diff --git a/plantuml-mode.el b/plantuml-mode.el
index 69dcbec..cdd15bb 100644
--- a/plantuml-mode.el
+++ b/plantuml-mode.el
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@
   :type '(repeat string)
   :group 'plantuml)
 
+(defcustom plantuml-tab-width tab-width
+  "The number of spaces used for indentation."
+  :type 'integer
+  :group 'plantuml)
+
 (defcustom plantuml-suppress-deprecation-warning t
   "To silence the deprecation warning when `puml-mode' is found upon loading."
   :type 'boolean
@@ -460,7 +465,7 @@ Restore point to same position in text of the line as before indentation."
   (let ((original-position-eol (- (line-end-position) (point))))
     (save-excursion
       (beginning-of-line)
-      (indent-line-to (* tab-width (plantuml-current-block-depth))))
+      (indent-line-to (* plantuml-tab-width (plantuml-current-block-depth))))
 
     ;; restore position in text of line
     (goto-char (- (line-end-position) original-position-eol))))
diff --git a/test/plantuml-indentation-basics-test.el b/test/plantuml-indentation-basics-test.el
index 23b9e43..88aa05d 100644
--- a/test/plantuml-indentation-basics-test.el
+++ b/test/plantuml-indentation-basics-test.el
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ the position of | in AFTER."
 
       ;; use 2 spaces instead of one tab for indentation
       (setq-local indent-tabs-mode nil)
-      (setq-local tab-width 2)
+      (setq-local plantuml-tab-width 2)
       (indent-according-to-mode)
 
       (should (equal expected-state (buffer-string)))
diff --git a/test/test-helper.el b/test/test-helper.el
index bbba7b4..609b401 100644
--- a/test/test-helper.el
+++ b/test/test-helper.el
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ Finally, the indented text in the buffer will be compared with AFTER."
     (plantuml-mode)
     ;; use 2 spaces instead of one tab for indentation
     (setq-local indent-tabs-mode nil)
-    (setq-local tab-width 2)
+    (setq-local plantuml-tab-width 2)
 
     (indent-region (point-min) (point-max))
     (should (equal (buffer-string) after))))