diff --git a/DHT.cpp b/DHT.cpp
index 79f6a40..659dd97 100644
--- a/DHT.cpp
+++ b/DHT.cpp
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ void DHT::begin(void) {
 }
 
 //boolean S == Scale.  True == Fahrenheit; False == Celcius
-float DHT::readTemperature(bool S) {
+float DHT::readTemperature(bool S, bool force) {
   float f = NAN;
 
-  if (read()) {
+  if (read(force)) {
     switch (_type) {
     case DHT11:
       f = data[2];
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ float DHT::convertFtoC(float f) {
   return (f - 32) * 5 / 9;
 }
 
-float DHT::readHumidity(void) {
+float DHT::readHumidity(bool force) {
   float f = NAN;
   if (read()) {
     switch (_type) {
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ float DHT::computeHeatIndex(float temperature, float percentHumidity, bool isFah
   }
 }
 
-boolean DHT::read(void) {
+boolean DHT::read(bool force) {
   // Check if sensor was read less than two seconds ago and return early
   // to use last reading.
   uint32_t currenttime = millis();
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ boolean DHT::read(void) {
     // ie there was a rollover
     _lastreadtime = 0;
   }
-  if (!_firstreading && ((currenttime - _lastreadtime) < 2000)) {
+  if (!force && !_firstreading && ((currenttime - _lastreadtime) < 2000)) {
     return _lastresult; // return last correct measurement
   }
   _firstreading = false;
diff --git a/DHT.h b/DHT.h
index dd4d1f5..5040fa3 100644
--- a/DHT.h
+++ b/DHT.h
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ class DHT {
   public:
    DHT(uint8_t pin, uint8_t type, uint8_t count=6);
    void begin(void);
-   float readTemperature(bool S=false);
+   float readTemperature(bool S=false, bool force=false);
    float convertCtoF(float);
    float convertFtoC(float);
    float computeHeatIndex(float temperature, float percentHumidity, bool isFahrenheit=true);
-   float readHumidity(void);
-   boolean read(void);
+   float readHumidity(bool force=false);
+   boolean read(bool force=false);
 
  private:
   uint8_t data[6];