The invention provides a lighting system (100) comprising a first lighting element (10) and a control unit (50), wherein: a) the first lighting element (10) is configured to provide first lighting element light (11) with controllable lighting intensity, wherein the first lighting intensity can be selected from a plurality of values in the range of 0-I, with I being a predetermined first lighting element maximum intensity; b) the control unit (50) is configured to maintain a first lighting element intensity, during a first predetermined period at an intensity value larger than zero when a general lighting intensity is below a predetermined first threshold level; c) the control unit (50) is further configured to maintain the first lighting element intensity during a second predetermined period at an intensity value a*y*I when the general lighting intensity level is y*I, y being the factor the general lighting intensity is below I, with 0