diff --git a/boards/pinetime/include/board.h b/boards/pinetime/include/board.h
index 66de809085..7da06de8ce 100644
--- a/boards/pinetime/include/board.h
+++ b/boards/pinetime/include/board.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define ILI9341_PARAM_RST          LCD_RESET
 #define ILI9341_PARAM_RGB          1
 #define ILI9341_PARAM_INVERTED     1
+#define ILI9341_PARAM_NUM_LINES    240U
 /** @} */
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/drivers/ili9341/ili9341.c b/drivers/ili9341/ili9341.c
index d3cc8a68bf..e5d9ba3d8f 100644
--- a/drivers/ili9341/ili9341.c
+++ b/drivers/ili9341/ili9341.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  * @}
  */
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include "byteorder.h"
 #include "periph/spi.h"
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ static void _ili9341_set_area(ili9341_t *dev, uint16_t x1, uint16_t x2,
 
 int ili9341_init(ili9341_t *dev, const ili9341_params_t *params)
 {
+    assert(params->lines >= 16 && params->lines <= 320 && !(params->lines & 0x7));
     dev->params = params;
     uint8_t command_params[4] = { 0 };
     gpio_init(dev->params->dcx_pin, GPIO_OUT);
@@ -139,10 +141,10 @@ int ili9341_init(ili9341_t *dev, const ili9341_params_t *params)
     /* Display function control */
     command_params[0] = 0x08;
     command_params[1] = 0x82;
-    command_params[2] = 0x27; /* 320 lines */
+    /* number of lines, see datasheet p. 166 (DISCTRL::NL) */
+    command_params[2] = (params->lines >> 3) - 1;
     _write_cmd(dev, ILI9341_CMD_DFUNC, command_params, 3);
 
-
     /* Pixel format */
     command_params[0] = 0x55; /* 16 bit mode */
     _write_cmd(dev, ILI9341_CMD_PIXSET, command_params, 1);
diff --git a/drivers/ili9341/include/ili9341_params.h b/drivers/ili9341/include/ili9341_params.h
index e594677726..b86105872f 100644
--- a/drivers/ili9341/include/ili9341_params.h
+++ b/drivers/ili9341/include/ili9341_params.h
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ extern "C" {
 #define ILI9341_PARAM_INVERTED     0
 #endif
 
+#ifndef ILI9341_PARAM_NUM_LINES
+#define ILI9341_PARAM_NUM_LINES    320U
+#endif
+
 #ifndef ILI9341_PARAMS
 #define ILI9341_PARAMS              { .spi = ILI9341_PARAM_SPI, \
                                       .spi_clk = ILI9341_PARAM_SPI_CLK, \
@@ -64,6 +68,7 @@ extern "C" {
                                       .rst_pin = ILI9341_PARAM_RST, \
                                       .rgb = ILI9341_PARAM_RGB, \
                                       .inverted = ILI9341_PARAM_INVERTED, \
+                                      .lines = ILI9341_PARAM_NUM_LINES, \
                                     }
 #endif
 /**@}*/
diff --git a/drivers/include/ili9341.h b/drivers/include/ili9341.h
index 6291d3fe18..d7c565f3b1 100644
--- a/drivers/include/ili9341.h
+++ b/drivers/include/ili9341.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ typedef struct {
     bool rgb;           /**< True when display is connected in RGB mode
                           *  False when display is connected in BGR mode */
     bool inverted;      /**< Display works in inverted color mode */
+    uint16_t lines;     /**< Number of lines, from 16 to 320 in 8 line steps */
 } ili9341_params_t;
 
 /**