diff --git a/src/g_statusbar/shared_sbar.cpp b/src/g_statusbar/shared_sbar.cpp
index a9aeb075f..15656fd5a 100644
--- a/src/g_statusbar/shared_sbar.cpp
+++ b/src/g_statusbar/shared_sbar.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ CVAR (Flag, pf_hazard,		paletteflash, PF_HAZARD)
 
 
 // Stretch status bar to full screen width?
-CUSTOM_CVAR (Int, st_scale, 0, CVAR_ARCHIVE)
+CUSTOM_CVAR (Int, st_scale, -1, CVAR_ARCHIVE)
 {
 	if (self < -1)
 	{