diff --git a/src/openseadragon.js b/src/openseadragon.js
index 461f9d22..0c6df401 100644
--- a/src/openseadragon.js
+++ b/src/openseadragon.js
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@
   * @property {Boolean} [autoResize=true]
   *     Set to false to prevent polling for viewer size changes. Useful for providing custom resize behavior.
   *
+  * @property {Boolean} [preserveImageSizeOnResize=false]
+  *     Set to true to have the image size preserved when the viewer is resized. This requires autoResize=false.
+  *
   * @property {Number} [pixelsPerWheelLine=40]
   *     For pixel-resolution scrolling devices, the number of pixels equal to one scroll line.
   *
@@ -987,6 +990,7 @@ window.OpenSeadragon = window.OpenSeadragon || function( options ){
             maxZoomPixelRatio:      1.1, //-> higher allows 'over zoom' into pixels
             pixelsPerWheelLine:     40,
             autoResize:             true,
+            preserveImageSizeOnResize: false, // requires autoResize=false
 
             //DEFAULT CONTROL SETTINGS
             showSequenceControl:     true,  //SEQUENCE
diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index efe1ea36..50dd8831 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@ $.Viewer = function( options ) {
             width:             this.navigatorWidth,
             height:            this.navigatorHeight,
             autoResize:        this.navigatorAutoResize,
+            preserveImageSizeOnResize: this.preserveImageSizeOnResize,
             prefixUrl:         this.prefixUrl,
             viewer:            this,
             navigatorRotate:   this.navigatorRotate,
@@ -2836,7 +2837,7 @@ function updateOnce( viewer ) {
             THIS[ viewer.hash ].forceRedraw = true;
         }
     }
-    else {
+    else if ( viewer.preserveImageSizeOnResize ) {
         containerSize = _getSafeElemSize( viewer.container );
         if ( !containerSize.equals( THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize ) ) {
             var prevContainerSize = THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize;
@@ -2851,7 +2852,7 @@ function updateOnce( viewer ) {
             bounds.height += viewportDiff.y;
             bounds.x -= (viewportDiff.x / 2);
             bounds.y -= (viewportDiff.y / 2);
-            viewer.viewport.fitBounds(bounds, true);
+            viewer.viewport.fitBoundsWithConstraints(bounds, true);
             viewer.forceRedraw();
 
             THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize = containerSize;