diff --git a/src/SDL_compat.c b/src/SDL_compat.c
index b8d675151..798728a6d 100644
--- a/src/SDL_compat.c
+++ b/src/SDL_compat.c
@@ -64,12 +64,26 @@ SDL_VideoDriverName(char *namebuf, int maxlen)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static void
+SelectVideoDisplay()
+{
+    const char *variable = SDL_getenv("SDL_VIDEO_FULLSCREEN_DISPLAY");
+    if ( !variable ) {
+        variable = SDL_getenv("SDL_VIDEO_FULLSCREEN_HEAD");
+    }
+    if ( variable ) {
+        SDL_SelectVideoDisplay(SDL_atoi(variable));
+    }
+}
+
 const SDL_VideoInfo *
 SDL_GetVideoInfo(void)
 {
     static SDL_VideoInfo info;
     SDL_DisplayMode mode;
 
+    SelectVideoDisplay();
+
     /* Memory leak, compatibility code, who cares? */
     if (!info.vfmt && SDL_GetDesktopDisplayMode(&mode) == 0) {
         int bpp;
@@ -93,6 +107,8 @@ SDL_VideoModeOK(int width, int height, int bpp, Uint32 flags)
         return 0;
     }
 
+    SelectVideoDisplay();
+
     if (!(flags & SDL_FULLSCREEN)) {
         SDL_DisplayMode mode;
         SDL_GetDesktopDisplayMode(&mode);
@@ -124,6 +140,8 @@ SDL_ListModes(const SDL_PixelFormat * format, Uint32 flags)
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    SelectVideoDisplay();
+
     if (!(flags & SDL_FULLSCREEN)) {
         return (SDL_Rect **) (-1);
     }
@@ -495,6 +513,8 @@ SDL_SetVideoMode(int width, int height, int bpp, Uint32 flags)
         }
     }
 
+    SelectVideoDisplay();
+
     SDL_GetDesktopDisplayMode(&desktop_mode);
 
     if (width == 0) {