diff --git a/include/sway/config.h b/include/sway/config.h
index 139d7800e..afff2738a 100644
--- a/include/sway/config.h
+++ b/include/sway/config.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ struct output_config {
 	int width, height;
 	float refresh_rate;
 	int x, y;
-	int scale;
+	float scale;
 	int32_t transform;
 
 	char *background;
diff --git a/sway/commands/output.c b/sway/commands/output.c
index d71e4d8d4..7988e3e40 100644
--- a/sway/commands/output.c
+++ b/sway/commands/output.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_output(int argc, char **argv) {
 				goto fail;
 			}
 			char *end;
-			output->scale = strtol(argv[i], &end, 10);
+			output->scale = strtof(argv[i], &end);
 			if (*end) {
 				error = cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "output",
 					"Invalid scale.");
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_output(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 
 	sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Config stored for output %s (enabled: %d) (%dx%d@%fHz "
-		"position %d,%d scale %d transform %d) (bg %s %s)",
+		"position %d,%d scale %f transform %d) (bg %s %s)",
 		output->name, output->enabled, output->width, output->height,
 		output->refresh_rate, output->x, output->y, output->scale,
 		output->transform, output->background, output->background_option);
diff --git a/sway/config/output.c b/sway/config/output.c
index dc9ee37c3..ff3f73a3d 100644
--- a/sway/config/output.c
+++ b/sway/config/output.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void apply_output_config(struct output_config *oc, swayc_t *output) {
 		set_mode(wlr_output, oc->width, oc->height, oc->refresh_rate);
 	}
 	if (oc && oc->scale > 0) {
-		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Set %s scale to %d", oc->name, oc->scale);
+		sway_log(L_DEBUG, "Set %s scale to %f", oc->name, oc->scale);
 		wlr_output_set_scale(wlr_output, oc->scale);
 	}
 	if (oc && oc->transform >= 0) {