diff --git a/ipydeps/__init__.py b/ipydeps/__init__.py
index 2c4b6fe..304b397 100644
--- a/ipydeps/__init__.py
+++ b/ipydeps/__init__.py
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ def _run_overrides(overrides):
             elif len(command) > 0:
                 _logger.debug(commands.getoutput(' '.join(command)))
 
-def pip(pkg_name, verbose=False):
+def pip(pkg_name, verbose=False, upgrade=False):
     args = [
         'install',
     ]
@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ def pip(pkg_name, verbose=False):
     if verbose:
         args.append('-vvv')
 
+    if upgrade:
+        args.append('--upgrade')
+
     packages = set(_pkg_name_list(pkg_name))
     orig_package_list_len = len(packages)
     packages = _subtract_installed(packages)