diff --git a/src/gl/renderer/gl_lightdata.cpp b/src/gl/renderer/gl_lightdata.cpp
index 0dd180dfb6..25ad12344b 100644
--- a/src/gl/renderer/gl_lightdata.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/renderer/gl_lightdata.cpp
@@ -46,12 +46,6 @@ int fogdensity;
 int outsidefogdensity;
 int skyfog;
 
-CUSTOM_CVAR (Int, gl_light_ambient, 20, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
-{
-	// ambient of 0 does not work correctly because light level 0 is special.
-	if (self < 1) self = 1;
-}
-
 CVAR(Int, gl_weaponlight, 8, CVAR_ARCHIVE);
 CUSTOM_CVAR(Bool, gl_enhanced_nightvision, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_NOINITCALL)
 {
@@ -209,11 +203,6 @@ int gl_CalcLightLevel(int lightlevel, int rellight, bool weapon)
 		light=lightlevel;
 	}
 
-	if (light<gl_light_ambient && glset.lightmode != 8)		// ambient clipping only if not using software lighting model.
-	{
-		light = gl_light_ambient;
-		if (rellight<0) rellight>>=1;
-	}
 	return clamp(light+rellight, 0, 255);
 }
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/menudef.zz b/wadsrc/static/menudef.zz
index 253f984ebf..1261286d65 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/menudef.zz
+++ b/wadsrc/static/menudef.zz
@@ -231,7 +231,6 @@ OptionMenu "GLPrefOptions"
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_SPRBILLBOARD",			gl_billboard_mode,				"BillboardModes"
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_SPRBILLFACECAMERA",		gl_billboard_faces_camera,		"OnOff"
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_PARTICLESTYLE",			gl_particles_style,				"Particles"
-	Slider "$GLPREFMNU_AMBLIGHT",				gl_light_ambient,				1.0, 255.0, 5.0
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_RENDERQUALITY",			gl_render_precise,				"Precision"
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_VRMODE",					vr_mode, 						"VRMode"
 	Option "$GLPREFMNU_VRQUADSTEREO",			vr_enable_quadbuffered,			"OnOff"