diff --git a/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/item/trading/MerchantOffer.java.patch b/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/item/trading/MerchantOffer.java.patch
index a6c1d0753e..6d81142a7b 100644
--- a/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/item/trading/MerchantOffer.java.patch
+++ b/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/item/trading/MerchantOffer.java.patch
@@ -63,12 +63,11 @@
          );
      }
  
-@@ -124,7 +_,7 @@
-     }
+@@ -125,6 +_,7 @@
  
      public void updateDemand() {
--        this.demand = this.demand + this.uses - (this.maxUses - this.uses);
-+        this.demand = Math.max(0, this.demand + this.uses - (this.maxUses - this.uses)); // Paper - Fix MC-163962
+         this.demand = this.demand + this.uses - (this.maxUses - this.uses);
++        if (io.papermc.paper.configuration.GlobalConfiguration.get().misc.preventNegativeVillagerDemand) this.demand = Math.max(0, this.demand); // Paper - Fix MC-163962
      }
  
      public ItemStack assemble() {
diff --git a/paper-server/src/main/java/io/papermc/paper/configuration/GlobalConfiguration.java b/paper-server/src/main/java/io/papermc/paper/configuration/GlobalConfiguration.java
index 17247f1774..c5a491acfe 100644
--- a/paper-server/src/main/java/io/papermc/paper/configuration/GlobalConfiguration.java
+++ b/paper-server/src/main/java/io/papermc/paper/configuration/GlobalConfiguration.java
@@ -357,6 +357,8 @@ public class GlobalConfiguration extends ConfigurationPart {
         @Comment("Defines how many orbs groups can exist in an area.")
         @Constraints.Min(1)
         public IntOr.Default xpOrbGroupsPerArea = IntOr.Default.USE_DEFAULT;
+        @Comment("See Fix MC-163962; prevent villager demand from going negative.")
+        public boolean preventNegativeVillagerDemand = false;
     }
 
     public BlockUpdates blockUpdates;