diff --git a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/default--led-control.h b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/default--led-control.h
index a977340..847e6da 100644
--- a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/default--led-control.h
+++ b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/default--led-control.h
@@ -17,28 +17,28 @@
 	 */
 
 	#ifndef kb_led_state_power_on
-	#define kb_led_state_power_on() do {		\
-			_kb_led_all_set_percent(0.05);	\
-			_kb_led_all_on();		\
+	#define kb_led_state_power_on() do {				\
+			_kb_led_all_set_percent(MAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS/10); \
+			_kb_led_all_on();				\
 			} while(0)
 	#endif
 
 	// note: need to delay for a total of ~1 second
 	#ifndef kb_led_delay_usb_init
-	#define kb_led_delay_usb_init() do {		\
-			_kb_led_1_set_percent(0.5);	\
-			_delay_ms(333);			\
-			_kb_led_2_set_percent(0.5);	\
-			_delay_ms(333);			\
-			_kb_led_3_set_percent(0.5);	\
-			_delay_ms(333);			\
+	#define kb_led_delay_usb_init() do {				\
+			_kb_led_1_set_percent(MAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS);	\
+			_delay_ms(333);					\
+			_kb_led_2_set_percent(MAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS);	\
+			_delay_ms(333);					\
+			_kb_led_3_set_percent(MAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS);	\
+			_delay_ms(333);					\
 			} while(0)
 	#endif
 
 	#ifndef kb_led_state_ready
-	#define kb_led_state_ready() do {		\
-			_kb_led_all_off();		\
-			_kb_led_all_set_percent(0.5);	\
+	#define kb_led_state_ready() do {				\
+			_kb_led_all_off();				\
+			_kb_led_all_set_percent(MAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS); \
 			} while(0)
 	#endif
 
diff --git a/src/makefile b/src/makefile
index 1a9e914..dc9bea9 100644
--- a/src/makefile
+++ b/src/makefile
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ CFLAGS += -DMAKEFILE_BOARD='$(strip $(BOARD))'
 CFLAGS += -DMAKEFILE_KEYBOARD='$(strip $(KEYBOARD))'
 CFLAGS += -DMAKEFILE_KEYBOARD_LAYOUT='$(strip $(LAYOUT))'
 CFLAGS += -DMAKEFILE_DEBOUNCE_TIME='$(strip $(DEBOUNCE_TIME))'
+CFLAGS += -DMAKEFILE_LED_BRIGHTNESS='$(strip $(LED_BRIGHTNESS))'
 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 CFLAGS += -std=gnu99  # use C99 plus GCC extensions
 CFLAGS += -Os         # optimize for size
diff --git a/src/makefile-options b/src/makefile-options
index 0c80e80..faaa4ec 100644
--- a/src/makefile-options
+++ b/src/makefile-options
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ KEYBOARD := ergodox   # keyboard model; see "src/keyboard" for what's available
 LAYOUT   := qwerty    # keyboard layout; see "src/keyboard/*/layout" for what's
                       #   available
 
+LED_BRIGHTNESS := 0.5  # a multiplier, with 1 being the max
 DEBOUNCE_TIME := 5  # in ms; see keyswitch spec for necessary value; 5ms should
 		    #   be good for cherry mx switches