diff --git a/src/win32/hardware.cpp b/src/win32/hardware.cpp
index cf39975fd4..da1ced10fa 100644
--- a/src/win32/hardware.cpp
+++ b/src/win32/hardware.cpp
@@ -69,8 +69,16 @@ FRenderer *gl_CreateInterface();
 
 void I_RestartRenderer();
 int currentrenderer = -1;
+int currentcanvas = -1;
 bool changerenderer;
 
+// Software OpenGL canvas
+CUSTOM_CVAR(Bool, vid_used3d, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_NOINITCALL)
+{
+	if (self != currentcanvas)
+		Printf("You must restart " GAMENAME " for this change to take effect.\n");
+}
+
 // [ZDoomGL]
 CUSTOM_CVAR (Int, vid_renderer, 0, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_NOINITCALL)
 {
@@ -137,13 +145,13 @@ void I_InitGraphics ()
 	val.Bool = !!Args->CheckParm ("-devparm");
 	ticker.SetGenericRepDefault (val, CVAR_Bool);
 
-//#define USE_D3D9_VIDEO
-#ifdef USE_D3D9_VIDEO
-	if (currentrenderer == 1) Video = gl_CreateVideo();
-	else Video = new Win32Video(0);
-#else
-	Video = gl_CreateVideo();
-#endif
+	if (currentcanvas == 1) // Software Canvas: 1 = D3D or DirectDraw, 0 = OpenGL
+		if (currentrenderer == 1)
+			Video = gl_CreateVideo();
+		else
+			Video = new Win32Video(0);
+	else
+		Video = gl_CreateVideo();
 
 	if (Video == NULL)
 		I_FatalError ("Failed to initialize display");
@@ -161,6 +169,7 @@ static void I_DeleteRenderer()
 void I_CreateRenderer()
 {
 	currentrenderer = vid_renderer;
+	currentcanvas = vid_used3d;
 	if (Renderer == NULL)
 	{
 		if (currentrenderer==1) Renderer = gl_CreateInterface();