diff --git a/atlas_densities/app/cell_densities.py b/atlas_densities/app/cell_densities.py
index f60a87b..bc809a2 100644
--- a/atlas_densities/app/cell_densities.py
+++ b/atlas_densities/app/cell_densities.py
@@ -183,8 +183,22 @@ def app(verbose):
     help="Path to density groups ids config",
     show_default=True,
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--skip-normalization",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Whether to skip normalization of the Nissl path",
+    show_default=True,
+)
 @log_args(L)
-def cell_density(annotation_path, hierarchy_path, nissl_path, output_path, group_ids_config_path):
+def cell_density(
+    annotation_path,
+    hierarchy_path,
+    nissl_path,
+    output_path,
+    group_ids_config_path,
+    skip_normalization,
+):
     """Compute and save the overall mouse brain cell density.
 
     The input Nissl stain volume of AIBS is turned into an actual density field complying with
@@ -219,6 +233,7 @@ def cell_density(annotation_path, hierarchy_path, nissl_path, output_path, group
         _get_voxel_volume_in_mm3(annotation),
         nissl.raw,
         group_ids_config=group_ids_config,
+        skip_normalization=skip_normalization,
     )
     nissl.with_data(overall_cell_density).save_nrrd(output_path)
 
diff --git a/atlas_densities/densities/cell_density.py b/atlas_densities/densities/cell_density.py
index 7c806f4..f143a8c 100644
--- a/atlas_densities/densities/cell_density.py
+++ b/atlas_densities/densities/cell_density.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def compute_cell_density(
     voxel_volume: float,
     nissl: FloatArray,
     group_ids_config: dict,
+    skip_normalization: bool = False,
 ) -> FloatArray:
     """
     Compute the overall cell density based on Nissl staining and cell counts from literature.
@@ -87,6 +88,8 @@ def compute_cell_density(
         voxel_volume: the common volume of a voxel associated to any of the input arrays.
         nissl: float array of shape (W, H, D) with non-negative entries. The input
             Nissl stain intensity.
+        group_ids_config: Layout described in `atlas_densities/app/data/metadata/README.txt`
+        skip_normalization: whether the normalization should be skipped
 
     Returns:
         float array of shape (W, H, D) with non-negative entries. The returned array is a
@@ -97,7 +100,8 @@ def compute_cell_density(
     """
 
     nissl = np.asarray(nissl, dtype=np.float64)
-    nissl = utils.normalize_intensity(nissl, annotation, threshold_scale_factor=1.0, copy=False)
+    if not skip_normalization:
+        nissl = utils.normalize_intensity(nissl, annotation, threshold_scale_factor=1.0, copy=False)
     nissl = utils.compensate_cell_overlap(nissl, annotation, gaussian_filter_stdv=-1.0, copy=False)
 
     group_ids = utils.get_group_ids(region_map, config=group_ids_config)