diff --git a/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/auto_exposure/auto_exposure.wgsl b/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/auto_exposure/auto_exposure.wgsl
index a4eca41477..6434b7e208 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/auto_exposure/auto_exposure.wgsl
+++ b/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/auto_exposure/auto_exposure.wgsl
@@ -155,26 +155,26 @@ fn compute_average(@builtin(local_invocation_index) local_index: u32) {
         count += bin_count;
     }
 
-    var target_exposure = 0.0;
+    var avg_lum = settings.min_log_lum;
 
     if count > 0u {
         // The average luminance of the included histogram samples.
-        let avg_lum = sum / (f32(count) * 63.0)
+        avg_lum = sum / (f32(count) * 63.0)
             * settings.log_lum_range
             + settings.min_log_lum;
-
-        // The position in the compensation curve texture to sample for avg_lum.
-        let u = (avg_lum - compensation_curve.min_log_lum) * compensation_curve.inv_log_lum_range;
-
-        // The target exposure is the negative of the average log luminance.
-        // The compensation value is added to the target exposure to adjust the exposure for
-        // artistic purposes.
-        target_exposure = textureLoad(tex_compensation, i32(saturate(u) * 255.0), 0).r
-            * compensation_curve.compensation_range
-            + compensation_curve.min_compensation
-            - avg_lum;
     }
 
+    // The position in the compensation curve texture to sample for avg_lum.
+    let u = (avg_lum - compensation_curve.min_log_lum) * compensation_curve.inv_log_lum_range;
+
+    // The target exposure is the negative of the average log luminance.
+    // The compensation value is added to the target exposure to adjust the exposure for
+    // artistic purposes.
+    let target_exposure = textureLoad(tex_compensation, i32(saturate(u) * 255.0), 0).r
+        * compensation_curve.compensation_range
+        + compensation_curve.min_compensation
+        - avg_lum;
+
     // Smoothly adjust the `exposure` towards the `target_exposure`
     let delta = target_exposure - exposure;
     if target_exposure > exposure {
diff --git a/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs b/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
index ff43dd66f6..44c64b84e8 100644
--- a/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
+++ b/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ fn setup(
 
     commands.spawn(PointLightBundle {
         point_light: PointLight {
-            intensity: 5000.0,
+            intensity: 2000.0,
             ..default()
         },
         transform: Transform::from_xyz(0.0, 0.0, 0.0),