diff --git a/basegraph.cpp b/basegraph.cpp
index 7ee7e632..d1b1e559 100644
--- a/basegraph.cpp
+++ b/basegraph.cpp
@@ -773,8 +773,16 @@ int colormix(int a, int b, int c) {
 
 int rhypot(int a, int b) { return (int) sqrt(a*a - b*b); }
 
+ld realradius() {
+  ld vradius = vid.radius;
+  if(sphere && vid.alphax > 1) vradius /= sqrt(vid.alphax*vid.alphax - 1);
+  if(sphere && vid.alphax <= 1) vradius = 1e12; // use the following
+  vradius = min<ld>(vradius, min(vid.xres, vid.yres) / 2);
+  return vradius;
+  }
+
 void drawmessage(const string& s, int& y, int col) {
-  int rrad = min(vid.radius, min(vid.xres, vid.yres) / 2);
+  int rrad = (int) realradius();
   int space;
   if(y > vid.ycenter + rrad)
     space = vid.xres;
diff --git a/control.cpp b/control.cpp
index d53d912e..a2c75486 100644
--- a/control.cpp
+++ b/control.cpp
@@ -759,8 +759,9 @@ void mainloop() {
 void displayabutton(int px, int py, string s, int col) {
   // TMP
   int siz = vid.yres > vid.xres ? vid.fsize*2 : vid.fsize * 3/2;
-  int vrx = min(vid.radius, vid.xres/2 - 40);
-  int vry = min(vid.radius, min(vid.ycenter, vid.yres - vid.ycenter) - 20);
+  int rad = (int) realradius();
+  int vrx = min(rad, vid.xres/2 - 40);
+  int vry = min(rad, min(vid.ycenter, vid.yres - vid.ycenter) - 20);
   int x = vid.xcenter + px * vrx;
   int y = vid.ycenter + py * (vry - siz/2);
   int vrr = int(hypot(vrx, vry) * sqrt(2.));
diff --git a/graph.cpp b/graph.cpp
index c01a8d03..9323de5d 100644
--- a/graph.cpp
+++ b/graph.cpp
@@ -5048,8 +5048,6 @@ void drawmovestar(double dx, double dy) {
 
 // old style joystick control
 
-int realradius;
-
 bool sidescreen;
 
 bool dronemode;
@@ -5059,7 +5057,7 @@ void calcparam() {
   vid.xcenter = vid.xres / 2;
   vid.ycenter = vid.yres / 2;
   
-  realradius = min(vid.xcenter, vid.ycenter);
+  int realradius = min(vid.xcenter, vid.ycenter);
 
   vid.radius = int(vid.scale * vid.ycenter) - (ISANDROID ? 2 : ISIOS ? 40 : 40);
   
diff --git a/shmup.cpp b/shmup.cpp
index b79279a4..bb3dad0e 100644
--- a/shmup.cpp
+++ b/shmup.cpp
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ extern bool clicked;
 namespace shmupballs {
   int xmove, xfire, yb, rad;
 
-  void calc() {
-    rad = min(vid.radius, min(vid.xres, vid.yres) / 2) * (vid.mobilecompasssize ? vid.mobilecompasssize : 14) / 100;
+  void calc() {      
+    rad = int(realradius() * (vid.mobilecompasssize ? vid.mobilecompasssize : 14) / 100);
     xmove = max(vid.xcenter - vid.radius - rad, rad);
     xfire = min(vid.xcenter + vid.radius + rad, vid.xres - rad);
     yb = vid.ycenter + vid.radius - rad;