diff --git a/pixelocr/config.py b/pixelocr/config.py
index ebb68bb..0a61b74 100644
--- a/pixelocr/config.py
+++ b/pixelocr/config.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class Configuration(BaseConfiguration):
     allow_bold_italic = True
 
     min_body_height = 10
+    min_word_distance = 15
 
     diacritic_box_left = -3
     diacritic_box_right = +3
diff --git a/pixelocr/page.py b/pixelocr/page.py
index 5fafc7e..5053a60 100644
--- a/pixelocr/page.py
+++ b/pixelocr/page.py
@@ -235,7 +235,8 @@ class Line(PageObject):
                 if glyph not in bodies: # freestanding diacritic-like glyph without a body
                     yield glyph
 
-    def _detect_words(self, glyphs, min_distance=15):
+    def _detect_words(self, glyphs):
+        min_distance = self.document.config.min_word_distance
         current_word_glyphs = []
         for glyph, next_glyph in pairwise(glyphs):
             current_word_glyphs.append(glyph)