diff --git a/src/command_events.cc b/src/command_events.cc
index 8420cc5a..2afd600d 100644
--- a/src/command_events.cc
+++ b/src/command_events.cc
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ apply_remove_untied() {
 }
 
 torrent::Object
-apply_schedule(const torrent::Object::list_type& args) {
+apply_schedule(const torrent::Object::list_type& args, bool if_absent) {
   if (args.size() != 4)
     throw torrent::input_error("Wrong number of arguments.");
 
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ apply_schedule(const torrent::Object::list_type& args) {
   auto& arg2 = (itr++)->as_string();
   auto& arg3 = (itr++)->as_string();
 
+  if (if_absent && control->command_scheduler()->find(arg1) != control->command_scheduler()->end())
+    return torrent::Object();
+
   control->command_scheduler()->parse(arg1, arg2, arg3, *itr);
 
   return torrent::Object();
@@ -340,7 +343,8 @@ initialize_command_events() {
   CMD2_ANY         ("close_untied",               [](auto, auto) { return apply_close_untied(); });
   CMD2_ANY         ("remove_untied",              [](auto, auto) { return apply_remove_untied(); });
 
-  CMD2_ANY_LIST    ("schedule",                   [](auto, auto& args) { return apply_schedule(args); });
+  CMD2_ANY_LIST    ("schedule",                   [](auto, auto& args) { return apply_schedule(args, false); });
+  CMD2_ANY_LIST    ("schedule.if_absent",         [](auto, auto& args) { return apply_schedule(args, true); });
   CMD2_ANY_STRING_V("schedule.remove",            [](auto, auto& str) { return control->command_scheduler()->erase_str(str); });
 
   CMD2_ANY_STRING_V("import",                     [](auto, auto& str) { return apply_import(str); });
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index 599d1b3b..550051f8 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ rtorrent_Test_Rpc_SOURCES = $(rtorrent_Test_Common) \
 	rpc/test_command.h \
 	rpc/test_command_map.cc \
 	rpc/test_command_map.h \
+	rpc/test_command_scheduler.cc \
+	rpc/test_command_scheduler.h \
 	rpc/test_jsonrpc.cc \
 	rpc/test_jsonrpc.h \
 	rpc/test_xmlrpc.cc \
diff --git a/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.cc b/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ab4cb33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include "test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.h"
+
+#include <chrono>
+
+#include "rpc/command_scheduler.h"
+#include "rpc/command_scheduler_item.h"
+#include "torrent/object.h"
+
+CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_REGISTRATION(TestCommandScheduler);
+
+namespace {
+
+const torrent::Object test_command = torrent::Object(std::string("print=scheduled"));
+
+std::chrono::microseconds
+time_scheduled(rpc::CommandScheduler& scheduler, const std::string& key) {
+  auto itr = scheduler.find(key);
+
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT(itr != scheduler.end());
+
+  return (*itr)->time_scheduled();
+}
+
+}
+
+void
+TestCommandScheduler::setUp() {
+  TestFixtureWithMainThread::setUp();
+
+  m_main_thread->test_set_cached_time(std::chrono::seconds(0));
+}
+
+void
+TestCommandScheduler::tearDown() {
+  TestFixtureWithMainThread::tearDown();
+}
+
+void
+TestCommandScheduler::test_parse_rearms_existing_key() {
+  rpc::CommandScheduler scheduler;
+
+  scheduler.parse("key", "3600", "3600", test_command);
+
+  auto first = time_scheduled(scheduler, "key");
+
+  m_main_thread->test_add_cached_time(std::chrono::seconds(600));
+  scheduler.parse("key", "3600", "3600", test_command);
+
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(size_t{1}, scheduler.size());
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT(time_scheduled(scheduler, "key") == first + std::chrono::seconds(600));
+}
+
+void
+TestCommandScheduler::test_find_locates_a_scheduled_key() {
+  rpc::CommandScheduler scheduler;
+
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT(scheduler.find("key") == scheduler.end());
+
+  scheduler.parse("key", "3600", "3600", test_command);
+
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT(scheduler.find("key") != scheduler.end());
+  CPPUNIT_ASSERT(scheduler.find("other") == scheduler.end());
+}
diff --git a/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.h b/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c23cf938
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rpc/test_command_scheduler.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#include "test/helpers/test_main_thread.h"
+
+class TestCommandScheduler : public TestFixtureWithMainThread {
+  CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE(TestCommandScheduler);
+
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(test_parse_rearms_existing_key);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(test_find_locates_a_scheduled_key);
+
+  CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_END();
+
+public:
+  void setUp();
+  void tearDown();
+
+  void test_parse_rearms_existing_key();
+  void test_find_locates_a_scheduled_key();
+};