diff --git a/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py b/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
index 1310919d37c0194f32fef44edc6f9b9baf02395f..94eada6f044c5cce6b5923c38f38f59d8800ce85 100644
--- a/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
+++ b/src/caosadvancedtools/cfood.py
@@ -280,7 +280,8 @@ def assure_object_is_in_list(obj, containing_object, property_name,
         to_be_updated.append(containing_object)
 
 
-def assure_has_parent(entity, parent, to_be_updated=None, verbosity=INFO):
+def assure_has_parent(entity, parent, to_be_updated=None, verbosity=INFO,
+                      force=False):
     """
     Checks whether `entity` has a parent with name `parent`.
 
@@ -314,7 +315,13 @@ def assure_has_parent(entity, parent, to_be_updated=None, verbosity=INFO):
     if to_be_updated is None:
         get_ids_for_entities_with_names([entity])
 
-        guard.safe_update(entity, unique=False)
+        # TODO move the unique argument?
+        # TODO  find a better way then force?
+
+        if force:
+            entity.update(unique=False)
+        else:
+            guard.safe_update(entity, unique=False)
     else:
         to_be_updated.append(entity)