diff --git a/src/CLI.cpp b/src/CLI.cpp
index fc193ba7f..1c29c09aa 100644
--- a/src/CLI.cpp
+++ b/src/CLI.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 extern Context context;
 
 // Overridden by rc.abbreviation.minimum.
-static int minimumMatchLength = 3;
+int CLI::minimumMatchLength = 3;
 
 // Alias expansion limit. Any more indicates some kind of error.
 static int safetyValveDefault = 10;
diff --git a/src/CLI.h b/src/CLI.h
index c015a3b3e..985d63fe6 100644
--- a/src/CLI.h
+++ b/src/CLI.h
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ public:
 // Represents the command line.
 class CLI
 {
+public:
+  static int minimumMatchLength;
+
 public:
   CLI ();
   ~CLI ();
diff --git a/src/Context.cpp b/src/Context.cpp
index b1d23756b..515a899c7 100644
--- a/src/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/Context.cpp
@@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ void Context::getLimits (int& rows, int& lines)
 // easier, it has been decoupled from Context.
 void Context::staticInitialization ()
 {
+  CLI::minimumMatchLength   = config.getInteger ("abbreviation.minimum");
+
   Task::defaultProject      = config.get ("default.project");
   Task::defaultPriority     = config.get ("default.priority");
   Task::defaultDue          = config.get ("default.due");