diff --git a/babeld.c b/babeld.c
index 78467eca..ceb5a824 100644
--- a/babeld.c
+++ b/babeld.c
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ time_t reboot_time;
 
 int link_detect = 0;
 int all_wireless = 0;
-int wireless_hello_interval = -1;
-int wired_hello_interval = -1;
+int default_wireless_hello_interval = -1;
+int default_wired_hello_interval = -1;
 int resend_delay = -1;
 int do_daemonise = 0;
 char *logfile = NULL, *pidfile = "/var/run/babeld.pid";
@@ -148,14 +148,15 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
             protocol_port = atoi(optarg);
             break;
         case 'h':
-            wireless_hello_interval = parse_msec(optarg);
-            if(wireless_hello_interval <= 0 ||
-               wireless_hello_interval > 0xFFFF * 10)
+            default_wireless_hello_interval = parse_msec(optarg);
+            if(default_wireless_hello_interval <= 0 ||
+               default_wireless_hello_interval > 0xFFFF * 10)
                 goto usage;
             break;
         case 'H':
-            wired_hello_interval = parse_msec(optarg);
-            if(wired_hello_interval <= 0 || wired_hello_interval > 0xFFFF * 10)
+            default_wired_hello_interval = parse_msec(optarg);
+            if(default_wired_hello_interval <= 0 ||
+               default_wired_hello_interval > 0xFFFF * 10)
                 goto usage;
             break;
         case 'k':
@@ -261,17 +262,17 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
                     "Warning: /etc/babel.conf exists, it will be ignored.\n");
     }
 
-    if(wireless_hello_interval <= 0)
-        wireless_hello_interval = 4000;
-    wireless_hello_interval = MAX(wireless_hello_interval, 5);
+    if(default_wireless_hello_interval <= 0)
+        default_wireless_hello_interval = 4000;
+    default_wireless_hello_interval = MAX(default_wireless_hello_interval, 5);
 
-    if(wired_hello_interval <= 0)
-        wired_hello_interval = 4000;
-    wired_hello_interval = MAX(wired_hello_interval, 5);
+    if(default_wired_hello_interval <= 0)
+        default_wired_hello_interval = 4000;
+    default_wired_hello_interval = MAX(default_wired_hello_interval, 5);
 
     resend_delay = 2000;
-    resend_delay = MIN(resend_delay, wireless_hello_interval / 2);
-    resend_delay = MIN(resend_delay, wired_hello_interval / 2);
+    resend_delay = MIN(resend_delay, default_wireless_hello_interval / 2);
+    resend_delay = MIN(resend_delay, default_wired_hello_interval / 2);
     resend_delay = MAX(resend_delay, 20);
 
     if(parasitic && allow_duplicates >= 0) {
diff --git a/babeld.h b/babeld.h
index 39717218..6a53a0da 100644
--- a/babeld.h
+++ b/babeld.h
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 extern struct timeval now;
 extern int debug;
 extern time_t reboot_time;
-extern int wireless_hello_interval, wired_hello_interval;
+extern int default_wireless_hello_interval, default_wired_hello_interval;
 extern int resend_delay;
 extern int link_detect;
 extern int all_wireless;
diff --git a/interface.c b/interface.c
index d724e848..e61c7cbd 100644
--- a/interface.c
+++ b/interface.c
@@ -294,9 +294,9 @@ interface_up(struct interface *ifp, int up)
         if(IF_CONF(ifp, hello_interval) > 0)
             ifp->hello_interval = IF_CONF(ifp, hello_interval);
         else if((ifp->flags & IF_WIRED))
-            ifp->hello_interval = wired_hello_interval;
+            ifp->hello_interval = default_wired_hello_interval;
         else
-            ifp->hello_interval = wireless_hello_interval;
+            ifp->hello_interval = default_wireless_hello_interval;
 
         ifp->update_interval =
             IF_CONF(ifp, update_interval) > 0 ?