diff --git a/site_ansto/instrument/config/scan/scan_common_1.tcl b/site_ansto/instrument/config/scan/scan_common_1.tcl
index 9c0bc946..cecd1a54 100644
--- a/site_ansto/instrument/config/scan/scan_common_1.tcl
+++ b/site_ansto/instrument/config/scan/scan_common_1.tcl
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ set reset_position "false"
 
 }
 
+##
+# @brief This is a convenience command which allows hmscans to be forced.
+# Call this before calling hmscan run to force a scan if the instrument isn't ready.
+proc force_scan {} {
+        set ::scan::force_scan "true"
+}
+publish force_scan user
+
 proc ::scan::bm_scan_collect {sobj uobj point} {
     set vlist [split [$sobj getvarpar 0] = ];