diff --git a/device.h b/device.h
index f2cc8c5..2b11be2 100644
--- a/device.h
+++ b/device.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ struct device_breakpoint {
 #define DEVICE_FLAG_JTAG	0x01 /* default is SBW */
 #define DEVICE_FLAG_LONG_PW	0x02
 #define DEVICE_FLAG_TTY		0x04 /* default is USB */
+#define DEVICE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET	0x08
 
 struct device_args {
 	int			flags;
diff --git a/fet.c b/fet.c
index 77933ac..f411096 100644
--- a/fet.c
+++ b/fet.c
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ int try_open(struct fet_device *dev, const struct device_args *args,
 	if (do_configure(dev, args) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	if (send_reset) {
+	if (send_reset || args->flags & DEVICE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET) {
 		printc_dbg("Sending reset...\n");
 		if (xfer(dev, C_RESET, NULL, 0, 3, FET_RESET_ALL, 0, 0) < 0)
 			printc_err("warning: fet: reset failed\n");
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index ee6aefb..b2953b7 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ static void usage(const char *progname)
 "        Override the device ID returned by the FET.\n"
 "    --usb-list\n"
 "        Show a list of available USB devices.\n"
+"    --force-reset\n"
+"        Force target reset in initialization sequence.\n"
 "    --version\n"
 "        Show copyright and version information.\n"
 "\n"
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ static int parse_cmdline_args(int argc, char **argv,
 		{"usb-list",            0, 0, 'I'},
 		{"version",             0, 0, 'V'},
 		{"long-password",       0, 0, 'P'},
+		{"force-reset",       	0, 0, 'R'},
 		{NULL, 0, 0, 0}
 	};
 	int want_usb = 0;
@@ -234,6 +237,10 @@ static int parse_cmdline_args(int argc, char **argv,
 			args->devarg.flags |= DEVICE_FLAG_LONG_PW;
 			break;
 
+		case 'R':
+			args->devarg.flags |= DEVICE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET;
+			break;
+
 		case '?':
 			printc_err("Try --help for usage information.\n");
 			return -1;