diff --git a/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprint.ts b/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprint.ts
index b663c41452a..c3858a05fb3 100644
--- a/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprint.ts
+++ b/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprint.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ export type InitParams = {
     init_vert_zoom?: number;
     init_track_group_padding?: number;
     init_cell_padding_on?: boolean;
+    max_height?:number;
 };
 
 export type HorzZoomCallback = (zoom:number)=>void;
diff --git a/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprintmodel.ts b/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprintmodel.ts
index 8ea46c557b0..475201610fc 100644
--- a/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprintmodel.ts
+++ b/packages/oncoprintjs/src/js/oncoprintmodel.ts
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ export default class OncoprintModel {
         this.sort_config = {};
         this.rendering_suppressed_depth = 0;
 
-        this.max_height = 500;
+        this.max_height = ifndef(params.max_height, 500);
         this.cell_width = ifndef(params.init_cell_width, 6);
         this.horz_zoom = ifndef(params.init_horz_zoom, 1);
         this.vert_zoom = ifndef(params.init_vert_zoom, 1);
@@ -715,7 +715,12 @@ export default class OncoprintModel {
     public getMinVertZoom() {
         // Can't zoom to be smaller than max height
         // That zoom would be z*this.getOncoprintHeight(true) = max_height
-        return this.max_height / this.getOncoprintHeight(true);
+        if (this.max_height < Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY) {
+            return this.max_height / this.getOncoprintHeight(true);
+        } else {
+            // if no max height, then cant vert zoom
+            return 1;
+        }
     }
 
     public setHorzScroll(s:number) {