diff --git a/fanficfare/adapters/base_adapter.py b/fanficfare/adapters/base_adapter.py
index 810e803..c8ef99f 100644
--- a/fanficfare/adapters/base_adapter.py
+++ b/fanficfare/adapters/base_adapter.py
@@ -393,6 +393,13 @@ class BaseSiteAdapter(Configurable):
                         data = self.getChapterText(url)
                         # if had to fetch and has existing chapters
                         newchap = bool(self.oldchapters or self.oldchaptersmap)
+
+                    if index == 0 and self.getConfig('always_reload_first_chapter'):
+                        data = self.getChapterText(url)
+                        # first chapter is rarely marked new
+                        # anyway--only if it's replaced during an
+                        # update.
+                        newchap = False
                         
                     self.story.addChapter(url,
                                           removeEntities(title),
diff --git a/fanficfare/configurable.py b/fanficfare/configurable.py
index 39ae7ad..f35a7da 100644
--- a/fanficfare/configurable.py
+++ b/fanficfare/configurable.py
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ def get_valid_set_options():
                'minimum_threadmarks':(base_xenforo_list,None,None),
                'first_post_title':(base_xenforo_list,None,None),
                'always_include_first_post':(base_xenforo_list,None,boollist),
+               'always_reload_first_chapter':(base_xenforo_list,None,boollist),
                }
 
     return dict(valdict)