diff --git a/src/ipa/libipa/awb.cpp b/src/ipa/libipa/awb.cpp
index da835bec0..b7f309298 100644
--- a/src/ipa/libipa/awb.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/libipa/awb.cpp
@@ -526,6 +526,10 @@ int AwbAlgorithmBase::parseModeConfigs(const ValueNode &tuningData,
  * Minimum gain value used to clamp the AWB algorithm calculation results in the
  * range supported by the platform AWB engine.
  *
+ * The minimum defaults to 1.0, as most ISPs cannot attenuate a colour channel.
+ * On platforms that can, the "gainMin" tuning file property may lower the
+ * limit, within the range supported by the platform AWB engine.
+ *
  * The min and max gain values are initialized by AwbAlgorithm::init().
  */
 
diff --git a/src/ipa/libipa/awb.h b/src/ipa/libipa/awb.h
index d35a85167..7fe2e5f06 100644
--- a/src/ipa/libipa/awb.h
+++ b/src/ipa/libipa/awb.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <map>
 #include <optional>
@@ -117,7 +118,18 @@ public:
 	{
 		AwbAlgorithmBase::init(tuningData);
 
-		gainMin_ = std::max(Q::TraitsType::min, 1.0f);
+		/*
+		 * Gains are not allowed to go below 1.0 by default, as most
+		 * ISPs cannot attenuate a colour channel. Some camera
+		 * modules are however calibrated with a white point that
+		 * requires attenuating a channel, which platforms whose AWB
+		 * gains can go below 1.0 (such as the software ISP) are able
+		 * to apply. Let the tuning file lower the limit with the
+		 * "gainMin" property, within the platform's gain range.
+		 */
+		float gainMin = tuningData["gainMin"].get<float>(1.0f);
+		gainMin_ = std::clamp(gainMin, Q::TraitsType::min,
+				      Q::TraitsType::max);
 		gainMax_ = Q::TraitsType::max;
 
 		controls_[&controls::ColourGains] =