diff --git a/include/libsigrok/libsigrok.h b/include/libsigrok/libsigrok.h
index 2779490d..070107ee 100644
--- a/include/libsigrok/libsigrok.h
+++ b/include/libsigrok/libsigrok.h
@@ -753,6 +753,16 @@ enum sr_configkey {
 	 */
 	SR_CONF_MODBUSADDR,
 
+	/**
+	 * User specified forced driver attachment to unknown devices.
+	 *
+	 * By design the interpretation of the string depends on the
+	 * specific driver. It typically would be either a replacement
+	 * '*IDN?' response value, or a sub-driver name. But could also
+	 * be anything else and totally arbitrary.
+	 */
+	SR_CONF_FORCE_DETECT,
+
 	/* Update sr_key_info_config[] (hwdriver.c) upon changes! */
 
 	/*--- Device (or channel group) configuration -----------------------*/
diff --git a/src/hwdriver.c b/src/hwdriver.c
index 1016507e..03d268e1 100644
--- a/src/hwdriver.c
+++ b/src/hwdriver.c
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ static struct sr_key_info sr_key_info_config[] = {
 		"Serial communication", NULL},
 	{SR_CONF_MODBUSADDR, SR_T_UINT64, "modbusaddr",
 		"Modbus slave address", NULL},
+	{SR_CONF_FORCE_DETECT, SR_T_STRING, "force_detect",
+		"Forced detection", NULL},
 
 	/* Device (or channel group) configuration */
 	{SR_CONF_SAMPLERATE, SR_T_UINT64, "samplerate",