diff --git a/satpy/tests/writer_tests/test_ninjotiff.py b/satpy/tests/writer_tests/test_ninjotiff.py
index 233b74b0d2..1eac33f82a 100644
--- a/satpy/tests/writer_tests/test_ninjotiff.py
+++ b/satpy/tests/writer_tests/test_ninjotiff.py
@@ -67,6 +67,19 @@ def test_dataset(self, iwsd):
             uconv.assert_called_once_with(dataset, 'K', 'CELSIUS')
         self.assertEqual(iwsd.call_count, 1)
 
+    @mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.ImageWriter.save_dataset')
+    @mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.nt', pyninjotiff_mock.ninjotiff)
+    def test_dataset_skip_unit_conversion(self, iwsd):
+        """Test saving a dataset without unit conversion."""
+        from satpy.writers.ninjotiff import NinjoTIFFWriter
+        ntw = NinjoTIFFWriter()
+        dataset = xr.DataArray([1, 2, 3], attrs={'units': 'K'})
+        with mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.convert_units') as uconv:
+            ntw.save_dataset(dataset, physic_unit='CELSIUS',
+                             convert_temperature_units=False)
+            uconv.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(iwsd.call_count, 1)
+
     @mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.NinjoTIFFWriter.save_dataset')
     @mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.ImageWriter.save_image')
     @mock.patch('satpy.writers.ninjotiff.nt', pyninjotiff_mock.ninjotiff)
diff --git a/satpy/writers/ninjotiff.py b/satpy/writers/ninjotiff.py
index 577dc57b2a..557b2749d0 100644
--- a/satpy/writers/ninjotiff.py
+++ b/satpy/writers/ninjotiff.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ def convert_units(dataset, in_unit, out_unit):
         return dataset
 
     if in_unit.lower() in {"k", "kelvin"} and out_unit.lower() in {"c", "celsius"}:
+        logger.debug("Converting temperature units from K to °C")
         with xr.set_options(keep_attrs=True):
             new_dataset = dataset - 273.15
         new_dataset.attrs["units"] = out_unit
@@ -177,12 +178,14 @@ def save_image(self, img, filename=None, compute=True, **kwargs):  # floating_po
         return nt.save(img, filename, data_is_scaled_01=True, compute=compute, **kwargs)
 
     def save_dataset(
-        self, dataset, filename=None, fill_value=None, compute=True, **kwargs
+        self, dataset, filename=None, fill_value=None, compute=True,
+        convert_temperature_units=True, **kwargs
     ):
         """Save a dataset to ninjotiff format.
 
         This calls `save_image` in turn, but first preforms some unit conversion
-        if necessary.
+        if necessary and desired.  Unit conversion can be suppressed by passing
+        ``convert_temperature_units=False``.
         """
         nunits = kwargs.get("physic_unit", None)
         if nunits is None:
@@ -201,7 +204,10 @@ def save_dataset(
                     "Saving to physical ninjo file without units defined in dataset!"
                 )
             else:
-                dataset = convert_units(dataset, units, nunits)
+                if convert_temperature_units:
+                    dataset = convert_units(dataset, units, nunits)
+                else:
+                    logger.debug("Omitting unit conversion")
         return super(NinjoTIFFWriter, self).save_dataset(
             dataset, filename=filename, compute=compute, fill_value=fill_value, **kwargs
         )