diff --git a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/FlatSystemProperties.java b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/FlatSystemProperties.java
index 7ec39204..14b76e86 100644
--- a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/FlatSystemProperties.java
+++ b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/FlatSystemProperties.java
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ public interface FlatSystemProperties
 	 * <strong>Default</strong> {@code true}
 	 */
 	String UI_SCALE_ENABLED = "flatlaf.uiScale.enabled";
+        
+        /**
+	 * Specifies whether values smaller than 1.0f are allowed for the custom scale factor.
+	 * <p>
+	 * <strong>Allowed Values</strong> {@code false} and {@code true}<br>
+	 * <strong>Default</strong> {@code false}
+	 */
+	String UI_DOWNSCALE_ENABLED = "flatlaf.uiDowncale.enabled";
 
 	/**
 	 * Specifies whether Ubuntu font should be used on Ubuntu Linux.
diff --git a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
index d2e9c269..53a539c8 100644
--- a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
+++ b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ public class UIScale
 	private static boolean isUserScalingEnabled() {
 		return FlatSystemProperties.getBoolean( FlatSystemProperties.UI_SCALE_ENABLED, true );
 	}
+        
+        private static boolean isDownscalingEnabled() {
+		return FlatSystemProperties.getBoolean( FlatSystemProperties.UI_DOWNSCALE_ENABLED, false );
+	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Applies a custom scale factor given in system property "flatlaf.uiScale"
@@ -323,7 +327,7 @@ public class UIScale
 	 * Sets the user scale factor.
 	 */
 	private static void setUserScaleFactor( float scaleFactor ) {
-		if( scaleFactor <= 1f )
+		if( ( !isDownscalingEnabled() && scaleFactor <= 1f ) || scaleFactor <= 0f )
 			scaleFactor = 1f;
 		else // round scale factor to 1/4
 			scaleFactor = Math.round( scaleFactor * 4f ) / 4f;