diff --git a/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.cpp b/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.cpp
index d59a5c151..0c110f2e6 100644
--- a/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.cpp
+++ b/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.cpp
@@ -180,4 +180,5 @@ int get_gl_spritelight()
 	return gl_spritelight < 0 ? (screen->IsRayQueryEnabled() ? 1 : 0) : gl_spritelight;
 }
 
-CVAR(Bool, gl_fakemodellight, true, CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_ARCHIVE)
+CVARD(Bool, gl_fakemodellight, true, CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_ARCHIVE, "adds a fake sunlight on models to improve contrast")
+CVARD(Float, gl_fakemodellightintensity, 0.05, CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_ARCHIVE, "fake sunlight intensity (brightness)")
diff --git a/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.h b/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.h
index 65e8c3dcc..a056860b9 100644
--- a/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.h
+++ b/src/common/rendering/hwrenderer/data/hw_cvars.h
@@ -66,3 +66,4 @@ EXTERN_CVAR(Color, gl_wireframecolor)
 int get_gl_spritelight();
 
 EXTERN_CVAR(Bool, gl_fakemodellight)
+EXTERN_CVAR(Float, gl_fakemodellightintensity)
diff --git a/src/rendering/hwrenderer/scene/hw_spritelight.cpp b/src/rendering/hwrenderer/scene/hw_spritelight.cpp
index dc7c56e84..cdc9146c2 100644
--- a/src/rendering/hwrenderer/scene/hw_spritelight.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/hwrenderer/scene/hw_spritelight.cpp
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ void HWDrawInfo::GetDynSpriteLightList(AActor *self, double x, double y, double
 	if(isModel && gl_fakemodellight)
 	{
 		//fake light for contrast
-		AddSunLightToList(modellightdata, x, y, z, FVector3(Level->SunDirection.X + 180, 45, 0), Level->SunColor * Level->SunIntensity * 0.05, false);
+		AddSunLightToList(modellightdata, x, y, z, FVector3(Level->SunDirection.X + 180, 45, 0), Level->SunColor * Level->SunIntensity * gl_fakemodellightintensity, false);
 	}
 
 	if ((level.lightmaps && gl_spritelight > 0) || ActorTraceStaticLight::TraceSunVisibility(x, y, z, traceCache, (self ? staticLight.ActorMoved : traceCache ? traceCache->Pos != DVector3(x, y, z) : false)))