diff --git a/tools/jfjoch_process.cpp b/tools/jfjoch_process.cpp
index 0bb413e74..f029a06b5 100644
--- a/tools/jfjoch_process.cpp
+++ b/tools/jfjoch_process.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ void print_usage(Logger &logger) {
     logger.Info("   -w<num>    Refine image wedge during scaling with starting wedge value");
     logger.Info("   -p<num>    Minimum partiality to accept reflection (default: 0.02)");
     logger.Info("   -q<num>    Per-image CC limit in percent (default: no limit)");
+    logger.Info("   -i<num>    Number of scaling iterations with no reference data (default: 3) ");
 }
 
 void trim_in_place(std::string &t) {
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     std::string ref_mtz;
     double min_partiality = 0.02;
     double min_image_cc = 0.0;
+    int64_t scaling_iter = 3;
 
     IndexingAlgorithmEnum indexing_algorithm = IndexingAlgorithmEnum::Auto;
 
@@ -291,6 +293,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
                     exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
                 break;
+            case 'i':
+                scaling_iter = atoi(optarg);
+                if (scaling_iter <= 0) {
+                    logger.Error("Invalid scaling iteration count: {}", scaling_iter);
+                    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                }
+                break;
             default:
                 print_usage(logger);
                 exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -600,7 +609,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
             ScalingResult scale_result(0);
 
             auto scale_start = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
-            for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+            for (int i = 0; i < scaling_iter; i++) {
                 auto iter_start = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
                 auto merge_result = indexer.Merge(false, false);
                 scale_result = indexer.ScaleAllImages(merge_result.merged);
diff --git a/tools/jfjoch_scale.cpp b/tools/jfjoch_scale.cpp
index 2a8aac4ad..5c14e1a18 100644
--- a/tools/jfjoch_scale.cpp
+++ b/tools/jfjoch_scale.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ void print_usage(Logger &logger) {
     logger.Info("   -w<num>    Refine image wedge during scaling with starting wedge value");
     logger.Info("   -p<num>    Minimum partiality to accept reflection (default: 0.02)");
     logger.Info("   -q<num>    Per-image CC limit in percent (default: no limit)");
+    logger.Info("   -i<num>    Number of scaling iterations with no reference data (default: 3) ");
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     std::string ref_mtz;
     double min_partiality = 0.02;
     double min_image_cc = 0.0;
+    int64_t scaling_iter = 3;
 
     PartialityModel partiality_model = PartialityModel::Fixed;
 
@@ -139,6 +141,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
                     exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
                 break;
+            case 'i':
+                scaling_iter = atoi(optarg);
+                if (scaling_iter <= 0) {
+                    logger.Error("Invalid scaling iteration count: {}", scaling_iter);
+                    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                }
+                break;
             default:
                 print_usage(logger);
                 exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -236,7 +245,7 @@ auto mosaicity = dataset->mosaicity_deg;
     ScalingResult scale_result(0);
 
     auto scale_start = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
-    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < scaling_iter; i++) {
         auto iter_start = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
 
         if (reference_data.empty()) {