diff --git a/src/conky.c b/src/conky.c
index afe3da0a..c6eeca79 100644
--- a/src/conky.c
+++ b/src/conky.c
@@ -1289,12 +1289,14 @@ int draw_each_line_inner(char *s, int special_index, int last_special_applied)
 				case BAR:
 				{
 					int h, bar_usage, by;
+					float scale;
 					if (cur_x - text_start_x > maximum_width
 							&& maximum_width > 0) {
 						break;
 					}
 					h = specials[special_index].height;
 					bar_usage = specials[special_index].arg;
+					scale = specials[special_index].graph_scale;
 					by = cur_y - (font_ascent() / 2) - 1;
 
 					if (h < font_h) {
@@ -1314,7 +1316,7 @@ int draw_each_line_inner(char *s, int special_index, int last_special_applied)
 					XDrawRectangle(display, window.drawable, window.gc, cur_x,
 						by, w, h);
 					XFillRectangle(display, window.drawable, window.gc, cur_x,
-						by, w * bar_usage / 255, h);
+						by, w * bar_usage / scale, h);
 					if (h > cur_y_add
 							&& h > font_h) {
 						cur_y_add = h;
@@ -1329,6 +1331,7 @@ int draw_each_line_inner(char *s, int special_index, int last_special_applied)
 #ifdef MATH
 					float angle, px, py;
 					int usage;
+					float scale;
 #endif /* MATH */
 
 					if (cur_x - text_start_x > maximum_width
@@ -1358,7 +1361,8 @@ int draw_each_line_inner(char *s, int special_index, int last_special_applied)
 
 #ifdef MATH
 					usage = specials[special_index].arg;
-					angle = (M_PI)*(float)(usage)/255.;
+					scale = specials[special_index].graph_scale;
+					angle = (M_PI)*(float)(usage)/scale;
 					px = (float)(cur_x+(w/2.))-(float)(w/2.)*cos(angle);
 					py = (float)(by+(h))-(float)(h)*sin(angle);
 
diff --git a/src/core.c b/src/core.c
index 6f4b09cd..0d8415a1 100644
--- a/src/core.c
+++ b/src/core.c
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(battery_bar, 0)
 		char bat[64];
 		if (arg) {
-			arg = scan_bar(obj, arg);
+			arg = scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 			sscanf(arg, "%63s", bat);
 		} else {
 			strcpy(bat, "BAT0");
@@ -407,12 +407,12 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		DBGP2("Adding $cpu for CPU %d", obj->data.i);
 	END OBJ(cpugauge, &update_cpu_usage)
 		SCAN_CPU(arg, obj->data.i);
-		scan_gauge(obj, arg);
+		scan_gauge(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.gaugeval = &cpu_barval;
 		DBGP2("Adding $cpugauge for CPU %d", obj->data.i);
 	END OBJ(cpubar, &update_cpu_usage)
 		SCAN_CPU(arg, obj->data.i);
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &cpu_barval;
 		DBGP2("Adding $cpubar for CPU %d", obj->data.i);
 #ifdef X11
@@ -812,10 +812,10 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(memperc, &update_meminfo)
 		obj->callbacks.percentage = &mem_percentage;
 	END OBJ(memgauge, &update_meminfo)
-		scan_gauge(obj, arg);
+		scan_gauge(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.gaugeval = &mem_barval;
 	END OBJ(membar, &update_meminfo)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &mem_barval;
 #ifdef X11
 	END OBJ(memgraph, &update_meminfo)
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(swapperc, &update_meminfo)
 		obj->callbacks.percentage = &swap_percentage;
 	END OBJ(swapbar, &update_meminfo)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &swap_barval;
 	/* XXX: swapgraph, swapgauge? */
 	END OBJ(sysname, 0)
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 			NORM_ERR("first argument to smapi_bat_bar must be an integer value");
 			obj->data.i = -1;
 		} else
-			arg = scan_bar(obj, arg + cnt);
+			arg = scan_bar(obj, arg + cnt, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &smapi_bat_barval;
 #endif /* IBM */
 #ifdef MPD
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_mpd_status;
 		obj->callbacks.free = &free_mpd;
 	END OBJ(mpd_bar, &update_mpd)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		init_mpd();
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &mpd_barval;
 		obj->callbacks.free = &free_mpd;
@@ -1340,7 +1340,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_xmms2_percent;
 		obj->callbacks.free = &free_xmms2;
 	END OBJ(xmms2_bar, &update_xmms2)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &xmms2_barval;
 		obj->callbacks.free = &free_xmms2;
 	END OBJ(xmms2_smart, &update_xmms2)
@@ -1390,7 +1390,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(audacious_main_volume, &update_audacious)
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_audacious_main_volume;
 	END OBJ(audacious_bar, &update_audacious)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &audacious_barval;
 #endif /* AUDACIOUS */
 #ifdef BMPX
@@ -1449,7 +1449,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_lua_parse;
 		obj->callbacks.free = &gen_free_opaque;
 	END OBJ_ARG(lua_bar, 0, "lua_bar needs arguments: <height>,<width> <function name> [function parameters]")
-		arg = scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		arg = scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		if(arg) {
 			obj->data.s = strndup(arg, text_buffer_size);
 		} else {
@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 #ifdef X11
 	END OBJ_ARG(lua_graph, 0, "lua_graph needs arguments: <function name> [height],[width] [gradient colour 1] [gradient colour 2] [scale] [-t] [-l]")
 		char *buf = 0;
-		buf = scan_graph(obj, arg, 0);
+		buf = scan_graph(obj, arg, 255);
 		if (buf) {
 			obj->data.s = buf;
 		} else {
@@ -1470,7 +1470,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 		obj->callbacks.free = &gen_free_opaque;
 #endif /* X11 */
 	END OBJ_ARG(lua_gauge, 0, "lua_gauge needs arguments: <height>,<width> <function name> [function parameters]")
-		arg = scan_gauge(obj, arg);
+		arg = scan_gauge(obj, arg, 255);
 		if (arg) {
 			obj->data.s = strndup(arg, text_buffer_size);
 		} else {
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(entropy_poolsize, &update_entropy)
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_entropy_poolsize;
 	END OBJ(entropy_bar, &update_entropy)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &entropy_barval;
 	END OBJ_ARG(include, 0, "include needs a argument")
 		struct conftree *leaf = conftree_add(currentconffile, arg);
@@ -1571,17 +1571,17 @@ struct text_object *construct_text_object(const char *s, const char *arg, long
 	END OBJ(apcupsd_load, &update_apcupsd)
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_apcupsd_load;
 	END OBJ(apcupsd_loadbar, &update_apcupsd)
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.barval = &apcupsd_loadbarval;
 #ifdef X11
 	END OBJ(apcupsd_loadgraph, &update_apcupsd)
 		char* buf = 0;
-		buf = scan_graph(obj, arg, 0);
+		buf = scan_graph(obj, arg, 255);
 		if (buf) free(buf);
 		obj->callbacks.graphval = &apcupsd_loadbarval;
 #endif /* X11 */
 	END OBJ(apcupsd_loadgauge, &update_apcupsd)
-		scan_gauge(obj, arg);
+		scan_gauge(obj, arg, 255);
 		obj->callbacks.gaugeval = &apcupsd_loadbarval;
 	END OBJ(apcupsd_charge, &update_apcupsd)
 		obj->callbacks.print = &print_apcupsd_charge;
diff --git a/src/fs.c b/src/fs.c
index a899b243..15196980 100644
--- a/src/fs.c
+++ b/src/fs.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ void get_fs_type(const char *path, char *result)
 
 void init_fs_bar(struct text_object *obj, const char *arg)
 {
-	arg = scan_bar(obj, arg);
+	arg = scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 	if (arg) {
 		while (isspace(*arg)) {
 			arg++;
diff --git a/src/mixer.c b/src/mixer.c
index 655e4dbb..81a4ef23 100644
--- a/src/mixer.c
+++ b/src/mixer.c
@@ -313,10 +313,10 @@ void scan_mixer_bar(struct text_object *obj, const char *arg)
 
 	if (arg && sscanf(arg, "%63s %n", buf1, &n) >= 1) {
 		obj->data.i = mixer_init(buf1);
-		scan_bar(obj, arg + n);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg + n, 255);
 	} else {
 		obj->data.i = mixer_init(NULL);
-		scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		scan_bar(obj, arg, 255);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/net_stat.c b/src/net_stat.c
index 33068e49..d6d69ec7 100644
--- a/src/net_stat.c
+++ b/src/net_stat.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void parse_net_stat_arg(struct text_object *obj, const char *arg, void *free_at_
 void parse_net_stat_bar_arg(struct text_object *obj, const char *arg, void *free_at_crash)
 {
 	if (arg) {
-		arg = scan_bar(obj, arg);
+		arg = scan_bar(obj, arg, 0);
 		obj->data.opaque = get_net_stat(arg, obj, free_at_crash);
 	} else {
 		// default to DEFAULTNETDEV
diff --git a/src/specials.c b/src/specials.c
index 92de494a..3f905c0a 100644
--- a/src/specials.c
+++ b/src/specials.c
@@ -51,24 +51,31 @@ int default_graph_width = 0, default_graph_height = 25;
 #endif /* X11 */
 int default_gauge_width = 40, default_gauge_height = 25;
 
+/* special data types flags */
+#define SF_SCALED	(1 << 0)
+#define SF_SHOWLOG	(1 << 1)
+
 /*
  * Special data typedefs
  */
 
 struct bar {
+	char flags;
 	int width, height;
 	unsigned int scale;
 };
 
 struct gauge {
+	char flags;
 	int width, height;
 	unsigned int scale;
 };
 
 struct graph {
+	char flags;
 	int width, height;
 	unsigned int first_colour, last_colour;
-	unsigned int scale, showaslog;
+	unsigned int scale;
 	char tempgrad;
 };
 
@@ -84,7 +91,7 @@ struct tab {
  * Scanning arguments to various special text objects
  */
 
-const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *obj, const char *args)
+const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *obj, const char *args, unsigned int scale)
 {
 	struct gauge *g;
 
@@ -95,6 +102,11 @@ const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *obj, const char *args)
 	g->width = default_gauge_width;
 	g->height = default_gauge_height;
 
+	if (scale)
+		g->scale = scale;
+	else
+		g->flags |= SF_SCALED;
+
 	/* gauge's argument is either height or height,width */
 	if (args) {
 		int n = 0;
@@ -111,7 +123,7 @@ const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *obj, const char *args)
 	return args;
 }
 
-const char *scan_bar(struct text_object *obj, const char *args)
+const char *scan_bar(struct text_object *obj, const char *args, unsigned int scale)
 {
 	struct bar *b;
 
@@ -121,6 +133,12 @@ const char *scan_bar(struct text_object *obj, const char *args)
 	/* zero width means all space that is available */
 	b->width = default_bar_width;
 	b->height = default_bar_height;
+
+	if (scale)
+		b->scale = scale;
+	else
+		b->flags |= SF_SCALED;
+
 	/* bar's argument is either height or height,width */
 	if (args) {
 		int n = 0;
@@ -159,13 +177,12 @@ char *scan_graph(struct text_object *obj, const char *args, int defscale)
 	g->last_colour = 0;
 	g->scale = defscale;
 	g->tempgrad = FALSE;
-	g->showaslog = FALSE;
 	if (args) {
 		if (strstr(args, " "TEMPGRAD) || strncmp(args, TEMPGRAD, strlen(TEMPGRAD)) == 0) {
 			g->tempgrad = TRUE;
 		}
 		if (strstr(args, " "LOGGRAPH) || strncmp(args, LOGGRAPH, strlen(LOGGRAPH)) == 0) {
-			g->showaslog = TRUE;
+			g->flags |= SF_SHOWLOG;
 		}
 		if (sscanf(args, "%d,%d %x %x %u", &g->height, &g->width, &g->first_colour, &g->last_colour, &g->scale) == 5) {
 			return NULL;
@@ -245,9 +262,9 @@ static struct special_t *new_special(char *buf, enum special_types t)
 void new_gauge_in_shell(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size, int usage)
 {
 	static const char *gaugevals[] = { "_. ", "\\. ", " | ", " ./", " ._" };
-	(void)obj;
+	struct gauge *g = obj->special_data;
 
-	snprintf(p, p_max_size, "%s", gaugevals[round_to_int((double)usage * 4 / 255)]);
+	snprintf(p, p_max_size, "%s", gaugevals[round_to_int((double)usage * 4 / g->scale)]);
 }
 
 #ifdef X11
@@ -267,15 +284,21 @@ void new_gauge_in_x11(struct text_object *obj, char *buf, int usage)
 	s->arg = usage;
 	s->width = g->width;
 	s->height = g->height;
+	s->graph_scale = g->scale;
 }
 #endif /* X11 */
 
 void new_gauge(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size, int usage)
 {
-	if (!p_max_size)
+	struct gauge *g = obj->special_data;
+
+	if (!p_max_size || !g)
 		return;
 
-	usage = (usage > 255) ? 255 : ((usage < 0) ? 0 : usage);
+	if (g->flags & SF_SCALED)
+		g->scale = MAX(g->scale, (unsigned int)usage);
+	else
+		usage = MIN(g->scale, (unsigned int)usage);
 
 #ifdef X11
 	if (output_methods & TO_X)
@@ -381,11 +404,11 @@ void new_graph(struct text_object *obj, char *buf, int buf_max_size, double val)
 		s->graph_width = s->width - 2;	// subtract 2 for rectangle around
 	} */
 #ifdef MATH
-	if (g->showaslog) {
+	if (g->flags & SF_SHOWLOG) {
 		s->graph_scale = log10(s->graph_scale + 1);
 	}
 #endif
-	graph_append(s, val, g->showaslog);
+	graph_append(s, val, g->flags & SF_SHOWLOG);
 }
 
 void new_hr(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size)
@@ -481,7 +504,7 @@ static void new_bar_in_shell(struct text_object *obj, char* buffer, int buf_max_
 	if (width > buf_max_size)
 		width = buf_max_size;
 
-	scaledusage = round_to_int( usage * width / 255);
+	scaledusage = round_to_int( usage * width / b->scale);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < scaledusage; i++)
 		buffer[i] = '#';
@@ -509,16 +532,22 @@ static void new_bar_in_x11(struct text_object *obj, char *buf, int usage)
 	s->arg = usage;
 	s->width = b->width;
 	s->height = b->height;
+	s->graph_scale = b->scale;
 }
 #endif /* X11 */
 
 /* usage is in range [0,255] */
 void new_bar(struct text_object *obj, char *p, int p_max_size, int usage)
 {
-	if (!p_max_size)
+	struct bar *b = obj->special_data;
+
+	if (!p_max_size || !b)
 		return;
 
-	usage = (usage > 255) ? 255 : ((usage < 0) ? 0 : usage);
+	if (b->flags & SF_SCALED)
+		b->scale = MAX(b->scale, (unsigned int)usage);
+	else
+		usage = MIN(b->scale, (unsigned int)usage);
 
 #ifdef X11
 	if ((output_methods & TO_X))
diff --git a/src/specials.h b/src/specials.h
index 4f81164e..576868d6 100644
--- a/src/specials.h
+++ b/src/specials.h
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ struct text_object;
 extern int max_specials;
 
 /* scanning special arguments */
-const char *scan_bar(struct text_object *, const char *);
-const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *, const char *);
+const char *scan_bar(struct text_object *, const char *, unsigned int);
+const char *scan_gauge(struct text_object *, const char *, unsigned int);
 #ifdef X11
 void scan_font(struct text_object *, const char *);
 char *scan_graph(struct text_object *, const char *, int);