diff --git a/engine/client/ref_common.c b/engine/client/ref_common.c
index 2f5a8fb6..79f8a8a1 100644
--- a/engine/client/ref_common.c
+++ b/engine/client/ref_common.c
@@ -648,6 +648,11 @@ qboolean R_Init( void )
 	r_showtree = Cvar_Get( "r_showtree", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "build the graph of visible BSP tree" );
 	r_refdll = Cvar_Get( "r_refdll", "", FCVAR_RENDERINFO|FCVAR_VIDRESTART, "choose renderer implementation, if supported" );
 
+	// cvars that are expected to exist by client.dll
+	// refdll should just get pointer to them
+	Cvar_Get( "r_drawentities", "1", FCVAR_CHEAT, "render entities" );
+	Cvar_Get( "cl_himodels", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "draw high-resolution player models in multiplayer" );
+
 	// cvars are created, execute video config
 	Cbuf_AddText( "exec video.cfg" );
 	Cbuf_Execute();
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c b/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
index 11d0123b..547ead4a 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ void GL_InitCommands( void )
 	r_dynamic = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_dynamic", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "allow dynamic lighting (dlights, lightstyles)" );
 	r_traceglow = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_traceglow", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "cull flares behind models" );
 	r_lightmap = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_lightmap", "0", FCVAR_CHEAT, "lightmap debugging tool" );
-	r_drawentities = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_drawentities", "1", FCVAR_CHEAT, "render entities" );
+	r_drawentities = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "r_drawentities", 0 );
 	r_decals = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "r_decals", 0 );
 	r_showhull = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "r_showhull", 0 );
 
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_studio.c b/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
index 8029e930..dd53eb5a 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
@@ -152,7 +152,9 @@ R_StudioInit
 */
 void R_StudioInit( void )
 {
-	cl_himodels = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "cl_himodels", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "draw high-resolution player models in multiplayer" );
+	// guaranteed to exist by engine
+	cl_himodels = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "cl_himodels", 0 );
+
 	r_studio_sort_textures = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_studio_sort_textures", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "change draw order for additive meshes" );
 	r_drawviewmodel = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_drawviewmodel", "1", 0, "draw firstperson weapon model" );
 	r_studio_drawelements = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_studio_drawelements", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "use glDrawElements for studiomodels" );
diff --git a/ref_soft/r_main.c b/ref_soft/r_main.c
index 64c3b461..a33f6713 100644
--- a/ref_soft/r_main.c
+++ b/ref_soft/r_main.c
@@ -1930,7 +1930,7 @@ qboolean GAME_EXPORT R_Init( void )
 	gl_emboss_scale = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "gl_emboss_scale", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE|FCVAR_LATCH, "fake bumpmapping scale" );
 	vid_gamma = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "gamma", 0 );
 	r_norefresh = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_norefresh", "0", 0, "disable 3D rendering (use with caution)" );
-	r_drawentities = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_drawentities", "1", FCVAR_CHEAT, "render entities" );
+	r_drawentities = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "r_drawentities", 0 );
 	vid_brightness = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "brightness", 0 );
 	r_fullbright = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_fullbright", "0", FCVAR_CHEAT, "disable lightmaps, get fullbright for entities" );
 
diff --git a/ref_soft/r_studio.c b/ref_soft/r_studio.c
index 3037e28b..03994bcd 100644
--- a/ref_soft/r_studio.c
+++ b/ref_soft/r_studio.c
@@ -149,11 +149,13 @@ R_StudioInit
 */
 void R_StudioInit( void )
 {
-	cl_himodels = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "cl_himodels", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "draw high-resolution player models in multiplayer" );
 	r_studio_sort_textures = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_studio_sort_textures", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "change draw order for additive meshes" );
 	r_drawviewmodel = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_drawviewmodel", "1", 0, "draw firstperson weapon model" );
 	r_studio_drawelements = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_studio_drawelements", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "use glDrawElements for studiomodels" );
 
+	// guaranteed to exist by engine
+	cl_himodels = gEngfuncs.pfnGetCvarPointer( "cl_himodels", 0 );
+
 	Matrix3x4_LoadIdentity( g_studio.rotationmatrix );
 	r_glowshellfreq = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_glowshellfreq", "2.2", 0, "glowing shell frequency update" );