diff --git a/src/engine/shared/config_variables.h b/src/engine/shared/config_variables.h
index e70cdac27..0f55481fc 100644
--- a/src/engine/shared/config_variables.h
+++ b/src/engine/shared/config_variables.h
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ MACRO_CONFIG_INT(DbgCurl, dbg_curl, 0, 0, 1, CFGFLAG_CLIENT | CFGFLAG_SERVER, "D
 MACRO_CONFIG_INT(DbgGraphs, dbg_graphs, 0, 0, 1, CFGFLAG_CLIENT, "Performance graphs")
 MACRO_CONFIG_INT(DbgGfx, dbg_gfx, 0, 0, 4, CFGFLAG_CLIENT, "Show graphic library warnings and errors, if the GPU supports it (0: none, 1: minimal, 2: affects performance, 3: verbose, 4: all)")
 #ifdef CONF_DEBUG
-MACRO_CONFIG_INT(DbgStress, dbg_stress, 0, 0, 0, CFGFLAG_CLIENT | CFGFLAG_SERVER, "Stress systems (Debug build only)")
+MACRO_CONFIG_INT(DbgStress, dbg_stress, 0, 0, 1, CFGFLAG_CLIENT, "Stress systems (Debug build only)")
 MACRO_CONFIG_STR(DbgStressServer, dbg_stress_server, 32, "localhost", CFGFLAG_CLIENT, "Server to stress (Debug build only)")
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/game/server/gamecontroller.cpp b/src/game/server/gamecontroller.cpp
index 21c578e87..1d656e1c8 100644
--- a/src/game/server/gamecontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/game/server/gamecontroller.cpp
@@ -679,12 +679,6 @@ void IGameController::Snap(int SnappingClient)
 
 int IGameController::GetAutoTeam(int NotThisID)
 {
-	// this will force the auto balancer to work overtime as well
-#ifdef CONF_DEBUG
-	if(g_Config.m_DbgStress)
-		return 0;
-#endif
-
 	int aNumplayers[2] = {0, 0};
 	for(int i = 0; i < MAX_CLIENTS; i++)
 	{