diff --git a/data/core/start.lua b/data/core/start.lua
index f3bc89c6..c84d5753 100644
--- a/data/core/start.lua
+++ b/data/core/start.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ VERSION = "@PROJECT_VERSION@"
 MOD_VERSION = "2"
 
 SCALE = tonumber(os.getenv("LITE_SCALE") or os.getenv("GDK_SCALE") or os.getenv("QT_SCALE_FACTOR")) or SCALE
+SCALE = math.max(SCALE, 0.5)
 PATHSEP = package.config:sub(1, 1)
 
 EXEDIR = EXEFILE:match("^(.+)[/\\][^/\\]+$")