname,
+	qboolean palettedtexture, findimage_t find_image);
 
 #endif /* SRC_CLIENT_REFRESH_REF_SHARED_H_ */
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/soft/header/local.h b/src/client/refresh/soft/header/local.h
index 27ccc32f..ef67ab7a 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/soft/header/local.h
+++ b/src/client/refresh/soft/header/local.h
@@ -588,7 +588,8 @@ void	RE_Draw_FadeScreen (void);
 extern byte d_8to24table[256 * 4];
 void	R_InitImages(void);
 void	R_ShutdownImages(void);
-image_t	*R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type);
+image_t	*R_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
+image_t	*R_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type);
 byte	*Get_BestImageSize(const image_t *image, int *req_width, int *req_height);
 void	R_FreeUnusedImages(void);
 qboolean R_ImageHasFreeSpace(void);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_image.c b/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_image.c
index 5ee070ed..db657bf2 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_image.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_image.c
@@ -476,13 +476,13 @@ R_ApplyLight(pixel_t pix, const light3_t light)
 
 /*
 ===============
-R_FindImage
+R_FindImageUnsafe
 
-Finds or loads the given image
+Finds or loads the given image or NULL
 ===============
 */
 image_t	*
-R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
+R_FindImageUnsafe(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
 {
 	image_t	*image;
 	int	i, len;
@@ -541,6 +541,22 @@ R_FindImage(char *name, imagetype_t type)
 	image = (image_t *)LoadImage(name, namewe, ext, type,
 		r_retexturing->value, (loadimage_t)R_LoadPic);
 
+	return image;
+}
+
+/*
+===============
+R_FindImage
+
+Finds or loads the given image or no_texture
+===============
+*/
+image_t	*
+R_FindImage(const char *name, imagetype_t type)
+{
+	image_t	*image;
+
+	image = R_FindImageUnsafe(name, type);
 	if (!image)
 	{
 		R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s\n", __func__, name);
diff --git a/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_main.c b/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_main.c
index 8169a8d0..dc5e1db5 100644
--- a/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_main.c
+++ b/src/client/refresh/soft/sw_main.c
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ refimport_t	ri;
 
 byte		d_8to24table[256 * 4];
 
-char		skyname[MAX_QPATH];
 vec3_t		skyaxis;
 
 refdef_t	r_newrefdef;
@@ -173,6 +172,7 @@ static cvar_t	*vid_fullscreen;
 static cvar_t	*vid_gamma;
 
 static cvar_t	*r_lockpvs;
+static cvar_t	*r_palettedtexture;
 
 // sw_vars.c
 
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ R_RegisterVariables (void)
 	r_customwidth = ri.Cvar_Get("r_customwidth", "1024", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	r_customheight = ri.Cvar_Get("r_customheight", "768", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 	r_fixsurfsky = ri.Cvar_Get("r_fixsurfsky", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE);
+	r_palettedtexture = ri.Cvar_Get("r_palettedtexture", "0", 0);
 
 	vid_fullscreen = ri.Cvar_Get( "vid_fullscreen", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 	vid_gamma = ri.Cvar_Get( "vid_gamma", "1.0", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
@@ -1723,26 +1724,32 @@ RE_SetSky
 // 3dstudio environment map names
 static const char	*suf[6] = {"rt", "bk", "lf", "ft", "up", "dn"};
 static const int	r_skysideimage[6] = {5, 2, 4, 1, 0, 3};
-extern	mtexinfo_t		r_skytexinfo[6];
+extern mtexinfo_t		r_skytexinfo[6];
 
 static void
 RE_SetSky (char *name, float rotate, vec3_t axis)
 {
+	char	skyname[MAX_QPATH];
 	int		i;
-	char	pathname[MAX_QPATH];
 
 	Q_strlcpy (skyname, name, sizeof(skyname));
 	VectorCopy (axis, skyaxis);
 
 	for (i=0 ; i<6 ; i++)
 	{
-		Com_sprintf (pathname, sizeof(pathname), "env/%s%s.pcx", skyname, suf[r_skysideimage[i]]);
-		r_skytexinfo[i].image = R_FindImage (pathname, it_sky);
-		if (!r_skytexinfo[i].image)
+		image_t	*image;
+
+		image = (image_t *)GetSkyImage(skyname, suf[r_skysideimage[i]],
+			r_palettedtexture->value, (findimage_t)R_FindImageUnsafe);
+
+		if (!image)
 		{
-			Com_sprintf (pathname, sizeof(pathname), "pics/Skies/%s%s.m8", skyname, suf[r_skysideimage[i]]);
-			r_skytexinfo[i].image = R_FindImage (pathname, it_sky);
+			R_Printf(PRINT_ALL, "%s: can't load %s:%s sky\n",
+				__func__, skyname, suf[r_skysideimage[i]]);
+			image = r_notexture_mip;
 		}
+
+		r_skytexinfo[i].image = image;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/cvar.c b/src/common/cvar.c
index 06d56db6..14bc61fb 100644
--- a/src/common/cvar.c
+++ b/src/common/cvar.c
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ replacement_t replacements[] = {
 	{"gl_mode", "r_mode"},
 	{"gl_modulate", "r_modulate"},
 	{"gl_overbrightbits", "gl1_overbrightbits"},
-	{"gl_palettedtextures", "gl1_palettedtextures"},
+	{"gl_palettedtextures", "r_palettedtextures"},
+	{"gl1_palettedtextures", "r_palettedtextures"},
 	{"gl_particle_min_size", "gl1_particle_min_size"},
 	{"gl_particle_max_size", "gl1_particle_max_size"},
 	{"gl_particle_size", "gl1_particle_size"},