diff --git a/src/g_game.cpp b/src/g_game.cpp
index 0adfa2fc9..404484672 100644
--- a/src/g_game.cpp
+++ b/src/g_game.cpp
@@ -1772,7 +1772,7 @@ void G_DoReborn (int playernum, bool freshbot)
 		}
 
 		// spawn at random spot if in deathmatch
-		if (deathmatch || isUnfriendly)
+		if ((deathmatch || isUnfriendly) && (level.deathmatchstarts.Size () > 0))
 		{
 			G_DeathMatchSpawnPlayer (playernum);
 			return;
diff --git a/src/posix/cocoa/i_main.mm b/src/posix/cocoa/i_main.mm
index fd3e9a737..5d30341b4 100644
--- a/src/posix/cocoa/i_main.mm
+++ b/src/posix/cocoa/i_main.mm
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
+CVAR (Bool, i_soundinbackground, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 EXTERN_CVAR(Int,  vid_defwidth )
 EXTERN_CVAR(Int,  vid_defheight)
 EXTERN_CVAR(Bool, vid_vsync    )
@@ -323,7 +324,7 @@ ApplicationController* appCtrl;
 {
 	ZD_UNUSED(aNotification);
 	
-	S_SetSoundPaused(0);
+	S_SetSoundPaused((!!i_soundinbackground) || 0);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/posix/sdl/i_input.cpp b/src/posix/sdl/i_input.cpp
index ecf93ed5d..338b343d5 100644
--- a/src/posix/sdl/i_input.cpp
+++ b/src/posix/sdl/i_input.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ extern int paused;
 CVAR (Bool,  use_mouse,				true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool,  m_noprescale,			false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool,	 m_filter,				false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
+CVAR (Bool, i_soundinbackground, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 
 EXTERN_CVAR (Bool, fullscreen)
 
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ void MessagePump (const SDL_Event &sev)
 		{
 			case SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_GAINED:
 			case SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_LOST:
-				S_SetSoundPaused(sev.window.event == SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_GAINED);
+				S_SetSoundPaused((!!i_soundinbackground) || sev.window.event == SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_GAINED);
 				break;
 		}
 		break;
diff --git a/src/win32/i_input.cpp b/src/win32/i_input.cpp
index 4da5fdc75..84ab3ff84 100644
--- a/src/win32/i_input.cpp
+++ b/src/win32/i_input.cpp
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ BOOL AppActive = TRUE;
 int SessionState = 0;
 int BlockMouseMove; 
 
+CVAR (Bool, i_soundinbackground, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool, k_allowfullscreentoggle, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 
 CUSTOM_CVAR(Bool, norawinput, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG|CVAR_NOINITCALL)
@@ -551,7 +552,7 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc (HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
 		{
 			SetPriorityClass (GetCurrentProcess (), IDLE_PRIORITY_CLASS);
 		}
-		S_SetSoundPaused (wParam);
+		S_SetSoundPaused ((!!i_soundinbackground) || wParam);
 		break;
 
 	case WM_WTSSESSION_CHANGE:
diff --git a/src/win32/win32gliface.cpp b/src/win32/win32gliface.cpp
index 77963a43b..d5df5d8df 100644
--- a/src/win32/win32gliface.cpp
+++ b/src/win32/win32gliface.cpp
@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ void Win32GLFrameBuffer::InitializeState()
 
 bool Win32GLFrameBuffer::CanUpdate()
 {
-	if (!AppActive) return false;
+	if (!AppActive && IsFullscreen()) return false;
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/language.enu b/wadsrc/static/language.enu
index a147eeb80..06af66307 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/language.enu
+++ b/wadsrc/static/language.enu
@@ -2129,6 +2129,7 @@ SNDMNU_SFXVOLUME		= "Sounds volume";
 SNDMNU_MENUVOLUME		= "Menu volume";
 SNDMNU_MUSICVOLUME		= "Music volume";
 SNDMNU_MIDIDEVICE		= "MIDI device";
+SNDMNU_BACKGROUND		= "Sound in Background";
 SNDMNU_UNDERWATERREVERB	= "Underwater reverb";
 SNDMNU_RANDOMIZEPITCHES	= "Randomize pitches";
 SNDMNU_CHANNELS			= "Sound channels";
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/menudef.txt b/wadsrc/static/menudef.txt
index faf57c054..9b2c9a600 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/menudef.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/menudef.txt
@@ -1616,6 +1616,8 @@ OptionMenu SoundOptions protected
 	Option "$SNDMNU_RANDOMIZEPITCHES",	"snd_pitched", "OnOff"
 	Slider "$SNDMNU_CHANNELS",			"snd_channels", 64, 256, 8, 0
 	StaticText " "
+	Option "$SNDMNU_BACKGROUND",			"i_soundinbackground", "OnOff"
+	StaticText " "
 
 	ifoption(openal)
 	{
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
index 89eea6bde..c0373fab0 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
@@ -417,8 +417,7 @@ class Thinker : Object native play
 	
 	static clearscope int Tics2Seconds(int tics)
 	{
-		// This compensates for one tic being slightly less than 1/35 of a second.
-		return int(tics * (0.98 / TICRATE));
+		return int(tics / TICRATE);
 	}
 
 }