diff --git a/include/components/bar.hpp b/include/components/bar.hpp
index 5ed59397..d925345c 100644
--- a/include/components/bar.hpp
+++ b/include/components/bar.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ namespace sig_ev = signals::eventqueue;
 
 class bar : public xpp::event::sink<evt::button_press, evt::expose, evt::property_notify, evt::enter_notify,
                 evt::leave_notify, evt::destroy_notify, evt::client_message>,
-            public signal_receiver<SIGN_PRIORITY_BAR, sig_ui::tick, sig_ui::shade_window, sig_ui::unshade_window, sig_ui::dim_window> {
+            public signal_receiver<SIGN_PRIORITY_BAR, sig_ui::tick, sig_ui::shade_window, sig_ui::unshade_window,
+                sig_ui::dim_window> {
  public:
   using make_type = unique_ptr<bar>;
   static make_type make(bool only_initialize_values = false);
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ class bar : public xpp::event::sink<evt::button_press, evt::expose, evt::propert
 
   const bar_settings settings() const;
 
-  void parse(string&& data);
+  void parse(string&& data, bool force = false);
 
  protected:
   void restack_window();
diff --git a/include/components/controller.hpp b/include/components/controller.hpp
index e62b9c75..f03f2c58 100644
--- a/include/components/controller.hpp
+++ b/include/components/controller.hpp
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 #include "events/signal_receiver.hpp"
 #include "events/types.hpp"
 #include "utils/file.hpp"
-#include "x11/types.hpp"
 #include "x11/events.hpp"
+#include "x11/types.hpp"
 
 POLYBAR_NS
 
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ namespace sig_ui = signals::ui;
 namespace sig_ipc = signals::ipc;
 
 class controller : public signal_receiver<SIGN_PRIORITY_CONTROLLER, sig_ev::exit_terminate, sig_ev::exit_reload,
-                       sig_ev::update, sig_ev::notify_change, sig_ev::check_state, sig_ipc::action, sig_ipc::command,
-                       sig_ipc::hook, sig_ui::button_press> {
+                       sig_ev::notify_change, sig_ev::notify_forcechange, sig_ev::check_state, sig_ipc::action,
+                       sig_ipc::command, sig_ipc::hook, sig_ui::button_press> {
  public:
   using make_type = unique_ptr<controller>;
   static make_type make(unique_ptr<ipc>&& ipc, unique_ptr<inotify_watch>&& config_watch);
@@ -63,9 +63,10 @@ class controller : public signal_receiver<SIGN_PRIORITY_CONTROLLER, sig_ev::exit
   void read_events();
   void process_eventqueue();
   void process_inputdata();
+  bool process_update(bool force);
 
   bool on(const sig_ev::notify_change& evt);
-  bool on(const sig_ev::update& evt);
+  bool on(const sig_ev::notify_forcechange& evt);
   bool on(const sig_ev::exit_terminate& evt);
   bool on(const sig_ev::exit_reload& evt);
   bool on(const sig_ev::check_state& evt);
diff --git a/include/events/signal.hpp b/include/events/signal.hpp
index efcf755e..cbc4b2f4 100644
--- a/include/events/signal.hpp
+++ b/include/events/signal.hpp
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ namespace signals {
     struct notify_change : public detail::base_signal<notify_change> {
       using base_type::base_type;
     };
-    struct check_state : public detail::base_signal<check_state> {
+    struct notify_forcechange : public detail::base_signal<notify_forcechange> {
       using base_type::base_type;
     };
-    struct update : public detail::base_signal<update> {
+    struct check_state : public detail::base_signal<check_state> {
       using base_type::base_type;
     };
   }
diff --git a/include/events/signal_fwd.hpp b/include/events/signal_fwd.hpp
index 2b331eea..69969298 100644
--- a/include/events/signal_fwd.hpp
+++ b/include/events/signal_fwd.hpp
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ namespace signals {
     struct exit_terminate;
     struct exit_reload;
     struct notify_change;
+    struct notify_forcechange;
     struct check_state;
-    struct update;
   }
   namespace ipc {
     struct command;
diff --git a/src/components/bar.cpp b/src/components/bar.cpp
index 96651f95..a323e88e 100644
--- a/src/components/bar.cpp
+++ b/src/components/bar.cpp
@@ -311,18 +311,18 @@ const bar_settings bar::settings() const {
  * @param data Input string
  * @param force Unless true, do not parse unchanged data
  */
-void bar::parse(string&& data) {
+void bar::parse(string&& data, bool force) {
   if (!m_mutex.try_lock()) {
     return;
   }
 
   std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(m_mutex, std::adopt_lock);
 
-  if (m_opts.shaded) {
+  if (force) {
+    m_log.trace("bar: Force update");
+  } else if (m_opts.shaded) {
     return m_log.trace("bar: Ignoring update (shaded)");
-  }
-
-  if (data == m_lastinput) {
+  } else if (data == m_lastinput) {
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/components/controller.cpp b/src/components/controller.cpp
index b408f79e..3905f3c7 100644
--- a/src/components/controller.cpp
+++ b/src/components/controller.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void controller::process_eventqueue() {
       }
 
       if (evt.type == event_type::UPDATE) {
-        on(sig_ev::update{});
+        process_update(evt.flag);
       } else if (evt.type == event_type::INPUT) {
         process_inputdata();
       } else if (evt.type == event_type::QUIT) {
@@ -401,18 +401,10 @@ void controller::process_inputdata() {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Process broadcast events
- */
-bool controller::on(const sig_ev::notify_change&) {
-  enqueue(make_update_evt(false));
-  return true;
-}
-
 /**
  * Process eventqueue update event
  */
-bool controller::on(const sig_ev::update&) {
+bool controller::process_update(bool force) {
   const bar_settings& bar{m_bar->settings()};
   string contents;
   string separator{bar.separator};
@@ -484,7 +476,7 @@ bool controller::on(const sig_ev::update&) {
 
   try {
     if (!m_writeback) {
-      m_bar->parse(move(contents));
+      m_bar->parse(move(contents), force);
     } else {
       std::cout << contents << std::endl;
     }
@@ -495,6 +487,20 @@ bool controller::on(const sig_ev::update&) {
   return true;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Process broadcast events
+ */
+bool controller::on(const sig_ev::notify_change&) {
+  return enqueue(make_update_evt(false));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Process forced broadcast events
+ */
+bool controller::on(const sig_ev::notify_forcechange&) {
+  return enqueue(make_update_evt(true));
+}
+
 /**
  * Process eventqueue terminate event
  */
diff --git a/src/x11/tray_manager.cpp b/src/x11/tray_manager.cpp
index f39bd5e4..277d91b3 100644
--- a/src/x11/tray_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/tray_manager.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ void tray_manager::deactivate(bool clear_selection) {
 
   m_connection.flush();
 
-  m_sig.emit(notify_change{});
+  m_sig.emit(notify_forcechange{});
 }
 
 /**
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ void tray_manager::reconfigure() {
 
   m_connection.flush();
 
-  m_sig.emit(notify_change{});
+  m_sig.emit(notify_forcechange{});
 }
 
 /**