diff --git a/src/host.cpp b/src/host.cpp
index f749ab6b3..38c9b94c7 100644
--- a/src/host.cpp
+++ b/src/host.cpp
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ bool ldgm_device_gpu = false;
 
 const char *window_title = NULL;
 
-int rxtx_mode; // MODE_SENDER, MODE_RECEIVER or both
-
 void print_capabilities(int mask)
 {
         if (mask & CAPABILITY_COMPRESS) {
diff --git a/src/host.h b/src/host.h
index e69793805..96908e7bd 100644
--- a/src/host.h
+++ b/src/host.h
@@ -95,9 +95,8 @@ extern bool ldgm_device_gpu;
 
 extern const char *window_title;
 
-#define MODE_SENDER   1
-#define MODE_RECEIVER 2
-extern int rxtx_mode;
+#define MODE_SENDER   (1<<0)
+#define MODE_RECEIVER (1<<1)
 
 // if not NULL, data should be exported
 extern char *export_dir;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 94aaf2f82..bd4bc1631 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -456,6 +456,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         int bitrate = RATE_AUTO;
 
+        int rxtx_mode = 0;
+
 #ifdef USE_MTRACE
         mtrace();
 #endif
@@ -970,6 +972,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                 params["parent"].ptr = &root_mod;
                 params["exporter"].ptr = video_exporter;
                 params["compression"].ptr = (void *) requested_compression;
+                params["rxtx_mode"].i = rxtx_mode;
 
                 // iHDTV
                 params["argc"].i = argc;
diff --git a/src/video_rxtx.cpp b/src/video_rxtx.cpp
index f8f0149af..7da407dcd 100644
--- a/src/video_rxtx.cpp
+++ b/src/video_rxtx.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ void register_video_rxtx(enum rxtx_protocol proto, struct video_rxtx_info info)
         (*registred_video_rxtx)[proto] = info;
 }
 
-video_rxtx::video_rxtx(map<string, param_u> const &params): m_paused(false), m_compression(NULL),
+video_rxtx::video_rxtx(map<string, param_u> const &params): m_paused(false),
+                m_rxtx_mode(params.at("rxtx_mode").i), m_compression(NULL),
                 m_video_exporter(static_cast<struct video_export *>(params.at("exporter").ptr)) {
 
         module_init_default(&m_sender_mod);
diff --git a/src/video_rxtx.h b/src/video_rxtx.h
index 2baef4b3f..4456f7ff4 100644
--- a/src/video_rxtx.h
+++ b/src/video_rxtx.h
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ protected:
         bool m_paused;
         struct module m_sender_mod;
         struct module m_receiver_mod;
+        int m_rxtx_mode;
 private:
         virtual void send_frame(struct video_frame *) = 0;
         virtual void *(*get_receiver_thread())(void *arg) = 0;
diff --git a/src/video_rxtx/rtp.cpp b/src/video_rxtx/rtp.cpp
index fabaaf335..6381a8dc3 100644
--- a/src/video_rxtx/rtp.cpp
+++ b/src/video_rxtx/rtp.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ rtp_video_rxtx::rtp_video_rxtx(map<string, param_u> const &params) :
         m_ipv6 = params.at("use_ipv6").b;
         m_requested_mcast_if = (const char *) params.at("mcast_if").ptr;
 
-        if ((rxtx_mode & MODE_RECEIVER) == 0) {
+        if ((m_rxtx_mode & MODE_RECEIVER) == 0) {
                 // do not occupy recv port if we are not receiving (note that this disables communication with
                 // our receiver, because RTCP ports are changed as well)
                 m_recv_port_number = 0;
diff --git a/src/video_rxtx/ultragrid_rtp.cpp b/src/video_rxtx/ultragrid_rtp.cpp
index 0e05215fd..c48e899ad 100644
--- a/src/video_rxtx/ultragrid_rtp.cpp
+++ b/src/video_rxtx/ultragrid_rtp.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void ultragrid_rtp_video_rxtx::receiver_process_messages()
 
                 switch (msg->type) {
                 case RECEIVER_MSG_CHANGE_RX_PORT:
-                        assert(rxtx_mode == MODE_RECEIVER); // receiver only
+                        assert(m_rxtx_mode == MODE_RECEIVER); // receiver only
                         destroy_rtp_devices(m_network_devices);
                         m_recv_port_number = msg->new_rx_port;
                         m_network_devices = initialize_network(m_requested_receiver, m_recv_port_number,