diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 6cf21ce..4595a7f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.5.245
+1.5.246
diff --git a/base/netcmp.c b/base/netcmp.c
index 76aedcc..888382c 100644
--- a/base/netcmp.c
+++ b/base/netcmp.c
@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ int right_col_end = 87;
 /* if TRUE, always partition ALL classes */
 int ExhaustiveSubdivision = 0;
 
+/* if TRUE, enforce that networks (e.g., resistor) must match	*/
+/* topologically, as opposed to just matching numerically.	*/
+int ExactTopology = 0;
+
 #ifdef TEST
 static void PrintElement_List(struct Element *E)
 {
@@ -4932,13 +4936,17 @@ int PropertyOptimize(struct objlist *ob, struct nlist *tp, int run, int series,
 	    }
 	 }
 	 if (kl == NULL) {
-	    /* Prevent setting both M > 1 and S > 1 in any one	*/
-	    /* device, as it is ambiguous.			*/
+	    /* Setting both M > 1 and S > 1 is topologically	*/
+	    /* ambiguous.  If global option ExactTopology is	*/
+	    /* enabled, then this will cause a failure.  	*/
+	    /* Otherwise, it is allowed.			*/
 
-	    if ((*matchfunc)(vl->key, other)) {
-	       if (vl->type == PROP_INTEGER)
-		  if (vl->value.ival > 1)
-		     fail = 1;
+	    if (ExactTopology) {
+		if ((*matchfunc)(vl->key, other)) {
+		    if (vl->type == PROP_INTEGER)
+			if (vl->value.ival > 1)
+			    fail = 1;
+		}
 	    }
 	 }
  	 else if (kl != NULL) {
diff --git a/base/netcmp.h b/base/netcmp.h
index 35ff986..72dd03c 100644
--- a/base/netcmp.h
+++ b/base/netcmp.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ extern struct nlist *Circuit1;
 extern struct nlist *Circuit2;
 
 extern int ExhaustiveSubdivision;
+extern int ExactTopology;
 
 extern int left_col_end;
 extern int right_col_end;
diff --git a/tcltk/tclnetgen.c b/tcltk/tclnetgen.c
index cb81d17..90b415a 100644
--- a/tcltk/tclnetgen.c
+++ b/tcltk/tclnetgen.c
@@ -3378,6 +3378,7 @@ _netcmp_equate(ClientData clientData,
 /*	remove	  --- delete existing property		*/
 /*	tolerance --- set property tolerance		*/
 /*	associate --- associate property with a pin	*/
+/*	topology  --- set exact/relaxed matching	*/
 /*	merge	  --- (deprecated)			*/
 /* or							*/
 /*	netgen::property default			*/
@@ -3416,11 +3417,11 @@ _netcmp_property(ClientData clientData,
 
     char *options[] = {
 	"add", "create", "remove", "delete", "tolerance", "merge", "serial",
-	"series", "parallel", "associate", NULL
+	"series", "parallel", "associate", "topology", NULL
     };
     enum OptionIdx {
 	ADD_IDX, CREATE_IDX, REMOVE_IDX, DELETE_IDX, TOLERANCE_IDX, MERGE_IDX,
-	SERIAL_IDX, SERIES_IDX, PARALLEL_IDX, ASSOCIATE_IDX
+	SERIAL_IDX, SERIES_IDX, PARALLEL_IDX, ASSOCIATE_IDX, TOPOLOGY_IDX
     };
     int result, index, idx2;
 
@@ -3465,6 +3466,10 @@ _netcmp_property(ClientData clientData,
 	return TCL_ERROR;
     }
 
+    char *topo[] = {
+	"strict", "relaxed", NULL
+    };
+
     /* Check for special command "property default" */
     if ((objc == 2) && (!strcmp(Tcl_GetString(objv[1]), "default"))) {
 
@@ -3550,6 +3555,36 @@ _netcmp_property(ClientData clientData,
 	}
 	return TCL_OK;
     }
+    else if ((objc > 1) && (!strcmp(Tcl_GetString(objv[1]), "topology"))) {
+	if (objc == 2) {
+	    if (ExactTopology)
+		Tcl_SetResult(interp, "Strict topology property matching.",
+			NULL);
+	    else
+		Tcl_SetResult(interp, "Relaxed topology property matching.",
+			NULL);
+	}
+	else if (objc == 3) {
+	    if (Tcl_GetIndexFromObj(interp, objv[2],
+			(CONST84 char **)topo,
+			"topology", 0, &idx2) == TCL_OK) {
+		if (idx2 == 0)
+		    ExactTopology = TRUE;
+		else if (idx2 == 1)
+		    ExactTopology = FALSE;
+		else {
+		    Tcl_SetResult(interp, "Topology matching type must be "
+				"'strict' or 'relaxed'.", NULL);
+	    	    return TCL_ERROR;
+		}
+	    }
+	}
+	else {
+	    Tcl_WrongNumArgs(interp, 1, objv, "strict|relaxed");
+	    return TCL_ERROR;
+	}
+	return TCL_OK;
+    }
 
     result = CommonParseCell(interp, objv[1], &tp, &fnum);
     if (result != TCL_OK) return result;
@@ -3965,6 +4000,7 @@ _netcmp_property(ClientData clientData,
 		    }
 		}
 		break;
+
 	}
     }
     return TCL_OK;