diff --git a/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.cc b/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.cc
index 509c468dd..b863a7bb0 100644
--- a/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.cc
+++ b/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.cc
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ GenericWriterOptions::GenericWriterOptions ()
   m_gds2_write_timestamps = save_options.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_timestamps").to_bool ();
   m_gds2_write_cell_properties = save_options.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_cell_properties").to_bool ();
   m_gds2_write_file_properties = save_options.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_file_properties").to_bool ();
+  tl::Variant def_text_size = save_options.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size");
+  m_gds2_default_text_size = def_text_size.is_nil () ? -1.0 : def_text_size.to_double ();
 
   m_oasis_compression_level = save_options.get_option_by_name ("oasis_compression_level").to_int ();
   m_oasis_write_cblocks = save_options.get_option_by_name ("oasis_write_cblocks").to_bool ();
@@ -201,6 +203,13 @@ GenericWriterOptions::add_options (tl::CommandLineOptions &cmd, const std::strin
                     "This option enables a GDS2 extension that allows writing of file properties to GDS2 files. "
                     "Consumers that don't support this feature, may not be able to read such a GDS2 files."
                    )
+        << tl::arg (group +
+                    "#--default-text-size", &m_gds2_default_text_size, "Default text size",
+                    "This text size (given in micrometers) is applied to text objects not coming with their "
+                    "own text size (technically: with a zero text size). It can be set to 0 to preserve an original "
+                    "text size of zero. This option is also handy to give text objects from OASIS files a "
+                    "specific size. By default, text objects without a size (i.e. with a zero size) do not receive one."
+                   )
       ;
 
   }
@@ -379,6 +388,7 @@ GenericWriterOptions::configure (db::SaveLayoutOptions &save_options, const db::
   save_options.set_option_by_name ("gds2_write_timestamps", m_gds2_write_timestamps);
   save_options.set_option_by_name ("gds2_write_cell_properties", m_gds2_write_cell_properties);
   save_options.set_option_by_name ("gds2_write_file_properties", m_gds2_write_file_properties);
+  save_options.set_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size", m_gds2_default_text_size < 0.0 ? tl::Variant () : tl::Variant (m_gds2_default_text_size));
 
   save_options.set_option_by_name ("oasis_compression_level", m_oasis_compression_level);
   save_options.set_option_by_name ("oasis_write_cblocks", m_oasis_write_cblocks);
diff --git a/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.h b/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.h
index 3c4e5439a..0d03c411b 100644
--- a/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.h
+++ b/src/buddies/src/bd/bdWriterOptions.h
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ class BD_PUBLIC GenericWriterOptions
   bool m_gds2_write_timestamps;
   bool m_gds2_write_cell_properties;
   bool m_gds2_write_file_properties;
+  double m_gds2_default_text_size;
 
   int m_oasis_compression_level;
   bool m_oasis_write_cblocks;
diff --git a/src/buddies/unit_tests/bdBasicTests.cc b/src/buddies/unit_tests/bdBasicTests.cc
index a74128ffd..4c3fb38bd 100644
--- a/src/buddies/unit_tests/bdBasicTests.cc
+++ b/src/buddies/unit_tests/bdBasicTests.cc
@@ -82,9 +82,10 @@ TEST(1)
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_multi_xy_records").to_bool (), false);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_timestamps").to_bool (), true);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_no_zero_length_paths").to_bool (), false);
-  EXPECT_EQ (tl::to_string (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_user_units").to_double ()), "1");
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_user_units").to_double (), 1.0);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_cell_properties").to_bool (), false);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_file_properties").to_bool (), false);
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "nil");
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_write_cblocks").to_bool (), true);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_compression_level").to_int (), 2);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_strict_mode").to_bool (), true);
@@ -107,9 +108,10 @@ TEST(1)
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_multi_xy_records").to_bool (), true);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_timestamps").to_bool (), false);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_no_zero_length_paths").to_bool (), true);
-  EXPECT_EQ (tl::to_string (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_user_units").to_double ()), "2.5");
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_user_units").to_double (), 2.5);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_cell_properties").to_bool (), true);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_write_file_properties").to_bool (), true);
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "nil");
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_write_cblocks").to_bool (), false);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_compression_level").to_int (), 9);
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_strict_mode").to_bool (), false);
@@ -118,6 +120,52 @@ TEST(1)
   EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("oasis_write_std_properties_ext").to_int (), 2);
 }
 
+//  Testing writer options (default_text_size)
+TEST(2)
+{
+  bd::GenericWriterOptions opt;
+  tl::CommandLineOptions cmd;
+
+  opt.add_options (cmd);
+
+  const char *argv[] = {
+                   "x",
+                   "--default-text-size=1.25",
+                 };
+
+  cmd.parse (sizeof (argv) / sizeof (argv[0]), const_cast<char **> (argv));
+
+  db::Layout layout;
+
+  db::SaveLayoutOptions stream_opt;
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "nil");
+  opt.configure (stream_opt, layout);
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "1.25");
+}
+
+//  Testing writer options (default_text_size)
+TEST(3)
+{
+  bd::GenericWriterOptions opt;
+  tl::CommandLineOptions cmd;
+
+  opt.add_options (cmd);
+
+  const char *argv[] = {
+                   "x",
+                   "--default-text-size=-1",
+                 };
+
+  cmd.parse (sizeof (argv) / sizeof (argv[0]), const_cast<char **> (argv));
+
+  db::Layout layout;
+
+  db::SaveLayoutOptions stream_opt;
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "nil");
+  opt.configure (stream_opt, layout);
+  EXPECT_EQ (stream_opt.get_option_by_name ("gds2_default_text_size").to_string (), "nil");
+}
+
 static std::string cells2string (const db::Layout &layout, const std::set<db::cell_index_type> &cells)
 {
   std::string res;
@@ -131,7 +179,7 @@ static std::string cells2string (const db::Layout &layout, const std::set<db::ce
 }
 
 //  Testing writer options: cell resolution
-TEST(2)
+TEST(4)
 {
   //  Build a layout with the hierarchy
   //    TOP -> A, B
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2.cc
index 411db183a..f296c2204 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2.cc
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class GDS2FormatDeclaration
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::write_cell_properties, "write-cell-properties") +
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::write_file_properties, "write-file-properties") +
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::no_zero_length_paths, "no-zero-length-paths") +
+      tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::default_text_size, "default-text-size") +
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::multi_xy_records, "multi-xy-records") +
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::resolve_skew_arrays, "resolve-skew-arrays") +
       tl::make_member (&db::GDS2WriterOptions::max_vertex_count, "max-vertex-count") +
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Format.h b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Format.h
index f17efbfbd..94a8419f6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Format.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Format.h
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ class DB_PLUGIN_PUBLIC GDS2WriterOptions
       user_units (1.0),
       write_timestamps (true),
       write_cell_properties (false),
-      write_file_properties (false)
+      write_file_properties (false),
+      default_text_size (-1.0)
   {
     //  .. nothing yet ..
   }
@@ -191,6 +192,14 @@ class DB_PLUGIN_PUBLIC GDS2WriterOptions
    */
   bool write_file_properties;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief The default text size if none is given (in fact, if the text size is zero)
+   *
+   *  You can set to option to 0 to preserve the zero text size on writing.
+   *  A negative value means the text size is not set if missing.
+   */
+  double default_text_size;
+
   /**
    *  @brief Implementation of FormatSpecificWriterOptions
    */
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.cc
index 6373f951f..50429eb08 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.cc
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ static uint16_t safe_convert_to_uint16 (uint64_t value)
 
 GDS2WriterBase::GDS2WriterBase ()
   : m_dbu (0.0), m_resolve_skew_arrays (false), m_multi_xy (false), m_no_zero_length_paths (false),
-    m_max_vertex_count (0), m_write_cell_properties (false), m_keep_instances (false)
+    m_max_vertex_count (0), m_write_cell_properties (false), m_keep_instances (false), m_default_text_size (-1.0)
 {
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
@@ -481,6 +481,7 @@ GDS2WriterBase::write (db::Layout &layout, tl::OutputStream &stream, const db::S
   m_no_zero_length_paths = gds2_options.no_zero_length_paths;
   m_resolve_skew_arrays = gds2_options.resolve_skew_arrays;
   m_write_cell_properties = gds2_options.write_cell_properties;
+  m_default_text_size = gds2_options.default_text_size;
 
   size_t max_cellname_length = std::max (gds2_options.max_cellname_length, (unsigned int)8);
 
@@ -902,7 +903,7 @@ GDS2WriterBase::write_text (int layer, int datatype, double sf, double dbu, cons
     write_short (ha + va * 4 + f * 16);
   }
 
-  if (trans.rot () != 0 || shape.text_size () != 0) {
+  if (trans.rot () != 0 || shape.text_size () != 0 || m_default_text_size >= 0.0) {
 
     write_record_size (6);
     write_record (sSTRANS);
@@ -912,6 +913,10 @@ GDS2WriterBase::write_text (int layer, int datatype, double sf, double dbu, cons
       write_record_size (4 + 8);
       write_record (sMAG);
       write_double (shape.text_size () * sf * dbu);
+    } else if (m_default_text_size >= 0.0) {
+      write_record_size (4 + 8);
+      write_record (sMAG);
+      write_double (m_default_text_size * sf);
     }
 
     if ((trans.rot () % 4) != 0) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.h b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.h
index 29c0deb37..ff1b2898c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2WriterBase.h
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ class DB_PLUGIN_PUBLIC GDS2WriterBase
   size_t m_max_vertex_count;
   bool m_write_cell_properties;
   bool m_keep_instances;
+  double m_default_text_size;
 
   void write_properties (const db::Layout &layout, db::properties_id_type prop_id);
   void write_context_cell (db::Layout &layout, const short *time_data, const std::vector<cell_index_type> &cells);
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/gsiDeclDbGDS2.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/gsiDeclDbGDS2.cc
index f68389709..3898ddb73 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/gsiDeclDbGDS2.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/gsiDeclDbGDS2.cc
@@ -115,6 +115,17 @@ static bool get_gds2_write_timestamps (const db::SaveLayoutOptions *options)
   return options->get_options<db::GDS2WriterOptions> ().write_timestamps;
 }
 
+static void set_gds2_default_text_size (db::SaveLayoutOptions *options, const tl::Variant &v)
+{
+  options->get_options<db::GDS2WriterOptions> ().default_text_size = v.is_nil () ? -1.0 : v.to_double ();
+}
+
+static tl::Variant get_gds2_default_text_size (const db::SaveLayoutOptions *options)
+{
+  double ts = options->get_options<db::GDS2WriterOptions> ().default_text_size;
+  return ts < 0.0 ? tl::Variant () : tl::Variant (ts);
+}
+
 static void set_gds2_libname (db::SaveLayoutOptions *options, const std::string &n)
 {
   options->get_options<db::GDS2WriterOptions> ().libname = n;
@@ -189,6 +200,22 @@ gsi::ClassExt<db::SaveLayoutOptions> gds2_writer_options (
     "@brief Gets a value indicating whether the current time is written into the GDS2 timestamp fields\n"
     "\nThis property has been added in version 0.21.16.\n"
   ) +
+  gsi::method_ext ("gds2_default_text_size=", &set_gds2_default_text_size, gsi::arg ("size"),
+    "@brief Specifies the default text size to use when a text does not have a size\n"
+    "\n"
+    "Text object can have no size, e.g. when they are read from OASIS files. Technically such texts\n"
+    "are represented by text object with a zero size. You can configure the GDS writer to use a specific\n"
+    "text size in this case. This property specifies the default text size in micrometer units. This\n"
+    "size can be set to 0 to preserve a zero size in GDS files read.\n"
+    "\n"
+    "Set this attribute to nil to disable writing of a text size if none is specified.\n"
+    "\n"
+    "\nThis property has been added in version 0.30.4.\n"
+  ) +
+  gsi::method_ext ("gds2_default_text_size", &get_gds2_default_text_size,
+    "@brief Gets the default text size to use when a text does not have a size\n"
+    "\nThis property has been added in version 0.30.4.\n"
+  ) +
   gsi::method_ext ("gds2_no_zero_length_paths=", &set_gds2_no_zero_length_paths, gsi::arg ("flag"),
     "@brief Eliminates zero-length paths if true\n"
     "\n"
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/GDS2WriterOptionPage.ui b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/GDS2WriterOptionPage.ui
index 72c6020f4..ac838890e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/GDS2WriterOptionPage.ui
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/GDS2WriterOptionPage.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>656</width>
-    <height>315</height>
+    <width>673</width>
+    <height>360</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -50,12 +50,8 @@
       <property name="spacing">
        <number>6</number>
       </property>
-      <item row="7" column="0" colspan="3">
-       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="write_timestamps">
-        <property name="text">
-         <string>Write current time to time stamps (BGNLIB, BGNSTR)</string>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
+      <item row="0" column="1" colspan="2">
+       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="libname_le"/>
       </item>
       <item row="1" column="0">
        <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
@@ -64,6 +60,16 @@
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
+      <item row="1" column="1">
+       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="cell_name_length_le"/>
+      </item>
+      <item row="7" column="0" colspan="3">
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="no_zero_length_paths">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Eliminate zero-length paths (convert to BOUNDARY)</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
       <item row="2" column="2">
        <widget class="QLabel" name="label_4">
         <property name="text">
@@ -71,10 +77,53 @@
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
-      <item row="1" column="1">
-       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="cell_name_length_le"/>
+      <item row="6" column="0" colspan="3">
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="resolve_skew_arrays_cbx">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Resolve skew (non-orthogonal) arrays into single instances</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
       </item>
-      <item row="4" column="0" colspan="3">
+      <item row="8" column="0" colspan="3">
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="write_timestamps">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Write current time to time stamps (BGNLIB, BGNSTR)</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="0" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_5">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Library name</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="3" column="1" colspan="3">
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="multi_xy_cbx">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Multi-XY record mode for boundaries
+(enables infinitely large polygons/paths at the cost of compatibility)</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="1" column="2">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>(keep empty for unspecified limit)</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="2" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Max. vertices</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="2" column="1">
+       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="max_vertex_le"/>
+      </item>
+      <item row="5" column="0" colspan="3">
        <widget class="QFrame" name="frame">
         <property name="frameShape">
          <enum>QFrame::NoFrame</enum>
@@ -139,52 +188,20 @@
         </layout>
        </widget>
       </item>
-      <item row="2" column="1">
-       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="max_vertex_le"/>
-      </item>
-      <item row="1" column="2">
-       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
-        <property name="text">
-         <string>(keep empty for unspecified limit)</string>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
-      </item>
-      <item row="3" column="1" colspan="3">
-       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="multi_xy_cbx">
-        <property name="text">
-         <string>Multi-XY record mode for boundaries
-(enables infinitely large polygons/paths at the cost of compatibility)</string>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
-      </item>
-      <item row="0" column="0">
-       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_5">
-        <property name="text">
-         <string>Library name</string>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
-      </item>
-      <item row="2" column="0">
-       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
-        <property name="text">
-         <string>Max. vertices</string>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
-      </item>
-      <item row="0" column="1" colspan="2">
-       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="libname_le"/>
+      <item row="4" column="1">
+       <widget class="QLineEdit" name="default_text_size_le"/>
       </item>
-      <item row="6" column="0" colspan="3">
-       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="no_zero_length_paths">
+      <item row="4" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_9">
         <property name="text">
-         <string>Eliminate zero-length paths (convert to BOUNDARY)</string>
+         <string>Default text size</string>
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
-      <item row="5" column="0" colspan="3">
-       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="resolve_skew_arrays_cbx">
+      <item row="4" column="2">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_10">
         <property name="text">
-         <string>Resolve skew (non-orthogonal) arrays into single instances</string>
+         <string>µm (empty for no size)</string>
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/layGDS2WriterPlugin.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/layGDS2WriterPlugin.cc
index ac4302cf5..760906cd1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/layGDS2WriterPlugin.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/lay_plugin/layGDS2WriterPlugin.cc
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ GDS2WriterOptionPage::setup (const db::FormatSpecificWriterOptions *o, const db:
     mp_ui->max_vertex_le->setEnabled (! options->multi_xy_records);
     mp_ui->max_vertex_le->setText (tl::to_qstring (tl::to_string (options->max_vertex_count)));
     mp_ui->cell_name_length_le->setText (tl::to_qstring (tl::to_string (options->max_cellname_length)));
+    mp_ui->default_text_size_le->setText (tl::to_qstring (options->default_text_size >= 0.0 ? tl::to_string (options->default_text_size) : std::string ()));
     mp_ui->libname_le->setText (tl::to_qstring (tl::to_string (options->libname)));
   }
 }
@@ -83,6 +84,19 @@ GDS2WriterOptionPage::commit (db::FormatSpecificWriterOptions *o, const db::Tech
     options->write_file_properties = mp_ui->write_file_properties->isChecked ();
     options->no_zero_length_paths = mp_ui->no_zero_length_paths->isChecked ();
 
+    std::string ts_str = tl::to_string (mp_ui->default_text_size_le->text ());
+    {
+      double ts = -1;
+      tl::Extractor ex (ts_str.c_str ());
+      if (! ex.at_end ()) {
+        tl::from_string_ext (ts_str, ts);
+        if (ts < 0.0) {
+          throw tl::Exception (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Default text size cannot be negative")));
+        }
+      }
+      options->default_text_size = ts;
+    }
+
     tl::from_string_ext (tl::to_string (mp_ui->max_vertex_le->text ()), n);
     if (! options->multi_xy_records) {
       if (n > 8191) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/unit_tests/dbGDS2WriterTests.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/unit_tests/dbGDS2WriterTests.cc
index c921fc242..1dda53c35 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/unit_tests/dbGDS2WriterTests.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/unit_tests/dbGDS2WriterTests.cc
@@ -1509,6 +1509,66 @@ TEST(143)
   EXPECT_EQ (run_test_with_error (23.0, layout), "Scaling failed: coordinate underflow, writing layer 1/0, writing cell 'TOP'");
 }
 
+void run_text_size_test (tl::TestBase *_this, db::Coord size, double def_size, db::Coord exp_size)
+{
+  db::Layout layout;
+  db::cell_index_type top_index = layout.add_cell ("TOP");
+  db::Cell &top = layout.cell (top_index);
+  unsigned int l1 = layout.insert_layer (db::LayerProperties (1, 0));
+  db::Text text ("TEXT", db::Trans ());
+  text.size (size);
+  top.shapes (l1).insert (text);
+
+  db::GDS2WriterOptions opt;
+  opt.default_text_size = def_size;
+
+  std::string tmp_file = _this->tmp_file ("tmp.gds");
+
+  {
+    tl::OutputStream stream (tmp_file);
+    db::SaveLayoutOptions options;
+    options.set_format ("GDS2");
+    options.set_options (new db::GDS2WriterOptions (opt));
+    db::Writer writer (options);
+    writer.write (layout, stream);
+  }
+
+  db::Layout layout_read;
+  {
+    tl::InputStream file (tmp_file);
+    db::Reader reader (file);
+    reader.read (layout_read);
+  }
+
+  l1 = layout_read.get_layer (db::LayerProperties (1, 0));
+  const db::Cell &top_read = layout_read.cell (*layout_read.begin_top_down ());
+  db::Shape text_read = *top_read.shapes (l1).begin (db::ShapeIterator::All);
+
+  EXPECT_EQ (text_read.text_string (), "TEXT");
+  EXPECT_EQ (text_read.text_size (), exp_size);
+}
+
+//  default text size
+TEST(144a)
+{
+  run_text_size_test (_this, 0, 1.25, 1250);
+}
+
+TEST(144b)
+{
+  run_text_size_test (_this, 500, 1.25, 500);
+}
+
+TEST(144c)
+{
+  run_text_size_test (_this, 0, 0.0, 0);
+}
+
+TEST(144d)
+{
+  run_text_size_test (_this, 0, -1.0, 0);
+}
+
 //  Extreme fracturing by max. points
 TEST(166)
 {
@@ -1518,4 +1578,3 @@ TEST(166)
 }
 
 
-
diff --git a/testdata/ruby/laySaveLayoutOptions.rb b/testdata/ruby/laySaveLayoutOptions.rb
index 8ccbe7340..277edb7df 100644
--- a/testdata/ruby/laySaveLayoutOptions.rb
+++ b/testdata/ruby/laySaveLayoutOptions.rb
@@ -113,6 +113,14 @@ def test_1
     opt.gds2_write_file_properties = false
     assert_equal(opt.gds2_write_file_properties?, false)
 
+    assert_equal(opt.gds2_default_text_size.inspect, "nil")
+    opt.gds2_default_text_size = nil
+    assert_equal(opt.gds2_default_text_size.inspect, "nil")
+    opt.gds2_default_text_size = -1.0
+    assert_equal(opt.gds2_default_text_size.inspect, "nil")
+    opt.gds2_default_text_size = 1.0
+    assert_equal(opt.gds2_default_text_size, 1.0)
+
     opt.gds2_write_timestamps = true
     assert_equal(opt.gds2_write_timestamps?, true)
     opt.gds2_write_timestamps = false