diff --git a/src/d_player.h b/src/d_player.h
index 4eb207fa9..4acae8ac8 100644
--- a/src/d_player.h
+++ b/src/d_player.h
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ public:
 	TObjPtr<AActor*> MUSINFOactor = nullptr;		// For MUSINFO purposes
 	int8_t		MUSINFOtics = 0;
 
-	bool		settings_controller = true;	// Player can control game settings.
+	bool		settings_controller = false;	// Player can control game settings.
 	int8_t		crouching = 0;
 	int8_t		crouchdir = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/g_game.cpp b/src/g_game.cpp
index b0c09d993..56ccd46b2 100644
--- a/src/g_game.cpp
+++ b/src/g_game.cpp
@@ -1285,6 +1285,7 @@ void G_PlayerReborn (int player)
 	log = p->LogText;
 	chasecam = p->cheats & CF_CHASECAM;
 	Bot = p->Bot;			//Added by MC:
+	const bool settings_controller = p->settings_controller;
 
 	// Reset player structure to its defaults
 	p->~player_t();
@@ -1303,6 +1304,7 @@ void G_PlayerReborn (int player)
 	p->LogText = log;
 	p->cheats |= chasecam;
 	p->Bot = Bot;			//Added by MC:
+	p->settings_controller = settings_controller;
 
 	p->oldbuttons = ~0, p->attackdown = true; p->usedown = true;	// don't do anything immediately
 	p->original_oldbuttons = ~0;