Index: src/plugins/rt_topo/laa1.c
===================================================================
--- src/plugins/rt_topo/laa1.c	(revision 1450)
+++ src/plugins/rt_topo/laa1.c	(revision 1451)
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
 		laa_mst_add(ctx, &mst, obj);
 
 	/* make sure steiner points are not too close: leave room for 8 wires */
-	wth = rt_topo_cfg.wire_thick*8 + rt_topo_cfg.wire_clr*4;
+	wth = (rt_topo_cfg.wire_thick*8 + rt_topo_cfg.wire_clr*4) * rt_topo_cfg.junction_penalty;
 	mst.pt_too_close2 = wth*wth;
 
 	/* calculate the minimal steiner tree */
Index: src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.c
===================================================================
--- src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.c	(revision 1450)
+++ src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.c	(revision 1451)
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@
 	RTRND_CONF_DOUBLE("beta",             50,   0, 100,   "via vs. wire length preference; high value = short wires, low value = less vias", &rt_topo_cfg.beta)
 	RTRND_CONF_BOOLEAN("mid_virt",        0,              "split long triangulation edges in half by inserting 0 sized virtual points; makes more routes possible but also makes tracks longer with unnecessary curves and detours", &rt_topo_cfg.beta)
 	RTRND_CONF_DOUBLE("max_hop_mult",     1,  0.1, 10000, "when to give up the search for a route on a layer; higher value means give up later", &rt_topo_cfg.max_hop_mult)
+	RTRND_CONF_DOUBLE("junction_penalty", 1,  0.25, 1000, "higher value results in less junctions (Stenier points)", &rt_topo_cfg.junction_penalty)
 
+
 /*	RTRND_CONF_BOOLEAN("octilinear",      0,              "draw 90 and 45 degree lines", &rt_topo_cfg.octilin)*/
 	RTRND_CONF_TERMINATE
 };
@@ -56,6 +58,8 @@
 	RTRND_CONF_COORD("via_dia",           1.2,  0.01, 10, "via copper ring outer diameter", &rt_topo_cfg.via_dia)
 	RTRND_CONF_COORD("via_clr",           0.20, 0.01, 10, "clearance around via copper", &rt_topo_cfg.via_clr)
 	RTRND_CONF_DOUBLE("beta",             50,   0, 100,   "via vs. wire length preference; high value = short wires, low value = less vias", &rt_topo_cfg.beta)
+	RTRND_CONF_DOUBLE("junction_penalty", 1,  0.25, 1000, "higher value results in less junctions (Stenier points)", &rt_topo_cfg.junction_penalty)
+
 /*	RTRND_CONF_BOOLEAN("octilinear",      0,              "draw 90 and 45 degree lines", &rt_topo_cfg.octilin)*/
 	RTRND_CONF_TERMINATE
 };
Index: src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.h
===================================================================
--- src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.h	(revision 1450)
+++ src/plugins/rt_topo/rt_topo.h	(revision 1451)
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 	/* configured */
 	double wire_thick, wire_clr, via_dia, via_clr, beta;
 	int octilin, algo, mid_virt;
-	double max_hop_mult;
+	double max_hop_mult, junction_penalty;
 
 	/* calculated */
 	double alpha, alpha2;