diff --git a/common/constants.cc b/common/constants.cc
index 6fd373e..d3d851a 100644
--- a/common/constants.cc
+++ b/common/constants.cc
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
     "metrics-attempt-last-reporting-time";
 const char kPrefsMetricsCheckLastReportingTime[] =
     "metrics-check-last-reporting-time";
+const char kPrefsNoIgnoreBackoff[] = "no-ignore-backoff";
 const char kPrefsNumReboots[] = "num-reboots";
 const char kPrefsNumResponsesSeen[] = "num-responses-seen";
 const char kPrefsOmahaCohort[] = "omaha-cohort";
diff --git a/common/constants.h b/common/constants.h
index 1be22de..ddf7df5 100644
--- a/common/constants.h
+++ b/common/constants.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 extern const char kPrefsManifestSignatureSize[];
 extern const char kPrefsMetricsAttemptLastReportingTime[];
 extern const char kPrefsMetricsCheckLastReportingTime[];
+extern const char kPrefsNoIgnoreBackoff[];
 extern const char kPrefsNumReboots[];
 extern const char kPrefsNumResponsesSeen[];
 extern const char kPrefsOmahaCohort[];
diff --git a/payload_state.cc b/payload_state.cc
index 6689cf4..a393b91 100644
--- a/payload_state.cc
+++ b/payload_state.cc
@@ -408,9 +408,11 @@
     }
   }
 
-  if (!system_state_->hardware()->IsOfficialBuild()) {
+  if (!system_state_->hardware()->IsOfficialBuild() &&
+      !prefs_->Exists(kPrefsNoIgnoreBackoff)) {
     // Backoffs are needed only for official builds. We do not want any delays
-    // or update failures due to backoffs during testing or development.
+    // or update failures due to backoffs during testing or development. Unless
+    // the |kPrefsNoIgnoreBackoff| is manually set.
     LOG(INFO) << "No backoffs for test/dev images. "
               << "Can proceed with the download";
     return false;