diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index 3ec3e83ec..fdb5d2650 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -1112,20 +1112,34 @@ void D_Display ()
 				VMCall(func, params, countof(params), &ret, 1);
 				skip = !!rv;
 			}
-			if ( !skip )
+			if (!skip)
 			{
-				auto tex = TexMan.GetGameTextureByName(gameinfo.PauseSign.GetChars(), true);
-				double x = (SCREENWIDTH - tex->GetDisplayWidth() * CleanXfac)/2 +
-					tex->GetDisplayLeftOffset() * CleanXfac;
-				DrawTexture(twod, tex, x, 4, DTA_CleanNoMove, true, TAG_DONE);
+				int pausePos = 0;
+				if (gameinfo.UsePauseString)
+				{
+					FFont* font = BigFont;
+					FString pauseString = GStrings.GetString("PAUSE_STRING");
+					DrawText(twod, font, CR_RED,
+						(twod->GetWidth() - font->StringWidth(pauseString) * CleanXfac) / 2, 4, pauseString.GetChars(),
+						DTA_CleanNoMove, true, TAG_DONE);
+					pausePos = font->GetHeight() * CleanYfac + 4;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					auto tex = TexMan.GetGameTextureByName(gameinfo.PauseSign.GetChars(), true);
+					double x = (SCREENWIDTH - tex->GetDisplayWidth() * CleanXfac) / 2 +
+						tex->GetDisplayLeftOffset() * CleanXfac;
+					DrawTexture(twod, tex, x, 4, DTA_CleanNoMove, true, TAG_DONE);
+					pausePos = tex->GetDisplayHeight() * CleanYfac + 4;
+				}
 				if (paused && multiplayer)
 				{
-					FFont *font = generic_ui? NewSmallFont : SmallFont;
-					FString pstring = GStrings.GetString("TXT_BY");
-					pstring.Substitute("%s", players[paused - 1].userinfo.GetName());
+					FFont *font = generic_ui ? NewSmallFont : SmallFont;
+					FString plrString = GStrings.GetString("TXT_BY");
+					plrString.Substitute("%s", players[paused - 1].userinfo.GetName());
 					DrawText(twod, font, CR_RED,
-						(twod->GetWidth() - font->StringWidth(pstring)*CleanXfac) / 2,
-						(tex->GetDisplayHeight() * CleanYfac) + 4, pstring.GetChars(), DTA_CleanNoMove, true, TAG_DONE);
+						(twod->GetWidth() - font->StringWidth(plrString)*CleanXfac) / 2, pausePos, plrString.GetChars(),
+						DTA_CleanNoMove, true, TAG_DONE);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/gamedata/gi.cpp b/src/gamedata/gi.cpp
index dd1f3bbb5..8c41e99b9 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/gi.cpp
+++ b/src/gamedata/gi.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ void FMapInfoParser::ParseGameInfo()
 			GAMEINFOKEY_STRING(BasicArmorClass, "BasicArmorClass")
 			GAMEINFOKEY_STRING(HexenArmorClass, "HexenArmorClass")
 			GAMEINFOKEY_STRING(PauseSign, "pausesign")
+			GAMEINFOKEY_BOOL(UsePauseString, "usepausestring")
 			GAMEINFOKEY_STRING(quitSound, "quitSound")
 			GAMEINFOKEY_STRING(BorderFlat, "borderFlat")
 			GAMEINFOKEY_DOUBLE(telefogheight, "telefogheight")
diff --git a/src/gamedata/gi.h b/src/gamedata/gi.h
index f36110d2f..f20658b47 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/gi.h
+++ b/src/gamedata/gi.h
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ struct gameinfo_t
 	FName BasicArmorClass;
 	FName HexenArmorClass;
 	FString PauseSign;
+	bool UsePauseString;
 	FString Endoom;
 	double Armor2Percent;
 	FString quitSound;