diff --git a/builtin/game/statbars.lua b/builtin/game/statbars.lua
index 46c947b6..f4372843 100644
--- builtin/game/statbars.lua
+++ builtin/game/statbars.lua
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ local breath_bar_definition = {
 local hud_ids = {}

 local function scaleToDefault(player, field)
+       if field == "health" then
+           return player["get_" .. field](player)
+       else
            -- Scale "hp" or "breath" to the default dimensions
            local current = player["get_" .. field](player)
            local nominal = core["PLAYER_MAX_".. field:upper() .. "_DEFAULT"]
            local max_display = math.max(nominal,
                math.max(player:get_properties()[field .. "_max"], current))
            return current / max_display * nominal
+       end
 end

 local function update_builtin_statbars(player)
