diff --git a/oslo_config/cfg.py b/oslo_config/cfg.py
index e4064318..0cf1c50f 100644
--- a/oslo_config/cfg.py
+++ b/oslo_config/cfg.py
@@ -2089,7 +2089,7 @@ class ConfigOpts(collections.Mapping):
         self._get_group(group)
 
     @__clear_cache
-    def set_override(self, name, override, group=None):
+    def set_override(self, name, override, group=None, enforce_type=False):
         """Override an opt value.
 
         Override the command line, config file and default values of a
@@ -2098,10 +2098,16 @@ class ConfigOpts(collections.Mapping):
         :param name: the name/dest of the opt
         :param override: the override value
         :param group: an option OptGroup object or group name
+        :param enforce_type: a boolean whether to convert the override
+         value to the option's type
         :raises: NoSuchOptError, NoSuchGroupError
         """
         opt_info = self._get_opt_info(name, group)
-        opt_info['override'] = override
+        if enforce_type:
+            opt_info['override'] = self._convert_value(override,
+                                                       opt_info['opt'])
+        else:
+            opt_info['override'] = override
 
     @__clear_cache
     def set_default(self, name, default, group=None):
diff --git a/oslo_config/tests/test_cfg.py b/oslo_config/tests/test_cfg.py
index 080ee336..f4cdb002 100644
--- a/oslo_config/tests/test_cfg.py
+++ b/oslo_config/tests/test_cfg.py
@@ -2513,6 +2513,37 @@ class OverridesTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         self.conf.clear_override('foo')
         self.assertIsNone(self.conf.foo)
 
+    def test_enforce_type_str_override(self):
+        self.conf.register_opt(cfg.StrOpt('foo'))
+        self.conf.set_override('foo', True, enforce_type=True)
+        self.conf([])
+        self.assertEqual(self.conf.foo, 'True')
+        self.conf.clear_override('foo')
+        self.assertIsNone(self.conf.foo)
+
+    def test_set_override_in_choices(self):
+        self.conf.register_group(cfg.OptGroup('f'))
+        self.conf.register_cli_opt(cfg.StrOpt('oo', choices=('a', 'b')),
+                                   group='f')
+        self.conf.set_override('oo', 'b', 'f', enforce_type=True)
+        self.assertEqual('b', self.conf.f.oo)
+
+    def test_set_override_not_in_choices(self):
+        self.conf.register_group(cfg.OptGroup('f'))
+        self.conf.register_cli_opt(cfg.StrOpt('oo', choices=('a', 'b')),
+                                   group='f')
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError,
+                          self.conf.set_override, 'oo', 'c', 'f',
+                          enforce_type=True)
+
+    def test_enforce_type_bool_override(self):
+        self.conf.register_opt(cfg.BoolOpt('foo'))
+        self.conf.set_override('foo', 'True', enforce_type=True)
+        self.conf([])
+        self.assertEqual(self.conf.foo, True)
+        self.conf.clear_override('foo')
+        self.assertIsNone(self.conf.foo)
+
 
 class ResetAndClearTestCase(BaseTestCase):