diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.cpp b/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.cpp
index 6bb8503f7f..9c397ec4fc 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.cpp
@@ -546,6 +546,11 @@ static std::string GenEngineConstants() {
 			AddDefine( str, "r_ShowParallelShadowSplits", 1 );
 	}
 
+	if ( r_dynamicLight->integer )
+	{
+		AddDefine( str, "r_dynamicLight", r_dynamicLight->integer );
+	}
+
 	if ( r_precomputedLighting->integer )
 		AddDefine( str, "r_precomputedLighting", 1 );
 
@@ -774,6 +779,11 @@ bool GLShaderManager::buildPermutation( GLShader *shader, int macroIndex, int de
 			if( !baseShader->VS || !baseShader->FS )
 				CompileGPUShaders( shader, baseShader, compileMacros );
 
+			if ( baseShader->unusedPermutation )
+			{
+				return true;
+			}
+
 			glAttachShader( shaderProgram->program, baseShader->VS );
 			glAttachShader( shaderProgram->program, _deformShaders[ deformIndex ] );
 			glAttachShader( shaderProgram->program, baseShader->FS );
@@ -806,6 +816,42 @@ void GLShaderManager::buildAll()
 	while ( !_shaderBuildQueue.empty() )
 	{
 		GLShader& shader = *_shaderBuildQueue.front();
+
+		std::string shaderName = shader.GetMainShaderName();
+
+		/* NOTE: motionblur is enabled by cg_motionblur which is a client cvar
+		so we have to build it in all cases. */
+		if ( shaderName == "forwardLighting" && r_dynamicLight->integer != 1 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if ( shaderName == "reflection_CB" && r_reflectionMapping->integer == 0 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if ( shaderName == "liquid" && r_liquidMapping->integer == 0 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if ( shaderName == "heatHaze" && r_heatHaze->integer == 0 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if ( shaderName == "fxaa" && r_FXAA->integer == 0 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if ( shaderName == "bloom" && r_bloom->integer != 1 )
+		{
+			_shaderBuildQueue.pop();
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		size_t numPermutations = static_cast<size_t>(1) << shader.GetNumOfCompiledMacros();
 		size_t i;
 
@@ -990,6 +1036,7 @@ void GLShaderManager::CompileGPUShaders( GLShader *shader, shaderProgram_t *prog
 		const char **compileMacrosP = &compileMacros_;
 		char       *token;
 
+		// Do not build shader macro permutations that will never be used.
 		while ( true )
 		{
 			token = COM_ParseExt2( compileMacrosP, false );
@@ -999,10 +1046,54 @@ void GLShaderManager::CompileGPUShaders( GLShader *shader, shaderProgram_t *prog
 				break;
 			}
 
+			/* FIXME: add this test: ( strcmp( token, "USE_TCGEN_LIGHTMAP" ) == 0 && r_lightMapping->integer == 0 )
+			when lightmaps are never used when lightmapping is disabled
+			see https://github.com/DaemonEngine/Daemon/issues/296 is fixed */
+			if ( strcmp( token, "USE_LIGHT_MAPPING" ) == 0 && r_vertexLighting->integer != 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_NORMAL_MAPPING" ) == 0 && r_normalMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_DELUXE_MAPPING" ) == 0 && r_deluxeMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING" ) == 0 && r_physicalMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			/* FIXME: add to the following test: && r_physicalMapping->integer == 0
+			when reflective specular is implemented for physical mapping too
+			see https://github.com/DaemonEngine/Daemon/issues/355 */
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR" ) == 0 && r_specularMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_RELIEF_MAPPING" ) == 0 && r_reliefMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+			else if ( strcmp( token, "USE_HEIGHTMAP_IN_NORMALMAP" ) == 0 && r_reliefMapping->integer == 0 && r_normalMapping->integer == 0 )
+			{
+				program->unusedPermutation = true;
+				return;
+			}
+
 			macrosString += Str::Format( "#ifndef %s\n#define %s 1\n#endif\n", token, token );
 		}
 	}
 
+	program->unusedPermutation = false;
+
 	Log::Debug( "building %s shader permutation with macro: %s",
 		shader->GetMainShaderName(),
 		compileMacros.empty() ? "none" : compileMacros );
@@ -1031,6 +1122,11 @@ void GLShaderManager::CompileAndLinkGPUShaderProgram( GLShader *shader, shaderPr
 {
 	GLShaderManager::CompileGPUShaders( shader, program, compileMacros );
 
+	if ( program->unusedPermutation )
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
 	glAttachShader( program->program, program->VS );
 	glAttachShader( program->program, _deformShaders[ deformIndex ] );
 	glAttachShader( program->program, program->FS );
@@ -1205,7 +1301,7 @@ bool GLCompileMacro_USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR::HasConflictingMacros( size_t permut
 {
 	for (const GLCompileMacro* macro : macros)
 	{
-		if ( ( permutation & macro->GetBit() ) != 0 && (macro->GetType() == USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING || macro->GetType() == USE_VERTEX_SPRITE) )
+		if ( ( permutation & macro->GetBit() ) != 0 && (macro->GetType() == USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING || macro->GetType() == USE_VERTEX_SPRITE) )
 		{
 			//Log::Notice("conflicting macro! canceling '%s' vs. '%s'", GetName(), macro->GetName());
 			return true;
@@ -1490,7 +1586,7 @@ GLShader_lightMapping::GLShader_lightMapping( GLShaderManager *manager ) :
 	GLCompileMacro_USE_HEIGHTMAP_IN_NORMALMAP( this ),
 	GLCompileMacro_USE_RELIEF_MAPPING( this ),
 	GLCompileMacro_USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR( this ),
-	GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING( this )
+	GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING( this )
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.h b/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.h
index ea2e6c1b41..bb90ae6624 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.h
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/gl_shader.h
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ class GLCompileMacro
 	  USE_SHADOWING,
 	  LIGHT_DIRECTIONAL,
 	  USE_DEPTH_FADE,
-	  USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING,
+	  USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING,
 	  USE_ALPHA_TESTING
 	};
 
@@ -1215,23 +1215,23 @@ class GLCompileMacro_USE_DEPTH_FADE :
 	}
 };
 
-class GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING :
+class GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING :
 	GLCompileMacro
 {
 public:
-	GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING( GLShader *shader ) :
+	GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING( GLShader *shader ) :
 		GLCompileMacro( shader )
 	{
 	}
 
 	const char *GetName() const
 	{
-		return "USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING";
+		return "USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING";
 	}
 
 	EGLCompileMacro GetType() const
 	{
-		return USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING;
+		return USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING;
 	}
 
 	void SetPhysicalShading( bool enable )
@@ -2247,7 +2247,7 @@ class GLShader_lightMapping :
 	public GLCompileMacro_USE_HEIGHTMAP_IN_NORMALMAP,
 	public GLCompileMacro_USE_RELIEF_MAPPING,
 	public GLCompileMacro_USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR,
-	public GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING
+	public GLCompileMacro_USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING
 {
 public:
 	GLShader_lightMapping( GLShaderManager *manager );
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/computeLight_fp.glsl b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/computeLight_fp.glsl
index 7843001f06..a338055dd5 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/computeLight_fp.glsl
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/computeLight_fp.glsl
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ uniform samplerCube u_EnvironmentMap1;
 uniform float u_EnvironmentInterpolation;
 #endif // USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR
 
+#ifdef HAVE_ARB_uniform_buffer_object
 struct light {
   vec4  center_radius;
   vec4  color_type;
   vec4  direction_angle;
 };
 
-#ifdef HAVE_ARB_uniform_buffer_object
 layout(std140) uniform u_Lights {
   light lights[ MAX_REF_LIGHTS ];
 };
@@ -67,9 +67,12 @@ void computeLight( vec3 lightDir, vec3 normal, vec3 viewDir, vec3 lightColor,
 		   vec4 diffuseColor, vec4 materialColor,
 		   inout vec4 color ) {
   vec3 H = normalize( lightDir + viewDir );
+
+#if defined(USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING) || defined(r_specularMapping)
   float NdotH = clamp( dot( normal, H ), 0.0, 1.0 );
+#endif // USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING || r_specularMapping
 
-#if defined(r_physicalMapping) && defined(USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING)
+#if defined(USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING)
   // Daemon PBR packing defaults to ORM like glTF 2.0 defines
   // https://www.khronos.org/blog/art-pipeline-for-gltf
   // > ORM texture for Occlusion, Roughness, and Metallic
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ void computeLight( vec3 lightDir, vec3 normal, vec3 viewDir, vec3 lightColor,
   color.rgb += lightColor.rgb * (1.0 - metalness) * NdotL * diffuseColor.rgb;
   color.rgb += lightColor.rgb * vec3((D * F * G) / (4.0 * NdotV));
   color.a = mix(diffuseColor.a, 1.0, FexpNV);
-#else // !r_physicalMapping || !USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING
+#else // !USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING
   float NdotL = dot( normal, lightDir );
 #if defined(r_HalfLambertLighting)
   // http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Half_Lambert
@@ -124,10 +127,10 @@ void computeLight( vec3 lightDir, vec3 normal, vec3 viewDir, vec3 lightColor,
 #endif // USE_REFLECTIVE_SPECULAR
 
   color.rgb += diffuseColor.rgb * lightColor.rgb * NdotL;
-#if defined(r_specularMapping) && !defined(USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING)
+#if defined(r_specularMapping)
   color.rgb += materialColor.rgb * lightColor.rgb * pow( NdotH, u_SpecularExponent.x * materialColor.a + u_SpecularExponent.y) * r_SpecularScale;
-#endif // r_specularMapping && !USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING&
-#endif // !r_physicalMapping || !USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING
+#endif // r_specularMapping
+#endif // !USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING
 }
 
 #if defined(TEXTURE_INTEGER)
@@ -159,6 +162,7 @@ int nextIdx( inout idxs_t idxs ) {
 
 const int numLayers = MAX_REF_LIGHTS / 256;
 
+#if defined(r_dynamicLight)
 void computeDLight( int idx, vec3 P, vec3 normal, vec3 viewDir, vec4 diffuse,
 		    vec4 material, inout vec4 color ) {
   vec4 center_radius = GetLight( idx, center_radius );
@@ -231,3 +235,4 @@ void computeDLights( vec3 P, vec3 normal, vec3 viewDir, vec4 diffuse, vec4 mater
   }
 #endif
 }
+#endif
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/forwardLighting_fp.glsl b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/forwardLighting_fp.glsl
index 3e5a635c4d..a5219e9c81 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/forwardLighting_fp.glsl
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/forwardLighting_fp.glsl
@@ -975,13 +975,13 @@ void	main()
 	}
 	diffuse.rgb *= u_LightColor * NL;
 
-#if !defined(USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING)
+#if !defined(USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING)
 #if defined(r_specularMapping)
 	// compute the specular term
 	vec4 spec = texture2D(u_MaterialMap, texCoords).rgba;
 	vec3 specular = spec.rgb * u_LightColor * pow(clamp(dot(normal, H), 0.0, 1.0), u_SpecularExponent.x * spec.a + u_SpecularExponent.y) * r_SpecularScale;
 #endif // r_specularMapping
-#endif // !USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING
+#endif // !USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING
 
 	// compute light attenuation
 #if defined(LIGHT_PROJ)
@@ -1000,11 +1000,11 @@ void	main()
 	// compute final color
 	vec4 color = diffuse;
 
-#if !defined(USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING)
+#if !defined(USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING)
 #if defined(r_specularMapping)
 	color.rgb += specular;
 #endif // r_specularMapping
-#endif // !USE_PHYSICAL_SHADING
+#endif // !USE_PHYSICAL_MAPPING
 
 #if !defined(LIGHT_DIRECTIONAL)
 	color.rgb *= attenuationXY;
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/lightMapping_fp.glsl b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/lightMapping_fp.glsl
index 651d0777a6..72ca1755f1 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/lightMapping_fp.glsl
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/glsl_source/lightMapping_fp.glsl
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ void main()
 		computeLight(lightDir, normal, viewDir, lightColor, diffuse, material, color);
 	#endif
 
-	// Blend dynamic lights.
-	computeDLights(var_Position, normal, viewDir, diffuse, material, color);
+	#if defined(r_dynamicLight)
+		// Blend dynamic lights.
+		computeDLights(var_Position, normal, viewDir, diffuse, material, color);
+	#endif
 
 	// Add Rim Lighting to highlight the edges on model entities.
 	#if defined(r_RimLighting) && !defined(USE_BSP_SURFACE) && !defined(USE_LIGHT_MAPPING)
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/tr_init.cpp b/src/engine/renderer/tr_init.cpp
index 9c880a2521..497d75fe21 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/tr_init.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/tr_init.cpp
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ ScreenshotCmd screenshotPNGRegistration("screenshotPNG", ssFormat_t::SSF_PNG, "p
 		r_precomputedLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_precomputedLighting", "1", CVAR_LATCH );
 		r_vertexLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_vertexLighting", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_exportTextures = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_exportTextures", "0", 0 );
-		r_heatHaze = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_heatHaze", "1", 0 );
+		r_heatHaze = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_heatHaze", "1", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_noMarksOnTrisurfs = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_noMarksOnTrisurfs", "1", CVAR_CHEAT );
 		r_lazyShaders = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_lazyShaders", "0", 0 );
 
@@ -1131,11 +1131,11 @@ ScreenshotCmd screenshotPNGRegistration("screenshotPNG", ssFormat_t::SSF_PNG, "p
 
 		r_printShaders = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_printShaders", "0", 0 );
 
-		r_bloom = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_bloom", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
+		r_bloom = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_bloom", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_bloomBlur = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_bloomBlur", "1.0", CVAR_CHEAT );
 		r_bloomPasses = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_bloomPasses", "2", CVAR_CHEAT );
-		r_FXAA = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_FXAA", "0", 0 );
-		r_ssao = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_ssao", "0", CVAR_LATCH );
+		r_FXAA = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_FXAA", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
+		r_ssao = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_ssao", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 
 		// temporary variables that can change at any time
 		r_showImages = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_showImages", "0", CVAR_TEMP );
@@ -1148,7 +1148,7 @@ ScreenshotCmd screenshotPNGRegistration("screenshotPNG", ssFormat_t::SSF_PNG, "p
 
 		r_noLightVisCull = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_noLightVisCull", "0", CVAR_CHEAT );
 		r_noInteractionSort = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_noInteractionSort", "0", CVAR_CHEAT );
-		r_dynamicLight = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_dynamicLight", "2", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
+		r_dynamicLight = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_dynamicLight", "2", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_staticLight = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_staticLight", "2", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_drawworld = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_drawworld", "1", CVAR_CHEAT );
 		r_portalOnly = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_portalOnly", "0", CVAR_CHEAT );
@@ -1187,14 +1187,14 @@ ScreenshotCmd screenshotPNGRegistration("screenshotPNG", ssFormat_t::SSF_PNG, "p
 		r_normalScale = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_normalScale", "1.0", CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_normalMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_normalMapping", "1", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_highQualityNormalMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_highQualityNormalMapping", "0",  CVAR_LATCH );
-		r_liquidMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_liquidMapping", "0", CVAR_LATCH );
+		r_liquidMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_liquidMapping", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_reliefDepthScale = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_reliefDepthScale", "0.03", CVAR_CHEAT );
 		r_reliefMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_reliefMapping", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_glowMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_glowMapping", "1", CVAR_LATCH );
-		r_reflectionMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_reflectionMapping", "0", CVAR_CHEAT );
+		r_reflectionMapping = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_reflectionMapping", "0", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 
 		r_wrapAroundLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_wrapAroundLighting", "0.7", CVAR_CHEAT | CVAR_LATCH );
-		r_halfLambertLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_halfLambertLighting", "1", CVAR_CHEAT | CVAR_LATCH );
+		r_halfLambertLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_halfLambertLighting", "1", CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_rimLighting = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_rimLighting", "0",  CVAR_LATCH | CVAR_ARCHIVE );
 		r_rimExponent = ri.Cvar_Get( "r_rimExponent", "3", CVAR_CHEAT | CVAR_LATCH );
 		AssertCvarRange( r_rimExponent, 0.5, 8.0, false );
diff --git a/src/engine/renderer/tr_local.h b/src/engine/renderer/tr_local.h
index 4fef98ec13..873f9e3626 100644
--- a/src/engine/renderer/tr_local.h
+++ b/src/engine/renderer/tr_local.h
@@ -1372,6 +1372,11 @@ static inline void halfToFloat( const f16vec4_t in, vec4_t out )
 // GLSL vertex and one GLSL fragment shader
 	struct shaderProgram_t
 	{
+		/* If this shader program permutation implements a disabled feature,
+		it will not be built. This boolean makes possible to ignore such
+		programs at link time. */
+		bool      unusedPermutation;
+
 		GLuint    program;
 		GLuint    VS, FS;
 		uint32_t  attribs; // vertex array attributes