diff --git a/src/gui/scale.cpp b/src/gui/scale.cpp
index 432de0310..eadca127d 100644
--- a/src/gui/scale.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/scale.cpp
@@ -39,20 +39,22 @@ inline unsigned int make16color(__u32 rgb)
 
 CScale::CScale (int w, int h, int r, int g, int b, bool inv)
 {
-  double div;
-//printf("new SCALE, w %d h %d size %d\n", w, h, sizeof(CScale)); fflush(stdout);
-  frameBuffer = CFrameBuffer::getInstance ();
   width = w;
   height = h;
   inverse = inv;
-
+#ifndef NO_BLINKENLIGHTS
+  double div;
+//printf("new SCALE, w %d h %d size %d\n", w, h, sizeof(CScale)); fflush(stdout);
+  frameBuffer = CFrameBuffer::getInstance ();
   div = (double) 100 / (double) width;
   red = (double) r / (double) div / (double) ITEMW;
   green = (double) g / (double) div / (double) ITEMW;
   yellow = (double) b / (double) div / (double) ITEMW;
+#endif
   percent = 255;
 }
 
+#ifndef NO_BLINKENLIGHTS
 void CScale::paint (int x, int y, int pcr)
 {
   int i, j, siglen;
@@ -118,6 +120,15 @@ void CScale::paint (int x, int y, int pcr)
 	percent = pcr;
   }
 }
+#else
+void CScale::paint (int x, int y, int pcr)
+{
+	if (pcr == percent)
+		return;
+	percent = pcr;
+	pb.paintProgressBar(x, y, width, height, pcr * width / 100, width, COL_INFOBAR_PLUS_3, COL_INFOBAR_PLUS_0, COL_INFOBAR_PLUS_3);
+}
+#endif
 
 void CScale::reset ()
 {
diff --git a/src/gui/scale.h b/src/gui/scale.h
index 97b4f5dd4..81d68461a 100644
--- a/src/gui/scale.h
+++ b/src/gui/scale.h
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 #ifndef __scale_
 #define __scale_
-
+/* define this if you do not want colorful blinkenlights
+   the classical progressbars will be used instead. */
+// #define NO_BLINKENLIGHTS
 #include <driver/framebuffer.h>
 
+#ifdef NO_BLINKENLIGHTS
+#include <gui/widget/progressbar.h>
+#endif
+
 class CScale
 {
  private:
+#ifdef NO_BLINKENLIGHTS
+    CProgressBar pb;
+#else
     CFrameBuffer * frameBuffer;
+    short red, green, yellow;
+#endif
     short width;
     short height;
     char percent;
-    short red, green, yellow;
     bool inverse;
+
  public:
     CScale(int w, int h, int r, int g, int b, bool inv = false);
     void paint(int x, int y, int pcr);