diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f46c65dff8..04ad40f1a1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -353,6 +353,10 @@ I will add some memorable short links to the binaries so you can download them e
                                      playlist information in a single line.
     --print-json                     Be quiet and print the video information as
                                      JSON (video is still being downloaded).
+    --force-write-archive            Force download archive entries to be written 
+                                     as far as no errors occur, even if -s or 
+                                     another simulation switch is used.
+                                     (Same as --force-download-archive)
     --newline                        Output progress bar as new lines
     --no-progress                    Do not print progress bar
     --console-title                  Display progress in console titlebar
diff --git a/test/parameters.json b/test/parameters.json
index 76c2a9ae77..f8abed2dd4 100644
--- a/test/parameters.json
+++ b/test/parameters.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     "forcethumbnail": false, 
     "forcetitle": false, 
     "forceurl": false, 
+    "force_write_download_archive": false,
     "format": "best",
     "ignoreerrors": false, 
     "listformats": null, 
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dlc/YoutubeDL.py
index 97e4f451f1..8fe608fc96 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -166,6 +166,8 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
     forcejson:         Force printing info_dict as JSON.
     dump_single_json:  Force printing the info_dict of the whole playlist
                        (or video) as a single JSON line.
+    force_write_download_archive: Force writing download archive regardless of
+                       'skip_download' or 'simulate'.
     simulate:          Do not download the video files.
     format:            Video format code. see "FORMAT SELECTION" for more details.
     format_sort:       How to sort the video formats. see "Sorting Formats" for more details.
@@ -1856,8 +1858,11 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         # Forced printings
         self.__forced_printings(info_dict, filename, incomplete=False)
 
-        # Do nothing else if in simulate mode
         if self.params.get('simulate', False):
+            if self.params.get('force_write_download_archive', False):
+                self.record_download_archive(info_dict)
+
+            # Do nothing else if in simulate mode
             return
 
         if filename is None:
@@ -2188,7 +2193,10 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                 except (PostProcessingError) as err:
                     self.report_error('postprocessing: %s' % str(err))
                     return
-                self.record_download_archive(info_dict)
+                must_record_download_archive = True
+
+        if must_record_download_archive or self.params.get('force_write_download_archive', False):
+            self.record_download_archive(info_dict)
 
     def download(self, url_list):
         """Download a given list of URLs."""
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/__init__.py b/youtube_dlc/__init__.py
index d183016b6e..4f57ac6a80 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/__init__.py
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         'forceformat': opts.getformat,
         'forcejson': opts.dumpjson or opts.print_json,
         'dump_single_json': opts.dump_single_json,
+        'force_write_download_archive': opts.force_write_download_archive,
         'simulate': opts.simulate or any_getting,
         'skip_download': opts.skip_download,
         'format': opts.format,
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/options.py b/youtube_dlc/options.py
index bd85abd3a8..e85006a871 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/options.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/options.py
@@ -682,8 +682,13 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     verbosity.add_option(
         '--print-json',
         action='store_true', dest='print_json', default=False,
-        help='Be quiet and print the video information as JSON (video is still being downloaded).',
-    )
+        help='Be quiet and print the video information as JSON (video is still being downloaded).')
+    verbosity.add_option(
+        '--force-write-download-archive', '--force-write-archive', '--force-download-archive',
+        action='store_true', dest='force_write_download_archive', default=False,
+        help=(
+            'Force download archive entries to be written as far as no errors occur,'
+            'even if -s or another simulation switch is used.'))
     verbosity.add_option(
         '--newline',
         action='store_true', dest='progress_with_newline', default=False,