diff --git a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
index c6f3b18..ccc6169 100644
--- a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
+++ b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
@@ -105,13 +105,21 @@ romanStanza =
   #(define-music-function (parser location) ()
   #{ \override StanzaNumber.style = #'roman #})
 
+override-stanza =
+#(define-music-function (parser location stanzanumber) (number?)
+#{
+  \once \override StanzaNumber.forced-spacing = #stanzanumber % misuse property "forced-spacing" to override the stanzanumber
+#}
+)
+
 stanza =
 #(define-music-function (parser location stanzanumber) (number?)
 #{
   \once \override StanzaNumber.layer = 23 % set this to signal that there is a real stanza and no repeat signs
   \applyContext
   #(lambda (context)
-    (let* ((stanzastyle (ly:assoc-get 'style (ly:context-grob-definition context 'StanzaNumber)))
+    (let* ((stanzanumber (ly:assoc-get 'forced-spacing (ly:context-grob-definition context 'StanzaNumber) stanzanumber))
+           (stanzastyle (ly:assoc-get 'style (ly:context-grob-definition context 'StanzaNumber)))
            (formattedStanzaNumber (format #f (if (eq? stanzastyle 'roman) romanStanzaFormat stanzaFormat) stanzanumber)))
         (ly:context-set-property! context 'stanza formattedStanzaNumber)))
 #}