diff --git a/src/compiler/OPM.Mod b/src/compiler/OPM.Mod
index a5a3df1a..eb41b52c 100644
--- a/src/compiler/OPM.Mod
+++ b/src/compiler/OPM.Mod
@@ -588,15 +588,22 @@ MODULE OPM;  (* RC 6.3.89 / 28.6.89, J.Templ 10.7.89 / 22.7.96  *)
   END CloseOldSym;
 
   PROCEDURE OldSym*(VAR modName: ARRAY OF CHAR; VAR done: BOOLEAN);
-    VAR tag, ver: CHAR; fileName: FileName;
+    VAR tag, ver: CHAR; fileName: FileName; res: INTEGER;
   BEGIN
+    oldSFile := NIL; done := FALSE;
     MakeFileName(modName, fileName, SFext);
-    oldSFile := Files.Old(fileName); done := oldSFile # NIL;
-    IF done THEN
-      Files.Set(oldSF, oldSFile, 0); Files.Read(oldSF, tag); Files.Read(oldSF, ver);
-      IF (tag # SFtag) OR (ver # SFver) THEN
-        err(-306);  (*possibly a symbol file from another Oberon implementation, e.g. HP-Oberon*)
-        CloseOldSym; done := FALSE
+    IF forcenewsym IN Options THEN
+      Files.Delete(fileName, res)
+    ELSE
+      oldSFile := Files.Old(fileName); done := oldSFile # NIL;
+      IF done THEN
+        Files.Set(oldSF, oldSFile, 0); Files.Read(oldSF, tag); Files.Read(oldSF, ver);
+        IF (tag # SFtag) OR (ver # SFver) THEN
+          (* Possibly a symbol file from another Oberon implementation, e.g. HP-Oberon,
+             or from a symbol incompatible version of this Oberon. *)
+          IF ~(newsf IN Options) THEN err(-306) END;
+          CloseOldSym; done := FALSE
+        END
       END
     END
   END OldSym;