diff --git a/pisi/api.py b/pisi/api.py
index 0000445e..bb75c768 100644
--- a/pisi/api.py
+++ b/pisi/api.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import pisi.sourcedb
 import pisi.component as component
 from pisi.index import Index
 import pisi.cli
+from pisi.config import Options
 from pisi.operations import install, remove, upgrade, emerge
 from pisi.operations import plan_install_pkg_names as plan_install
 from pisi.operations import plan_remove, plan_upgrade, upgrade_base, calculate_conflicts
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ class Error(pisi.Error):
     pass
 
 def init(database = True, write = True,
-         options = None, ui = None, comar = True,
+         options = Options(), ui = None, comar = True,
          stdout = None, stderr = None,
          comar_sockname = None,
          signal_handling = True):
diff --git a/pisi/config.py b/pisi/config.py
index 65e9f5ed..cfffd985 100644
--- a/pisi/config.py
+++ b/pisi/config.py
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ class Options(object):
         else:
             return self.__dict__[name]
 
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+            self.__dict__[name] = value
+
 class Config(object):
     """Config Singleton"""
 
@@ -62,6 +65,8 @@ class Config(object):
         # build process.
         self.environ = deepcopy(os.environ)
 
+    def set_option(self, opt, val):
+        setattr(self.options, opt, val)
 
     def get_option(self, opt):
         if self.options:
diff --git a/pisi/context.py b/pisi/context.py
index 52d0c634..3fc9c005 100644
--- a/pisi/context.py
+++ b/pisi/context.py
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ config = None
 
 log = None
 
+def set_option(opt, val):
+    return config and config.set_option(opt, val)
+
 def get_option(opt):
     return config and config.get_option(opt)
 
diff --git a/pisi/operations.py b/pisi/operations.py
index 03d9da02..ff531f32 100644
--- a/pisi/operations.py
+++ b/pisi/operations.py
@@ -69,9 +69,11 @@ def upgrade_pisi():
 
 # high level operations
 
-def install(packages, reinstall = False):
+def install(packages, reinstall = False, ignore_file_conflicts=False):
     """install a list of packages (either files/urls, or names)"""
 
+    ctx.set_option('ignore_file_conflicts', ignore_file_conflicts)
+
     # FIXME: this function name "install" makes impossible to import
     # and use install module directly.
     from pisi.atomicoperations import Error as InstallError