diff --git a/dix/dispatch.c b/dix/dispatch.c
index 4f57eac6e7..8cbfdff597 100644
--- a/dix/dispatch.c
+++ b/dix/dispatch.c
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ Equipment Corporation.
 #include "dix/screensaver_priv.h"
 #include "dix/selection_priv.h"
 #include "dix/server_priv.h"
+#include "dix/settings_priv.h"
 #include "dix/window_priv.h"
 #include "include/resource.h"
 #include "miext/extinit_priv.h"
@@ -3906,7 +3907,7 @@ ProcEstablishConnection(ClientPtr client)
 
     prefix = (xConnClientPrefix *) ((char *) stuff + sz_xReq);
 
-    if (client->swapped && !AllowByteSwappedClients) {
+    if (client->swapped && !dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients) {
         reason = "Prohibited client endianess, see the Xserver man page ";
     } else if ((client->req_len << 2) != sz_xReq + sz_xConnClientPrefix +
             pad_to_int32(prefix->nbytesAuthProto) +
diff --git a/dix/globals.c b/dix/globals.c
index 1ff8d26178..f234e29fe2 100644
--- a/dix/globals.c
+++ b/dix/globals.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "dix/cursor_priv.h"
 #include "dix/dix_priv.h"
+#include "dix/settings_priv.h"
 
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "windowstr.h"
diff --git a/dix/meson.build b/dix/meson.build
index 0c3c662b9d..c5e7114cae 100644
--- a/dix/meson.build
+++ b/dix/meson.build
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ srcs_dix = [
     'screen_hooks.c',
     'selection.c',
     'screen.c',
+    'settings.c',
     'swaprep.c',
     'swapreq.c',
     'tables.c',
diff --git a/dix/settings.c b/dix/settings.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4c36e8e3bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dix/settings.c
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * Copyright © 2024 Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ *
+ * This file holds global DIX *settings*, which might be needed by other
+ * parts, e.g. OS layer or DDX'es.
+ *
+ * Some of them might be influenced by command line args, some by xf86's
+ * config files.
+ */
+#include <dix-config.h>
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+#include "dix/settings_priv.h"
+
+bool dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients = false;
diff --git a/dix/settings_priv.h b/dix/settings_priv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4fe49bce23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dix/settings_priv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * Copyright © 2024 Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ */
+#ifndef _XSERVER_DIX_SETTINGS_H
+#define _XSERVER_DIX_SETTINGS_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+/* This file holds global DIX *settings*, which might be needed by other
+ * parts, e.g. OS layer or DDX'es.
+ *
+ * Some of them might be influenced by command line args, some by xf86's
+ * config files.
+ */
+
+extern bool dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients;
+
+#endif
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Config.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Config.c
index d5dea0edeb..21d41c2e36 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Config.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Config.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 
 #include "dix/dix_priv.h"
 #include "dix/resource_priv.h"
+#include "dix/settings_priv.h"
 #include "dix/screensaver_priv.h"
 #include "include/extinit.h"
 #include "os/log_priv.h"
@@ -753,8 +754,11 @@ configServerFlags(XF86ConfFlagsPtr flagsconf, XF86OptionPtr layoutopts)
         LogMessageVerb(X_CONFIG, 1, "Ignoring ABI Version\n");
     }
 
-    xf86GetOptValBool(FlagOptions, FLAG_ALLOW_BYTE_SWAPPED_CLIENTS, &AllowByteSwappedClients);
-    if (AllowByteSwappedClients) {
+    Bool bv = FALSE;
+    if (xf86GetOptValBool(FlagOptions, FLAG_ALLOW_BYTE_SWAPPED_CLIENTS, &bv)) {
+        dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients = bv;
+    }
+    if (dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients) {
         LogMessageVerb(X_CONFIG, 1, "Allowing byte-swapped clients\n");
     }
 
diff --git a/os/osdep.h b/os/osdep.h
index 9d2a001bbd..013d8cdb28 100644
--- a/os/osdep.h
+++ b/os/osdep.h
@@ -188,7 +188,6 @@ extern Bool PartialNetwork;
 
 extern Bool CoreDump;
 extern Bool NoListenAll;
-extern Bool AllowByteSwappedClients;
 
 /*
  * This function reallocarray(3)s passed buffer, terminating the server if
diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index 4e3422ea2b..7461ef9f87 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "dix/dix_priv.h"
 #include "dix/input_priv.h"
+#include "dix/settings_priv.h"
 #include "dix/screensaver_priv.h"
 #include "miext/extinit_priv.h"
 #include "os/audit_priv.h"
@@ -127,8 +128,6 @@ Bool CoreDump;
 
 Bool enableIndirectGLX = FALSE;
 
-Bool AllowByteSwappedClients = FALSE;
-
 #ifdef XINERAMA
 Bool PanoramiXExtensionDisabledHack = FALSE;
 #endif /* XINERAMA */
@@ -459,9 +458,9 @@ ProcessCommandLine(int argc, char *argv[])
                 UseMsg();
         }
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "-byteswappedclients") == 0) {
-            AllowByteSwappedClients = FALSE;
+            dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients = FALSE;
         } else if (strcmp(argv[i], "+byteswappedclients") == 0) {
-            AllowByteSwappedClients = TRUE;
+            dixSettingAllowByteSwappedClients = TRUE;
         }
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "-br") == 0);  /* default */
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "+bs") == 0)