diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 910385bb..d1f2411c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ CHANGELOG
 ## Not released
 
 * New-ExternalHelp can log warnings and errors as JSON to file using new -ErrorLogFile parameter. The file can be used by CI systems to report warnings and errors to the build summary.
+* Added a -MaxAboutWidth parameter to New-ExternalHelp, to allow controlling the wrapping boundary of "about" text files (default is 80).
 
 ## 0.8.2
 
diff --git a/docs/New-ExternalHelp.md b/docs/New-ExternalHelp.md
index 8517ab35..8c8ca4ca 100644
--- a/docs/New-ExternalHelp.md
+++ b/docs/New-ExternalHelp.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Creates external help file based on markdown supported by PlatyPS.
 
 ```
 New-ExternalHelp -Path <String[]> -OutputPath <String> [-ApplicableTag <String[]>] [-Encoding <Encoding>]
- -ErrorLogFile <String> [-Force] [<CommonParameters>]
+ [-MaxAboutWidth <Int>] [-ErrorLogFile <String>] [-Force] [<CommonParameters>]
 ```
 
 ## DESCRIPTION
@@ -162,6 +162,26 @@ Accept pipeline input: False
 Accept wildcard characters: False
 ```
 
+### -MaxAboutWidth
+Specifies the maximimum line length when generating "about" help text files.
+(See New-MarkdownAboutHelp.) Other help file types are not affected by this
+parameter.
+
+Lines inside code blocks are not wrapped at all and are not affected by the
+MaxAboutWidth parameter.
+
+```yaml
+Type: Int
+Parameter Sets: (All)
+Aliases: 
+
+Required: False
+Position: Named
+Default value: 80
+Accept pipeline input: False
+Accept wildcard characters: False
+```
+
 ### -ErrorLogFile
 The path where this cmdlet will save formatted results log file.
 
diff --git a/src/platyPS/platyPS.psm1 b/src/platyPS/platyPS.psm1
index efb74c2d..982f6c4e 100644
--- a/src/platyPS/platyPS.psm1
+++ b/src/platyPS/platyPS.psm1
@@ -749,8 +749,11 @@ function New-ExternalHelp
 
         [System.Text.Encoding]$Encoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8,
 
+        [ValidateRange(80, [int]::MaxValue)]
+        [int] $MaxAboutWidth = 80,
+
         [string]$ErrorLogFile,
-        
+
         [switch]$Force
     )
 
@@ -855,7 +858,7 @@ function New-ExternalHelp
          # handle about topics
          if ($AboutFiles.Count -gt 0) {
             foreach ($About in $AboutFiles) {
-               $r = New-Object -TypeName 'Markdown.MAML.Renderer.TextRenderer' -ArgumentList(80)
+               $r = New-Object -TypeName 'Markdown.MAML.Renderer.TextRenderer' -ArgumentList($MaxAboutWidth)
                $Content = Get-Content -Raw $About.FullName
                $p = NewMarkdownParser
                $model = $p.ParseString($Content)