diff --git a/client/equo.py b/client/equo.py
index 405bf4158..115e809dd 100644
--- a/client/equo.py
+++ b/client/equo.py
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ myopts = [
     (2,'--showrepo',1,_('print repository information (w/--quiet)')),
     (2,'--showdesc',1,_('print description too (w/--quiet)')),
     None,
+    (1,'hop <branch>',1,_('upgrade your distribution to a new release (branch)')),
+    None,
     (1,'world',2,_('update system with the latest available packages')),
     (2,'--ask',2,_('ask before making any changes')),
     (2,'--fetch',2,_('just download packages')),
@@ -503,8 +505,9 @@ try:
 
         import text_ui
         rc = text_ui.package(options)
+        if options[0] not in ("hop",):
+            load_conf_cache()
         text_ui.Equo.destroy()
-        load_conf_cache()
 
     elif options[0] == "security":
         import text_security
diff --git a/client/text_ui.py b/client/text_ui.py
index 6e5c1711a..ef58d0f48 100644
--- a/client/text_ui.py
+++ b/client/text_ui.py
@@ -149,6 +149,13 @@ def package(options):
             dochecksum = equoRequestChecksum,
             multifetch = equoRequestMultifetch)
 
+    elif (options[0] == "hop"):
+        if myopts:
+            status, rc = branchHop(myopts[0])
+        else:
+            print_error(red(" %s." % (_("Nothing to do"),) ))
+            rc = 127
+
     elif (options[0] == "remove"):
         if myopts or equoRequestResume:
             status, rc = removePackages(myopts, deps = equoRequestDeps,
@@ -292,6 +299,56 @@ def worldUpdate(onlyfetch = False, replay = False, resume = False,
 
     return 0,0
 
+def branchHop(branch):
+    # set the new branch
+    if branch == Equo.SystemSettings['repositories']['branch']:
+        mytxt = "%s %s: %s" % (bold(" !!! "),
+            darkred(_("Already on branch")), purple(branch),)
+        print_warning(mytxt)
+        return 1, -1
+
+    old_branch = Equo.SystemSettings['repositories']['branch'][:]
+    Equo.set_branch(branch)
+    status = True
+
+    try:
+        repoConn = Equo.Repositories([], forceUpdate = False,
+            fetchSecurity = False)
+    except PermissionDenied:
+        mytxt = darkred(_("You must be either root or in the %s group.")) % (
+            etpConst['sysgroup'],)
+        print_error("\t"+mytxt)
+        status = False
+    except MissingParameter:
+        print_error(darkred(" * ")+red("%s %s" % (
+            _("No repositories specified in"), etpConst['repositoriesconf'],)))
+        status = False
+    except Exception, e:
+        print_error(darkred(" @@ ")+red("%s: %s" % (
+            _("Unhandled exception"), e,)))
+        status = False
+    else:
+        rc = repoConn.sync()
+        if rc:
+            status = False
+
+    if status:
+        mytxt = "%s %s: %s" % (red(" @@ "),
+            darkgreen(_("Succesfully switched to branch")), purple(branch),)
+        print_info(mytxt)
+        mytxt = "%s %s" % (brown(" ?? "),
+            darkgreen(
+                _("Now run 'equo world' to upgrade your distribution to")),
+            )
+        print_info(mytxt)
+        return 0, 0
+    else:
+        Equo.set_branch(old_branch)
+        mytxt = "%s %s: %s" % (bold(" !!! "),
+            darkred(_("Unable to switch to branch")), purple(branch),)
+        print_error(mytxt)
+        return 1, -2
+
 def _scanPackages(packages, tbz2):
 
     foundAtoms = []