diff --git a/src/console.rs b/src/console.rs
index 8c73453..fd0bf7c 100644
--- a/src/console.rs
+++ b/src/console.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use crossterm::{ExecutableCommand, cursor::MoveToPreviousLine};
 
 pub const ERROR: Style = AnsiColor::Red.on_default().effects(Effects::BOLD);
 pub const GOOD: Style = AnsiColor::Green.on_default().effects(Effects::BOLD);
+pub const NOTE: Style = AnsiColor::Cyan.on_default().effects(Effects::BOLD);
 
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, ValueEnum)]
 pub enum Color {
@@ -76,11 +77,21 @@ macro_rules! error {
     );
 }
 
-macro_rules! info {
-    ($status:expr, $($arg:tt)+) => (
+macro_rules! note {
+    ($($arg:tt)+) => (
+        crate::console::console().print(
+            "  tip:",
+            &crate::console::NOTE,
+            format_args!($($arg)+),
+        )
+    );
+}
+
+macro_rules! status {
+    ($status:expr, $style:expr, $($arg:tt)+) => (
         crate::console::console().print_right(
             $status,
-            &crate::console::GOOD,
+            $style,
             format_args!($($arg)+),
         )
     );
@@ -96,10 +107,10 @@ macro_rules! fail {
 }
 
 macro_rules! update {
-    ($status:expr, $($arg:tt)+) => (
+    ($status:expr, $style:expr, $($arg:tt)+) => (
         crate::console::console().update_right(
             $status,
-            &crate::console::GOOD,
+            $style,
             format_args!($($arg)+),
         )
     );
@@ -107,5 +118,6 @@ macro_rules! update {
 
 pub(crate) use error;
 pub(crate) use fail;
-pub(crate) use info;
+pub(crate) use note;
+pub(crate) use status;
 pub(crate) use update;
diff --git a/src/install.rs b/src/install.rs
index 966667d..ced745d 100644
--- a/src/install.rs
+++ b/src/install.rs
@@ -4,16 +4,20 @@ use clap::Args;
 use git2::Repository;
 use tempfile::tempdir;
 
-use crate::console::{error, fail, info, update};
+use crate::console::{GOOD, NOTE, error, fail, note, status, update};
 use crate::settings::Settings;
 
 mod cc;
 mod languages;
 
-use languages::{InstallInfo, get_install_info};
+use languages::{InstallInfo, get_install_info, is_installed};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Args)]
 pub struct Install {
+    /// reinstall already present parsers
+    #[arg(short, long)]
+    force: bool,
+
     languages: Vec<String>,
 }
 
@@ -32,15 +36,22 @@ impl Install {
         // have to use a canonical path bc compiler runs elsewhere
         let parser_dir = parser_dir.canonicalize()?;
 
-        let mut languages = self.languages;
+        let Self {
+            mut languages,
+            force,
+        } = self;
 
         languages.sort();
         languages.dedup();
 
         let mut errors = 0;
+        let mut skips = 0;
 
         for language in &languages {
-            if let Some(info) = get_install_info(language) {
+            if !force && is_installed(language, &parser_dir) {
+                status!("Skipping", &NOTE, "{language} (already installed)");
+                skips += 1;
+            } else if let Some(info) = get_install_info(language) {
                 if let Err(Error::Fatal(_)) = install_with_status(
                     language,
                     info,
@@ -58,6 +69,10 @@ impl Install {
             }
         }
 
+        if skips > 0 {
+            note!("try '{NOTE}--force{NOTE:#}' to reinstall parsers");
+        }
+
         Ok(if errors > 0 {
             ExitCode::FAILURE
         } else {
@@ -73,13 +88,13 @@ fn install_with_status(
     src_dir: &Path,
     compiler: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<languages::Revision, Error> {
-    info!("Installing", "{language}");
+    status!("Installing", &GOOD, "{language}");
 
     let res = install(language, install_info, parser_dir, src_dir, compiler);
 
     match &res {
         Err(e) => fail!("{e}"),
-        Ok(revision) => update!("Installed", "{language} {revision:.7}"),
+        Ok(revision) => update!("Installed", &GOOD, "{language} {revision:.7}"),
     }
 
     res
diff --git a/src/install/languages.rs b/src/install/languages.rs
index f68d009..a36b963 100644
--- a/src/install/languages.rs
+++ b/src/install/languages.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use std::{env::consts::DLL_EXTENSION, path::Path};
+
 use phf::phf_map;
 
 pub(super) type Revision = git2::Oid;
@@ -34,3 +36,10 @@ static LANGUAGES: phf::Map<&'static str, InstallInfo> = phf_map! {
 pub fn get_install_info(language: &str) -> Option<&InstallInfo> {
     LANGUAGES.get(language)
 }
+
+pub fn is_installed(language: &str, parser_dir: &Path) -> bool {
+    parser_dir
+        .join(language)
+        .with_extension(DLL_EXTENSION)
+        .exists()
+}