diff --git a/api4/plugin.go b/api4/plugin.go
index 45a00b2a7d..c37683fb41 100644
--- a/api4/plugin.go
+++ b/api4/plugin.go
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ func uploadPlugin(c *Context, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 
-	manifest, unpackErr := c.App.InstallPlugin(file, false)
+	force := false
+	if len(m.Value["force"]) > 0 && m.Value["force"][0] == "true" {
+		force = true
+	}
+	manifest, unpackErr := c.App.InstallPlugin(file, force)
 
 	if unpackErr != nil {
 		c.Err = unpackErr
diff --git a/api4/plugin_test.go b/api4/plugin_test.go
index 1a1bccfdf0..ed32a32a1f 100644
--- a/api4/plugin_test.go
+++ b/api4/plugin_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package api4
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
@@ -38,14 +39,15 @@ func TestPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	path, _ := utils.FindDir("tests")
-	file, err := os.Open(filepath.Join(path, "testplugin.tar.gz"))
+	tarData, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(path, "testplugin.tar.gz"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	defer file.Close()
 
 	// Successful upload
-	manifest, resp := th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(file)
+	manifest, resp := th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(bytes.NewReader(tarData))
+	CheckNoError(t, resp)
+	manifest, resp = th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPluginForced(bytes.NewReader(tarData))
 	defer os.RemoveAll("plugins/testplugin")
 	CheckNoError(t, resp)
 
@@ -56,18 +58,18 @@ func TestPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	CheckBadRequestStatus(t, resp)
 
 	th.App.UpdateConfig(func(cfg *model.Config) { *cfg.PluginSettings.Enable = false })
-	_, resp = th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(file)
+	_, resp = th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(bytes.NewReader(tarData))
 	CheckNotImplementedStatus(t, resp)
 
 	th.App.UpdateConfig(func(cfg *model.Config) {
 		*cfg.PluginSettings.Enable = true
 		*cfg.PluginSettings.EnableUploads = false
 	})
-	_, resp = th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(file)
+	_, resp = th.SystemAdminClient.UploadPlugin(bytes.NewReader(tarData))
 	CheckNotImplementedStatus(t, resp)
 
 	th.App.UpdateConfig(func(cfg *model.Config) { *cfg.PluginSettings.EnableUploads = true })
-	_, resp = th.Client.UploadPlugin(file)
+	_, resp = th.Client.UploadPlugin(bytes.NewReader(tarData))
 	CheckForbiddenStatus(t, resp)
 
 	// Successful gets
diff --git a/model/client4.go b/model/client4.go
index d064794dba..40a2ccd8be 100644
--- a/model/client4.go
+++ b/model/client4.go
@@ -3783,9 +3783,24 @@ func (c *Client4) GetChannelsForScheme(schemeId string, page int, perPage int) (
 // UploadPlugin takes an io.Reader stream pointing to the contents of a .tar.gz plugin.
 // WARNING: PLUGINS ARE STILL EXPERIMENTAL. THIS FUNCTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
 func (c *Client4) UploadPlugin(file io.Reader) (*Manifest, *Response) {
+	return c.uploadPlugin(file, false)
+}
+
+func (c *Client4) UploadPluginForced(file io.Reader) (*Manifest, *Response) {
+	return c.uploadPlugin(file, true)
+}
+
+func (c *Client4) uploadPlugin(file io.Reader, force bool) (*Manifest, *Response) {
 	body := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	writer := multipart.NewWriter(body)
 
+	if force {
+		err := writer.WriteField("force", "true")
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, &Response{Error: NewAppError("UploadPlugin", "model.client.writer.app_error", nil, err.Error(), 0)}
+		}
+	}
+
 	part, err := writer.CreateFormFile("plugin", "plugin.tar.gz")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, &Response{Error: NewAppError("UploadPlugin", "model.client.writer.app_error", nil, err.Error(), 0)}