diff --git a/modules/files.nix b/modules/files.nix
index bd0528856..0b87d5391 100644
--- a/modules/files.nix
+++ b/modules/files.nix
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ in
     # overwrite an existing file.
     home.activation.checkLinkTargets = hm.dag.entryBefore ["writeBoundary"] (
       let
+        # Paths that should be forcibly overwritten by Home Manager.
+        # Caveat emptor!
+        forcedPaths =
+          concatMapStringsSep " " (p: ''"$HOME/${p}"'')
+            (mapAttrsToList (n: v: v.target)
+            (filterAttrs (n: v: v.force) cfg));
+
         check = pkgs.writeText "check" ''
           . ${./lib-bash/color-echo.sh}
 
@@ -50,12 +57,25 @@ in
           # considered part of a Home Manager generation.
           homeFilePattern="$(readlink -e "${builtins.storeDir}")/*-home-manager-files/*"
 
+          forcedPaths=(${forcedPaths})
+
           newGenFiles="$1"
           shift
           for sourcePath in "$@" ; do
             relativePath="''${sourcePath#$newGenFiles/}"
             targetPath="$HOME/$relativePath"
-            if [[ -e "$targetPath" \
+
+            forced=""
+            for forcedPath in "''${forcedPaths[@]}"; do
+              if [[ $targetPath == $forcedPath* ]]; then
+                forced="yeah"
+                break
+              fi
+            done
+
+            if [[ -n $forced ]]; then
+              $VERBOSE_ECHO "Skipping collision check for $targetPath"
+            elif [[ -e "$targetPath" \
                 && ! "$(readlink "$targetPath")" == $homeFilePattern ]] ; then
               if [[ ! -L "$targetPath" && -n "$HOME_MANAGER_BACKUP_EXT" ]] ; then
                 backup="$targetPath.$HOME_MANAGER_BACKUP_EXT"
diff --git a/modules/lib/file-type.nix b/modules/lib/file-type.nix
index 3096a6d37..f82e9170f 100644
--- a/modules/lib/file-type.nix
+++ b/modules/lib/file-type.nix
@@ -80,6 +80,18 @@ with lib;
             into place.
           '';
         };
+
+        force = mkOption {
+          type = types.bool;
+          default = false;
+          visible = false;
+          description = ''
+            Whether the target path should be unconditionally replaced
+            by the managed file source. Warning, this will silently
+            delete the target regardless of whether it is a file or
+            link.
+          '';
+        };
       };
 
       config = {