diff --git a/internal/manager/task_scan.go b/internal/manager/task_scan.go
index 58df36ea4..f0452bfcc 100644
--- a/internal/manager/task_scan.go
+++ b/internal/manager/task_scan.go
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ func (f *handlerRequiredFilter) Accept(ctx context.Context, ff models.File) bool
 	// if create galleries from folder is enabled and the file is not in a zip
 	// file, then check if there is a folder-based gallery for the file's
 	// directory
-	if isImageFile && instance.Config.GetCreateGalleriesFromFolders() && ff.Base().ZipFileID == nil {
+	// #4611 - also check for .forcegallery
+	if isImageFile && ff.Base().ZipFileID == nil {
 		// only do this for the first time it encounters the folder
 		// the first instance should create the gallery
 		_, found := f.FolderCache.Get(ctx, ff.Base().ParentFolderID.String())
@@ -185,9 +186,23 @@ func (f *handlerRequiredFilter) Accept(ctx context.Context, ff models.File) bool
 			return false
 		}
 
-		g, _ := f.GalleryFinder.FindByFolderID(ctx, ff.Base().ParentFolderID)
 		f.FolderCache.Add(ctx, ff.Base().ParentFolderID.String(), true)
 
+		createGallery := instance.Config.GetCreateGalleriesFromFolders()
+		if !createGallery {
+			// check for presence of .forcegallery
+			forceGalleryPath := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(path), ".forcegallery")
+			if exists, _ := fsutil.FileExists(forceGalleryPath); exists {
+				createGallery = true
+			}
+		}
+
+		if !createGallery {
+			return false
+		}
+
+		g, _ := f.GalleryFinder.FindByFolderID(ctx, ff.Base().ParentFolderID)
+
 		if len(g) == 0 {
 			// no folder gallery. Return true so that it creates one.
 			return true