diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/mergeMeshes/mergeMeshes.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/mergeMeshes/mergeMeshes.C
index 99631e1e49..3841e16bf3 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/mergeMeshes/mergeMeshes.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/mergeMeshes/mergeMeshes.C
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     );
 
     argList::noParallel();
+    #include "addOverwriteOption.H"
+
     argList::validArgs.append("masterCase");
     argList::addOption
     (
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
          FatalError.exit();
     }
 
+    const bool overwrite = args.optionFound("overwrite");
+
     fileName masterCase = args[1];
     word masterRegion = polyMesh::defaultRegion;
     args.optionReadIfPresent("masterRegion", masterRegion);
@@ -126,7 +130,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         )
     );
 
-    runTimeMaster++;
+    if (!overwrite)
+    {
+        runTimeMaster++;
+    }
 
     Info<< "Writing combined mesh to " << runTimeMaster.timeName() << endl;