diff --git a/src/bpm/main.go b/src/bpm/main.go
index 683514b..ade1e0e 100644
--- a/src/bpm/main.go
+++ b/src/bpm/main.go
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ func main() {
 		currentFlagSet.BoolP("force", "f", false, "Bypass warnings during package update")
 		currentFlagSet.BoolP("yes", "y", false, "Enter 'yes' in all prompts")
 		currentFlagSet.BoolP("no-sync", "n", false, "Do not sync databases")
+		currentFlagSet.Bool("allow-downgrades", false, "Allow package downgrades")
 		currentFlagSet.BoolP("optional", "o", false, "Install all optional dependencies")
 		setupFlagsAndHelp(currentFlagSet, fmt.Sprintf("bpm %s <options>", subcommand), "Update installed packages", os.Args[2:])
 
@@ -894,6 +895,7 @@ func updatePackages() {
 	force, _ := currentFlagSet.GetBool("force")
 	yesAll, _ := currentFlagSet.GetBool("yes")
 	noSync, _ := currentFlagSet.GetBool("no-sync")
+	allowDowngrades, _ := currentFlagSet.GetBool("allow-downgrades")
 	installOptional, _ := currentFlagSet.GetBool("optional")
 
 	// Check for required permissions
@@ -932,7 +934,7 @@ func updatePackages() {
 	}
 
 	// Create update operation
-	operation, err := bpmlib.UpdatePackages(rootDir, !noSync, installOptional, force, verbose)
+	operation, err := bpmlib.UpdatePackages(rootDir, !noSync, allowDowngrades, installOptional, force, verbose)
 	if errors.As(err, &bpmlib.PackageNotFoundErr{}) || errors.As(err, &bpmlib.DependencyNotFoundErr{}) || errors.As(err, &bpmlib.PackageConflictErr{}) {
 		log.Printf("Error: %s", err)
 		exitCode = 1
diff --git a/src/bpmlib/general.go b/src/bpmlib/general.go
index ef66a14..3a25aca 100644
--- a/src/bpmlib/general.go
+++ b/src/bpmlib/general.go
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ func CleanupCache(rootDir string, cleanupCompilationFiles, cleanupCompiledPackag
 }
 
 // UpdatePackages fetches the newest versions of all installed packages from
-func UpdatePackages(rootDir string, syncDatabase bool, installOptionalDependencies, forceInstallation, verbose bool) (operation *BPMOperation, err error) {
+func UpdatePackages(rootDir string, syncDatabase bool, allowDowngrades bool, installOptionalDependencies, forceInstallation, verbose bool) (operation *BPMOperation, err error) {
 	// Sync databases
 	if syncDatabase {
 		err := SyncDatabase(verbose)
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ func UpdatePackages(rootDir string, syncDatabase bool, installOptionalDependenci
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get package info for package (%s)", pkg)
 		} else {
 			comparison := CompareVersions(entry.Info.GetFullVersion(), installedInfo.GetFullVersion())
-			if comparison > 0 {
+			if (!allowDowngrades && comparison > 0) || (allowDowngrades && comparison != 0) {
 				operation.AppendAction(&FetchPackageAction{
 					InstallationReason: GetInstallationReason(pkg, rootDir),
 					DatabaseEntry:      entry,