diff --git a/completion/_dotdrop-completion.zsh b/completion/_dotdrop-completion.zsh
index d70dbd8..2f694da 100644
--- a/completion/_dotdrop-completion.zsh
+++ b/completion/_dotdrop-completion.zsh
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ _dotdrop-install ()
 		'(--dry)--dry' \
 		'(-D)-D' \
 		'(--showdiff)--showdiff' \
+		'(-a)-a' \
+		'(--force-action)--force-action' \
 		'(-c=-)-c=-' \
 		'(--cfg=-)--cfg=-' \
 		'(-p=-)-p=-' \
diff --git a/completion/_dotdrop.sh-completion.zsh b/completion/_dotdrop.sh-completion.zsh
index bee9bb7..3357e75 100644
--- a/completion/_dotdrop.sh-completion.zsh
+++ b/completion/_dotdrop.sh-completion.zsh
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ _dotdrop.sh-install ()
 		'(--dry)--dry' \
 		'(-D)-D' \
 		'(--showdiff)--showdiff' \
+		'(-a)-a' \
+		'(--force-action)--force-action' \
 		'(-c=-)-c=-' \
 		'(--cfg=-)--cfg=-' \
 		'(-p=-)-p=-' \
diff --git a/completion/dotdrop-completion.bash b/completion/dotdrop-completion.bash
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index ce4e511..261a2be
--- a/completion/dotdrop-completion.bash
+++ b/completion/dotdrop-completion.bash
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ _dotdrop_install()
     cur="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}"
 
     if [ $COMP_CWORD -ge 2 ]; then
-        COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -fW '-V --verbose -b --no-banner -t --temp -f --force -n --nodiff -d --dry -D --showdiff -c= --cfg= -p= --profile= ' -- $cur) )
+        COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -fW '-V --verbose -b --no-banner -t --temp -f --force -n --nodiff -d --dry -D --showdiff -a --force-action -c= --cfg= -p= --profile= ' -- $cur) )
     fi
 }
 
diff --git a/completion/dotdrop.sh-completion.bash b/completion/dotdrop.sh-completion.bash
index 5357e11..98ece6c 100644
--- a/completion/dotdrop.sh-completion.bash
+++ b/completion/dotdrop.sh-completion.bash
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ _dotdropsh_install()
     cur="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}"
 
     if [ $COMP_CWORD -ge 2 ]; then
-        COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -fW '-V --verbose -b --no-banner -t --temp -f --force -n --nodiff -d --dry -D --showdiff -c= --cfg= -p= --profile= ' -- $cur) )
+        COMPREPLY=( $( compgen -fW '-V --verbose -b --no-banner -t --temp -f --force -n --nodiff -d --dry -D --showdiff -a --force-action -c= --cfg= -p= --profile= ' -- $cur) )
     fi
 }
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index b734eae..497caa0 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ def cmd_install(o):
                 if os.path.exists(tmp):
                     remove(tmp)
         if r:
+            # dotfile was installed
             if not o.install_temporary:
                 defactions = o.install_default_actions_post
                 postactions = dotfile.get_post_actions()
@@ -136,8 +137,19 @@ def cmd_install(o):
                                                     defactions, t, post=True)
                 post_actions_exec()
             installed += 1
-        elif not r and err:
-            LOG.err('installing \"{}\" failed: {}'.format(dotfile.key, err))
+        elif not r:
+            # dotfile was NOT installed
+            if o.install_force_action:
+                LOG.dbg('force pre action execution ...')
+                pre_actions_exec()
+                LOG.dbg('force post pre action execution ...')
+                postactions = dotfile.get_post_actions()
+                post_actions_exec = action_executor(o, dotfile, postactions,
+                                                    defactions, t, post=True)
+                post_actions_exec()
+            if err:
+                LOG.err('installing \"{}\" failed: {}'.format(dotfile.key,
+                                                              err))
     if o.install_temporary:
         LOG.log('\ninstalled to tmp \"{}\".'.format(tmpdir))
     LOG.log('\n{} dotfile(s) installed.'.format(installed))
diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index 5771789..97683df 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ USAGE = """
 {}
 
 Usage:
-  dotdrop install   [-VbtfndD] [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
-  dotdrop import    [-Vbd]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [-l <link>] <path>...
-  dotdrop compare   [-Vb]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-                               [-o <opts>] [-C <file>...] [-i <pattern>...]
-  dotdrop update    [-VbfdkP]  [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-                               [-i <pattern>...] [<path>...]
-  dotdrop listfiles [-VbT]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
-  dotdrop detail    [-Vb]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
-  dotdrop list      [-Vb]      [-c <path>]
+  dotdrop install   [-VbtfndDa] [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
+  dotdrop import    [-Vbd]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [-l <link>] <path>...
+  dotdrop compare   [-Vb]       [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+                                [-o <opts>] [-C <file>...] [-i <pattern>...]
+  dotdrop update    [-VbfdkP]   [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+                                [-i <pattern>...] [<path>...]
+  dotdrop listfiles [-VbT]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
+  dotdrop detail    [-Vb]       [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
+  dotdrop list      [-Vb]       [-c <path>]
   dotdrop --help
   dotdrop --version
 
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ Options:
   -D --showdiff           Show a diff before overwriting.
   -P --show-patch         Provide a one-liner to manually patch template.
   -f --force              Do not ask user confirmation for anything.
+  -a --force-action       Execute all actions even if no dotfile is installed.
   -k --key                Treat <path> as a dotfile key.
   -V --verbose            Be verbose.
   -d --dry                Dry run.
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
         # "listfiles" specifics
         self.listfiles_templateonly = self.args['--template']
         # "install" specifics
+        self.install_force_action = self.args['--force-action']
         self.install_temporary = self.args['--temp']
         self.install_keys = self.args['<key>']
         self.install_diff = not self.args['--nodiff']
diff --git a/tests-ng/force-actions.sh b/tests-ng/force-actions.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..363afc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/force-actions.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2019, deadc0de6
+#
+# force actions
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "\e[96m\e[1m==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==\e[0m"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# the action temp
+tmpa=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+# the dotfile source
+tmps=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles
+# the dotfile destination
+tmpd=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${tmps}/config.yaml"
+
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+actions:
+  pre:
+    preaction: echo 'pre' > ${tmpa}/pre
+    preaction2: echo 'pre2' > ${tmpa}/pre2
+  post:
+    postaction: echo 'post' > ${tmpa}/post
+    postaction2: echo 'post2' > ${tmpa}/post2
+  nakedaction: echo 'naked' > ${tmpa}/naked
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_abc:
+    dst: ${tmpd}/abc
+    src: abc
+    actions:
+      - preaction
+      - postaction
+      - nakedaction
+      - preaction2
+      - postaction2
+profiles:
+  p1:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_abc
+_EOF
+#cat ${cfg}
+
+# create the dotfile
+echo "test" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+# deploy the dotfile
+cp ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc ${tmpd}/abc
+
+# install
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+
+# checks
+[ -e ${tmpa}/pre ] && exit 1
+[ -e ${tmpa}/post ] && exit 1
+[ -e ${tmpa}/naked ] && exit 1
+[ -e ${tmpa}/pre2 ] && exit 1
+[ -e ${tmpa}/post2 ] && exit 1
+
+# install and force
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -a -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
+
+# checks
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/pre ] && exit 1
+grep pre ${tmpa}/pre >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/post ] && exit 1
+grep post ${tmpa}/post >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/naked ] && exit 1
+grep naked ${tmpa}/naked >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/pre2 ] && exit 1
+grep pre2 ${tmpa}/pre2 >/dev/null
+[ ! -e ${tmpa}/post2 ] && exit 1
+grep post2 ${tmpa}/post2 >/dev/null
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${tmpa}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0