diff --git a/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h b/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
index 4abace78b3..9f5123c12a 100644
--- a/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
+++ b/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
@@ -3300,6 +3300,20 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 #define SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_NET_WM_PING      "SDL_VIDEO_X11_NET_WM_PING"
 
+/**
+ * A variable controlling whether SDL uses DirectColor visuals.
+ *
+ * The variable can be set to the following values:
+ *
+ * - "0": Disable DirectColor visuals.
+ * - "1": Enable DirectColor visuals. (default)
+ *
+ * This hint should be set before initializing the video subsystem.
+ *
+ * \since This hint is available since SDL 3.0.0.
+ */
+#define SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_NODIRECTCOLOR "SDL_VIDEO_X11_NODIRECTCOLOR"
+
 /**
  * A variable forcing the content scaling factor for X11 displays.
  *
diff --git a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
index 5024450a9d..e255f3ce4d 100644
--- a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
+++ b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
@@ -491,7 +491,10 @@ void X11_VideoQuit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
 
 SDL_bool X11_UseDirectColorVisuals(void)
 {
-    return (SDL_getenv("SDL_VIDEO_X11_NODIRECTCOLOR") == NULL);
+    if (SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_NODIRECTCOLOR, SDL_FALSE)) {
+        return SDL_FALSE;
+    }
+    return SDL_TRUE;
 }
 
 #endif /* SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_X11 */