diff --git a/dodo/compose.py b/dodo/compose.py
index bbb8b36..d058d11 100644
--- a/dodo/compose.py
+++ b/dodo/compose.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def __init__(self, a: app.Dodo, mode: str='', msg: Optional[dict]=None, parent:
         self.mode = mode
         self.msg = msg
         self.message_view = QWebEngineView()
-        self.message_view.setZoomFactor(1.2)
+        self.message_view.setZoomFactor(settings.message_zoom)
         self.layout().addWidget(self.message_view)
         self.status = f'<i style="color:{settings.theme["fg"]}">draft</i>'
         self.current_account = 0
diff --git a/dodo/settings.py b/dodo/settings.py
index c112eb2..5b05eb7 100644
--- a/dodo/settings.py
+++ b/dodo/settings.py
@@ -231,6 +231,17 @@
 message_font_size = 12
 """The font size used for plaintext messages"""
 
+message_zoom = 1.2
+"""Zoom factor for the message and compose web views
+
+QWebEngineView renders CSS ``pt`` sizes larger than QFont uses for the same
+point value in native Qt widgets (QTreeView, etc.), particularly on macOS
+Retina displays. This means the message body appears bigger than the thread
+list and header panels even when the configured font sizes match. Adjust
+this factor to compensate — values below 1.0 shrink the web view to better
+match the surrounding Qt widgets.
+"""
+
 search_view_padding = 1
 """A bit of spacing around each line in the search panel"""
 
diff --git a/dodo/thread.py b/dodo/thread.py
index ab9c50a..da7bc97 100644
--- a/dodo/thread.py
+++ b/dodo/thread.py
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ def __init__(self, a: app.Dodo, thread_id: str, search_query: str, parent: Optio
         self.message_view = QWebEngineView(self)
         page = MessagePage(self.app, self.message_profile, self.message_view)
         self.message_view.setPage(page)
-        self.message_view.setZoomFactor(1.2)
+        self.message_view.setZoomFactor(settings.message_zoom)
 
         self.layout_panel()