diff --git a/devexec.c b/devexec.c
index dbff8a20..d814d830 100644
--- a/devexec.c
+++ b/devexec.c
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@
      char pBueffel[132], pError[80];
      pIDrivable pDrivInt = NULL;
      pICountable pCountInt = NULL;
+     static int overwriteOwner = -1;
+     char *overwriteOption;
      
      assert(self);
      assert(pDes);
@@ -193,9 +195,19 @@
      {
        if(pCon != self->pOwner)
        {
-         SCWrite(pCon,
-           "ERROR: somebody else is still driving, Request rejected",eError);
-         return 0;  
+         /* this hack helps on rita2, when using the sendsics script
+            which opens a client for every command */
+         if (overwriteOwner < 0) {
+           overwriteOption = IFindOption(pSICSOptions, "overwriteOwner");
+           overwriteOwner = overwriteOption && *overwriteOption != '0';
+         }
+         if (overwriteOwner) {
+           self->pOwner = pCon;
+         } else {
+           SCWrite(pCon,
+             "ERROR: somebody else is still driving, Request rejected",eError);
+           return 0;
+         }
        }
      }
      else