diff --git a/mobile/plugins/user-location.user.js b/mobile/plugins/user-location.user.js
index 93895a6a..23ec3296 100644
--- a/mobile/plugins/user-location.user.js
+++ b/mobile/plugins/user-location.user.js
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ window.plugin.userLocation.onZoomEnd = function() {
   }
 };
 
-window.plugin.userLocation.locate = function(lat, lng, accuracy) {
+window.plugin.userLocation.locate = function(lat, lng, accuracy, persistentZoom) {
   if(window.plugin.userLocation.follow) {
     window.plugin.userLocation.follow = false;
     if(typeof android !== 'undefined' && android && android.setFollowMode)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ window.plugin.userLocation.locate = function(lat, lng, accuracy) {
 
   // an extremely close view is pretty pointless (especially with maps that support zoom level 20+)
   // so limit to 17 (enough to see all portals)
-  zoom = Math.min(zoom,17);
+  zoom = (persistentZoom) ? map.getZoom() : Math.min(zoom,17);
 
   if(window.map.getCenter().distanceTo(latlng) < 10) {
     window.plugin.userLocation.follow = true;
diff --git a/mobile/res/values/strings.xml b/mobile/res/values/strings.xml
index bbbb5fb8..ed36fa12 100644
--- a/mobile/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/mobile/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@
     <string name="pref_plugins_sum">Plugins extend/modify the IITC experience. Most plugins known from desktop IITC can be found here.</string>
     <string name="pref_plugins_title">Available plugins</string>
     <string name="pref_user_location">Display user location on map</string>
+    <string name="pref_persistent_zoom">Persistent zoom level</string>
+    <string name="pref_persistent_zoom_sum">Don\'t change zoom level when locate button is pressed</string>
     <string name="pref_user_zoom">Show zoom control</string>
     <string name="pref_user_zoom_sum">Shows +/- buttons even on multitouch capable devices.</string>
     <string name="pref_fullscreen">Hide in fullscreen mode</string>
diff --git a/mobile/res/xml/preferences.xml b/mobile/res/xml/preferences.xml
index c3d8e6ef..8e3548c1 100644
--- a/mobile/res/xml/preferences.xml
+++ b/mobile/res/xml/preferences.xml
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@
             android:key="pref_press_twice_to_exit"
             android:summary="@string/pref_press_twice_to_exit_sum"
             android:title="@string/pref_press_twice_to_exit"/>
+        <CheckBoxPreference
+            android:defaultValue="false"
+            android:key="pref_persistent_zoom"
+            android:summary="@string/pref_persistent_zoom_sum"
+            android:title="@string/pref_persistent_zoom"/>
     </PreferenceCategory>
     <PreferenceCategory
         android:key="pref_mics"
diff --git a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_Mobile.java b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_Mobile.java
index ac563ea3..4b54fe96 100644
--- a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_Mobile.java
+++ b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_Mobile.java
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ public class IITC_Mobile extends Activity
     private boolean mReloadNeeded = false;
     private boolean mIsLoading = true;
     private boolean mShowMapInDebug = false;
+    private boolean mPersistentZoom = false;
     private final Stack<String> mDialogStack = new Stack<String>();
     private String mPermalink = null;
     private String mSearchTerm = null;
@@ -143,6 +144,8 @@ public class IITC_Mobile extends Activity
         final String[] menuDefaults = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.pref_android_menu_default);
         mAdvancedMenu = mSharedPrefs.getStringSet("pref_android_menu", new HashSet<String>(Arrays.asList(menuDefaults)));
 
+        mPersistentZoom = mSharedPrefs.getBoolean("pref_persistent_zoom", false);
+
         // get fullscreen status from settings
         mIitcWebView.updateFullscreenStatus();
 
@@ -180,6 +183,9 @@ public class IITC_Mobile extends Activity
             if (mUserLocation.setLocationMode(mode))
                 mReloadNeeded = true;
             return;
+        } else if (key.equals("pref_persistent_zoom")) {
+            mPersistentZoom = mSharedPrefs.getBoolean("pref_persistent_zoom", false);
+            return;
         } else if (key.equals("pref_fullscreen")) {
             mIitcWebView.updateFullscreenStatus();
             mNavigationHelper.onPrefChanged();
@@ -570,10 +576,11 @@ public class IITC_Mobile extends Activity
 
                 if (mUserLocation.hasCurrentLocation()) {
                     // if gps location is displayed we can use a better location without any costs
-                    mUserLocation.locate();
+                    mUserLocation.locate(mPersistentZoom);
                 } else {
                     // get location from network by default
-                    mIitcWebView.loadUrl("javascript: window.map.locate({setView : true});");
+                    mIitcWebView.loadUrl("javascript: window.map.locate({setView : true" +
+                            (mPersistentZoom ? ", maxZoom : map.getZoom()" : "") + "});");
                 }
                 return true;
             case R.id.action_settings: // start settings activity
diff --git a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_UserLocation.java b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_UserLocation.java
index 429fb214..498e8c15 100644
--- a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_UserLocation.java
+++ b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_UserLocation.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public class IITC_UserLocation implements LocationListener, SensorEventListener
         return mFollowing;
     }
 
-    public void locate() {
+    public void locate(final boolean persistentZoom) {
         // do not touch the javascript while iitc boots
         if (mIitc.isLoading()) return;
 
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ public class IITC_UserLocation implements LocationListener, SensorEventListener
 
         mIitc.getWebView().loadJS("if(window.plugin && window.plugin.userLocation)"
                 + "window.plugin.userLocation.locate("
-                + location.getLatitude() + ", " + location.getLongitude() + ", " + location.getAccuracy() + ");");
+                + location.getLatitude() + ", " + location.getLongitude() + ", "
+                + location.getAccuracy() + ", " + persistentZoom + ");");
     }
 
     public void onStart() {